New bike...unexpected...

[VinceFox]

Always thought colour schemes can be hondas achilles heel. Theyve made some truly shocking ones.

As standard, my black blade was covered in purple and orange bits. Awful.

[Chicken Chaser]

I dont think i've seen a tatty 954 though, a testament partly to the ownership, and to the build quality of early 2000s Honda's.

What are they like to ride? Are they pretty boring?

[dapearson]

The red/black or blue/black 954 was always a poster bike for me. Love them.

It took a while for a good 'blade scheme to come out, but i think the current HRC colours look very nice!

[rich_b]

VinceFox said:

I really liked the bronze/black scheme but iirc we weren't offered it in the uk

Agreed that scheme is lovely.

As for the condition - 3M venture shield paint protection, always garaged, not ridden in the rain/salt and gets washed and polished regularly. It's not a difficult regime especially as I've got another bike to get wet instead

Riding wise it's very light, grunty and handles superbly. 330mm brakes are immense!

[VinceFox]

rich_b said:

Agreed that scheme is lovely.

As for the condition - 3M venture shield paint protection, always garaged, not ridden in the rain/salt and gets washed and polished regularly. It's not a difficult regime especially as I've got another bike to get wet instead

Riding wise it's very light, grunty and handles superbly. 330mm brakes are immense!

This is key. Long term ownership of a proper clean clean bike requires you to own a 'wet' bike too. I bought and old vfr750 to run in the wet so my rrn stays tidy. Also i dont have to worry about wherei park it.

So to sum up, everyone needs to buy another bike as well.

[WaferThinHam]

Chicken Chaser said:

I dont think i've seen a tatty 954 though, a testament partly to the ownership, and to the build quality of early 2000s Honda's.

What are they like to ride? Are they pretty boring?

Not many 954s were sold. All the hooligans boughts GSXRs or R1s.

To ride they're great on the road, very light and tractable power. Great brakes. Great bits of kit really. Pity I slid off mine at Rockingham, hence it's now Yellow. .

[dapearson]

VinceFox said:

This is key. Long term ownership of a proper clean clean bike requires you to own a 'wet' bike too. I bought and old vfr750 to run in the wet so my rrn stays tidy. Also i dont have to worry about wherei park it.

So to sum up, everyone needs to buy another bike as well.

You're right. I have a bandit as the wet bike. The 'blade only comes out if it's 100% dry. Keeping it "as new".