Good points - one is attacking with electronics to calm down the significant additional power, which you could argue the bike / riders cannot handle. Other end users design / balance to get to obtain the same goal. Both real weapons - limited supply I think for each (HP4 maybe less limited) Either one will be amazing - and a good feature which I am sure the bike mags will be anxious to run when weather improves on real roads.
For me Daz it all comes down to build quality and although the Hp4 looks good, from the many many many hours of research on the forums, talking to owners and even dealers the BM lacks any kind of quality, rotting sumps, chains going rusty within weeks of being new and falling apart, petrol caps turning green and rotting, paint so thin it vanishes after a couple of washes, switch gears constantly failing and engines just giving up are just a tiny fraction of the faults ive read and heard about.....
I've ridden a S1000rr and you would swear you were riding a blade, everything on the BMW feels very familiar. Okay it's full of electronics which you can use or turn off, the HP4 is the uprated version with full electronics including the Dynamic Damping Control, which I think will be copied by other manufactures in the future. From boxer engine to HP4 one hell of a leap !
Snooze! Its not new so let's not get over excited about it .Nothing wrong with adult discussion. ( Did I really just say that )
Ok going to kick this off... For my money (build quality and reliability aside as I've not looked in to that) I would get the hp4. Personally I fancy all the electronic gizmos and 180 bhp at the wheel! Also think the hp with the paint scheme and carbon does also look nice too, the standard model I'm not so sure on.
Ha ha nice knowing you daz , No its a fair discussion which reqs answers , What it don't require is foul mouthed idiots That are keyboard warriors ,
I looked at both of these along with ZX10, problem with HP4 if buying new is the waiting list. If ordered in Dec delivery would be end of May. Went for SP 1-for the looks / suspension and 2- I can still post on this forum
I know of a cancelled order for an HP4 for March delivery - mate had to cancel after down turn at his work
HP4 Wouldn't even come into the shoot out for me.............. My choice would be Blade/SP or RSV4. But it's a personal thing. These bikes have been compared so many times, in fact in one of this months popular bike mags (Motorcycle News 22nd January) there is exactly this shootout. Each bike has it's highs, and also it's lows. It depends what your looking for and what will be a winner for one, will be a looser for another.
Well you would say say that ex - as you've ordered a BMW HP 'with' carbon! Don't blame you TBH - one life - live it enjoy whatever you ride as long as you ride...
Yep absolutely, it is a personal choice that's all. The BMW is currently viewed as being the 'best' by the press and for those who choose to buy one because all they want is to be seen on and associated with the 'best', which to some obviously makes them 'better'. The king will fall one day leaving those who wan't to be the 'best' chasing the next 'best' thing. And if that's what you choose then fair enough. Me, I'll go about my business quietly and confidently knowing that my bike is the 'best' bike for me for what I want from a motorbike.
Cheers for the opinions and views...interesting reading.... Explorer, you are in for some awesome times
Personally I love beemer cars and looked at the s1000rr whilst still on my Gsxr600 k1.The s1000rr I looked at had 1350 miles on the clock but looked like it had 25k on the clock.The chain and rear sprocket were rusty, the sump was peppered with surface rust and some of the fixing bolts all over the bike were showing signs of being left outside for a few years.The mags don't show you the bad things because they're loaned to them to test. A few things I looked at too were servicing and the dealer network.The cost of bike servicing and the attitude of the dealers I encountered with my 4 wheels.px the gsxr k1 they offered me £1k for it px. The blade was a different story, gave me the keys for an hour with nothing to sign.It was an epic test ride and when I got back they offered me £2k for mine and a new blade for 3k less than the second hand beemer.Build quality was up there and reliability of a Honda swayed me to buy one. BMW has always been great builders of cars.As bike builders coming into the sports market without longterming the first S1000rr they built which would have highlighted some of its ailments dismayed me.I will take the SP anyday cos I know it is built to last.Thats why Honda sell so many blades we can't all be wrong?
