OK, doing my own head in with options, any real-life opinions would be appreciated. I'm a Honda lover, currently got a tarted-up Firestorm which I'm keeping for 2-up riding. Can see myself ending with a Blade until my back/wrists give up then to GS - but should I jump straight in or try something before (maybe swapping each after 1 year)?? I'm 47, small & light, prefer sweeping corners to stoopid hard acceleration and top speeds. Road riding, not track (yet!) Options I see: GSXR750 (£6.5k, 2015, 2k miles) - great reputation, flickable, but need to rev hard KTM RC8 (£8.5k, 2011, 7k miles) - v twin beast, bit unreliable? Investment? Speed Triple 1050R (£9k, 2018, 2k miles) - triple, British, great rep, bit upright (am I ready for that yet?) Fireblade, either: - 2016, £8k, 3k miles (black edition); or - 2016 SP, £10k, 3k miles (fun & good investment?); or - 2018 standard, £9.5k, 5k miles (love the black but seen nice red/white one) How do these compare to the Blades? 2016 blade is, for me, would be similar to 2017/8 (I won't use all that power from either) but GOD I LOVE the look of the 2017...SP is like porn and possibly a good investment if I keep for 10 years and only put limited mileage on it...although standard 2016 with Akro may be all I need (and I save £2k for other things, like track days!) Yours desparingly, Paul
Good situation to be in Paul, if it were me I’d look at an R1M as some members on here have them and they rave about them (and they look awesome) from your list I’d pick the SP but that’s me, it depends what you want it for. Investment bike I’d look at something a little older VTR-SP2 etc etc. fun bike you’re going to change in a year, take the one that holds its money better, if your flush take the one that pulls on your heartstrings the most. Welcome to the forum
With that sort of budget you have so much to choose from!! Which is a good place to be! Especially seeing as the market is pretty fubar at the moment so you should be able to get a decent deal! My mate sold his 2017 SP for 10.5k a few months ago so deals are out there.... I'd stick an RSV4 on that list too (unless you don't like them of course).. You should be able to get a 2014 onwards factory for around 10k
Welcome. If you decide on the Blade just make sure it's not an ABS model, searching on here will show you why that is important.
Tuono - great bike, I just can't get myself over the front!! Fuggly IMHO...but would be a great bike (damn! another to the list!) ABS - yep, already researched and see that as an issue (assume only pre 2017 models??) My budget is £10k so plenty of scope (just sold my house), hence the problem, although anything less will mean I can put to other fun (e.g. track days?)
Ive had two bikes for last few years and swapped a lot.. in 2017 id had 5 bikes by the end of the year. the 2017 blade SP, my current keeper (ive had 7 blades) is the best blade ive owned, lighter, smaller and just a superbly easy bike to ride quickly. If you love them buy one but i dont think its an investment long term but a stunning bike and very cheap on a monthly payment almost new. Of all the bikes ive tested recently the Speed Triple impressed me most and i will buy an RS in next few years, the comfort and power for road was so impressive. Its a different ride to the Blade and great for chucking around tight A roads if thats your thing. I bought an older one recently (2011) for £4k and had a bit of fun on it and there is a tadge of British pride in it, but the new one with a few more HP and all the toys was a nice bike. if i was to spend exactly £10k the 2014-16 Fireblade SP is a nice bike. Or a 2013- blade and save the money for a nice 2007- CBR600RR and do a few track days. The 600 is a whole lot of fun around the rev counter, without the worry of getting in the Sun newspaper for doing 150mph on your local A road like a blade. another option and a lot of fun but a bit of a handful and again ive unfinished business with was a Superduke 1290R 2018-. Another bike for those tight country roads, incredibly quick amd you will never come off a bike with such a grin. But reliability stories scared me despite mine being fine. Finally one to think about, if this is your first, second bike you will have no no claims bonus and hence a sports bike could be expensive, you can go on a joint policy but even these, you need to shop around for the right one and if you can manage it, it will work out cheaper in the long run on two separate policies once both no claims have built and hence a naked bike is a cheaper option. im in a similar position and having sold the Speed T sat with £5k in the bank thinking should i buy another... thinking an itch to scratch on a 2007 silver blade (never had one) a better Speed Triple R or buy a project as i love messing and making a bike go from a mess to great. enjoy searching.
Thanks to everyone, and especially Shutty, very helpful Agree, SP investment statement was a little naiive I posed the same question on my Storm forum, and the Speed Triple got most suggestions and reviews look good. I just pains me a 2020 Triple RS & 2016 SP are the same money...urghhh. (Similar situation I realised: 4 years ago I bought an used BMW 330, and wow I was crazy but it was boring because you really had to push it to feel challenged and you'd near stupid. Swapped it for a Seat Leon FR 1.4 and I'm having more fun reving the engine & sliding it around corners...maybe the 765 is best for now) Since I took a break from bikes I've only 4 years NCD but insurance renews in June, so that's perfect time to go multi-bike. But as you say Shutty, this would be my first second bike so a smaller 765 might be kinder on the wallet (and replace with a SP in a few years). Test riding would be best...current lock down's real bummer for that!!! Think I need to give my insurers (bemoto) a call
+1 for the Speed RS (2018+). I test rode one two years ago and loved it. Made a lot more sense on the roads than my fireblade. Your budget will also allow a brand new Street Triple RS. That could be a good option to think about. Triumph dealerships are as good as BMW when it comes to test rides, they'll let you take them out all day if you go on a week day. From your choice of Fireblades I'd try and stretch for a 17+ SP. I think they are the best value at the minute.
For me the 2014-17 blade was the sweet spot for the road. The 2018 was the start of the riding position becoming too cramped, suspension and engine a bit too track focused. I had a 2018 matt black Blade (my 8th blade) and I owned it for about 8 months. I just didn't enjoy it as much as the others. I traded it for a new 2019 Street Triple RS, which made sense on the road and was a lot of bike for the cash. It's a great bike, but I found the suspension and chassis a bit too flighty when pushing on. I could probably have spent some cash sorting it out, but I'm a serial part-ex'er. So when I was in the dealers the other day I was offered a ride on the new Speed RS demo and i was sold. It seems to be just about the right amount of power, the engine is ultra smooth and the kit/build is quality. The extra weight makes the whole thing feel a lot more planted, so for me it's just about spot on, the only thing the could do is stick a faring on it.
Hi Paul welcome, this is at my local dealer https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB...761473?hash=item34237e07c1:g:u2MAAOSw7aBeOdJm And this is just a bit further away https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB...550155?hash=item56db02534b:g:5CQAAOSws4ter-A~ Both seem bargains, and I bet you could get a bit more off with the current situation
