I'm currently looking to purchase my first blade and have a question regarding the 2001-02 RR2 and the 2003 RR3 models. Apart from the engine size, what are the differences between the two models. It may be a really obvious question and I apologise if it is. It's just that I'm new to blades and want to make sure I'm making the right decision, looking at prices the RR3 is between £500 -£1000 more expensive and whilst it's billed as the final Baba Blade and the best one ever made, is the difference really that vast. Any help would really be appreciated. Cheers Steve
HI Steve, from a styling perspective i much prefer the RR2-3, the 954, over the 929 variant. It looks sharper, more agressive etc etc. I had the Blue/Black RR3 and loved it. Sold it to my mate Greg, still see it riding around town and wish i had never sold it. it has superb handling, is very fast, very light, and still practical, with the underseat cubby and after i fitted gilles rearsets was fine for european touring. a cracking bike. You should go out and buy one straight away!!
The 954 had an improved control system for the injection system, bigger injectors, much better feeling front end and it had been on a bit of a diet. I think it had a stiffer swingarm than the 929 too. It's lighter than my mates 600f. I think it's prettier, but I'm biased.
My first blade was a 929 and I loved it, however the 954 is considered to be the best example of a blade ever I would chose one over the 929? If you get a 929 though you will not be disappointed, they are cheaper and you get a great bike for the money!
Athough the 954 is the better bike, at that age most will need some "refreshing"... I would save some money by buying a 929 then spend the saving on suspension refresh and a bloody good service.
I've got a 929 as my daily commuter and winter bike, yep tried the sit ups and hated them, often do a 320 mile trip to Birmingham and bk, scott oilered and heated grips. On ride outs still manage to keep up or lead the group of much newer 1000's. It does suffer with poor low end fuelling, causes a slight stutter under load very low down in the rev range when it's warm, fine when the revs lift. Apparently it's a common thing, perhaps I need to check. Even with braided brake lines I think the brakes are shit, need a brembo MC, but I am comparing to my 10 plate. I love this bike, bought it as a mint bike with 7k on two years ago, now has touching 27k on it and not a single issue. I'd suggest the build quality is also loads better than my 10 plate. But, I'd take the 954 as a replacement any day of the week, such a nicer bike, said to be the finest blade ever made?
Well not wanting to follow the crowd but given i have a 954 i guess my vote for the 954 will be no surprise..... reasons.... well there are many but compared to the 929 (which i have never ridden) it just looks so much better, its like comparing a 1990's Liz Hurley to that rather plain but averagely attractive office girl you see about. I have the white and blue one (similar to above) but have had an Ohlins shock and front suspension upgrades, i have also had a comfort seat and a couple of other tasteful mods.... it is just a dream to ride, i can not honestly think how better a bike could get. It is lighter and smaller than my pals 600RR (2005), It gets looks virtually everywhere i go and you just do not see that many of them on the roads, so it has a certain exclusivity that others do not. I can not say anything bad about the 929 because i have never owned one but owning the last of the pre 1000cc blades it just something special. Good luck on what ever you pick.
As much as I think that most of the pre 1000 blades look pretty awesome in their own right, like Hudson said there is an air of exclusivity to the final Baba blade and as I'm planning to keep this for a few years and tastefully modify I think (unless something extra special comes along) I'm gonna opt for the 954. I think if I don't I'll always be left thinking "what if" and though I'm sure I'd have no regrets with the 929 you never know.
That was one of the reasons i got the 954 instead of a newer 2010 blade, it is my first blade and i knew that if i bought one with the right miles and in the right condition (5,000 miles and mint) that i would not lose a great deal of money when it came to sell on later. I have not had it that long and am still wide eyed at how it seems to know where i want to ride ! My old bike needed turning into where i wanted to go, this bloody thing is like '' Christine '' out of that horror film !
