New bike...unexpected...

[stew-S160]

I sold my Mille back in July to help fund a very long trip to California. Kinda resigned myself to not having a bike for the rest of the year, get one next year...

I had decided I was either going to get a 954 Blade or an RSV4.

Good friend of mine had a lovely blue/black 954 blade. Always liked the look of it. Always knew he'd never part with it. He loved it that much. So it was much to my surprise that when at a bikers BBQ at his place over the weekend he tells me he's trading it in for a brand new Blade. We got talking a bit...and drinking(lots), and we kinda agreed a deal where I'd have the bike, and I'd collect it in 2 days, which was Monday(yesterday).
So I met him at Norton Way Honda, saw his new one parked up waiting(PORN!), a Black/White 2010 model in the showroom caught my eye too. But he turned up, we did the paper work, and both rode off into the rain(no sunset, this is England).

So, my new bike, a 2003 954 Fireblade. Good price. Few extras on it. Been well looked after from new by my friend.
First time I've rode anything other than a V Twin since passing my test a few years ago. Felt odd the way the power is delivered but overall, I get why the 954 is so highly regarded.

[mckeann]

Look lovely. Can't go wrong with a blade.

[hornetrider]

Nice can.

[Mr OCD]

Lovely bike... I was so close to buying one of these a couple years ago

[jcelee]

Looks stunning - maybe one day I'll learn / understand why I need to trade up from my 2003 CBR600F

[rich_b]

hornetrider said:

Nice can.

Never liked stubby ones personally.

Nice bike though, I've got a red one. They're faster

[Rawwr]

You should come down this way if you ever fancy a wee blast.

[MrKipling43]

Very lovely indeed. MrsKipling loves hers - so do I. Future Classic for sure.

[dapearson]

Passed up on one of these a couple of months ago. Red/black. Totally standard with low miles and decent price. Should have bought it and stuck it in the garage/lounge/conservatory for 10 yrs

[stew-S160]

Rawwr said:

You should come down this way if you ever fancy a wee blast.

Let me get used to it first, then I'll head over for a blast.

[996 sps]

Congrats - Looks nice......

[Chicken Chaser]

This has classic written all over it. Its a timeless design, it still looks good 11 years on.

[Yazza54]

Lovely, would be putting a proper can on if it were me

[LoonR1]

Very nice

[Chicken Chaser]

Yazza54 said:

Lovely, would be putting a proper can on if it were me

I'd buy a standard if you dont already have one, but It'd look nice with a premium brand on there.

[rich_b]

I'd recommend one of these. Polished stainless or carbon just looks 'too much', it has to be titanium (like the original).

worst 'look at my shiny exhaust post' ever i know, sorry!

[HertsBiker]

Very nice. I don't understand how these 'old' bikes are so nice looking after all those years? Mine would be worn out in 5 years with thin paint everywhere where I touch, and all the rust.... How is this so pristine? (Serious question)

[Jazoli]

Because they most probably never see salt, my 929 Blade was pretty mint, there was no rust or corrosion anywhere and it had done 56k miles, plus back then Honda build quality was steps ahead of everybody else's.

Gratuitous pic



It wasn't particularly reliable though but a great bike nonetheless.

[VinceFox]

Honda build quality of this era is exceptional on the higher end models.

Nice bike op, best standard colour scheme we got. I really liked the bronze/black scheme but iirc we weren't offered it in the uk.

Oh and get a slightly longer can on it!

[WaferThinHam]

Yellow's the fastest colour!