2013 or 2014 blade

[Angrybiker]

My insurance is up in a month and I'm considering a blade. I know they made some changes in 14 - not sure I'd prefer more aggressive riding position but I do like the sound of more progressive power delivery.
There's nowhere I can find locally with both a 13 and 14 to test ride.
Anyone any views?

[Angrybiker]

Oh cool, ok thanks. reading up I got the impression that year was a little more than incremental.

[Angrybiker]

Oh definitely not the SP, there was one article that said for 14 they changed the mapping for a cylinder head tweak and moved the footpegs back and widened the bars.

nice.... I'm keen to test ride though because I've ridden 600RRs for the last 16 years, never a 1000. I'm sure I'll love it but the vast majority of my riding is commute so I just want to be sure it'll be manoeuvrable in the traffic and not too twitchy on the throttle etc. If there's not much difference I'll just pop along to dealer on Sat and take one out for a spin. I do like the 'new' dash though.

Edited by Angrybiker on Thursday 20th April 17:49

[Angrybiker]

Aha, thanks for all that. I'm curious about the footpegs because I have shorter legs (tippy toe on the 600, so I look like a pratt reversing! )

Looks like Chiswick Honda have 12, 13 and 14 models now (albeit not in my colours) so I can try out before and after.

Prices on these look really bizarre. On Autotrader there are some 10 models with high miles priced for more than more recent models with fewer miles; similar models and years and mileage a grand apart...

[Angrybiker]

Yeah rats I missed that boat - but also John Banks also isn't in a rich part of London where the mugs / spare cash ratio is close to 1. I might keep an eye on superbike factory, they usually have some pretty nice prices.

[Angrybiker]

Mr OCD said:

Nice prices... 99% of it is junk. Go in with eyes wide open.

I don't doubt you but explain please? If it's a 3 year old with provable mileage and clear checks for cat c/d; service history etc. should be the same risk as main dealer who takes anything as p/e and then sells on?

[Angrybiker]

Mr OCD said:

It's relatively local... the condition of a lot of the stuff they have there is pretty poor every time I've been. Not particularly helpful to deal with either once you mention you are paying cash. My last two visits were a waste of time checking bikes out for mates... one was an R1 that actually had filler covering a dent in the chassis... nice

Like I said. Go in with eyes wide open - they are cheap for a reason. They are generally poor condition PX's.

Gocha. OK thanks.

[Angrybiker]

Rawwr said:

My old one appears to now be for sale at Wheels: http://www.wheelsmotorcycles.co.uk/pages/used/used...

That's about as standard as you can get

lol I saw that on autotrader. Why did you sell it?

I really can't get my head around prices. Chiswick Honda tried to get me to go long on a 15 with 5k on the clock, that was going for 9k.... so how it's the same for a bike a year older is a head scratcher...

Chiswick said they'd give me 4k for my lovely 10 Leyla with under 12k, saying they'd retail it for 4.7; but I've seen dealers on autotrader selling the exact same year/miles for 5.6k or even more. Interestingly Superbike factory has a comparable to mine at 4.7k.... I suspect I could squeeze a little more out of mine px, or I might just try to sell privately.


So I went for a spin at Chiswick Honda at the weekend, they put me on a 15 Repsol. I was actually a little nervous setting off but pretty quickly saw the lack of reason to so be. It does of course feel a little different to my 600RR but it was very easy to ride - clutch nice and light, throttle easy and progressive very easy to manage low speeds; seemed just as nimble as mine, very easy and light to 'flick'. And holy cow the acceleration!! I took it on the M4 down one junction and when the cars cleared I opened up in 2nd - not a full handful but about 3/4. Before I could say 'knife' I was doing 95!! and it felt like nothing. Although there was a strange whistle at that speed which I'm pretty sure wasn't my lid (or maybe it was because the aerodynamics are a little different, who knows).
Only downside was I noticed my lower back getting a little uncomfy after a while, but I think that was probably just me being an old fart.
All in all - lovely, wish I'd had the insurance rep to go for it earlier (I went through a phase of having 4 bikes nicked in 6 years which did not help the NCD)

Oh yeah - the chap also said that people make too much or invent more of the annual tweaks than really matters, that the wheels and dash etc changed in 2012 but other than that it's basically the same bike as 08.... He said that the footpegs didn't move in 14 and the aftermarket cans had to be redone because of a change in the diameter of the interface - but I suspect, since I've read reviews and heard from you guys, that he just isn't as on top of the annual changes as he should be.

Edited by Angrybiker on Monday 24th April 10:53

[Angrybiker]

Yep good summary and thanks a lot. It did feel just as comfortable and forgiving as my 600 with the dampers etc. - first bike I owned was an SV650 and I really hated the 'on/off' nature of the throttle. Jump starting that you were just as likely to get a sudden burst and lose control. I did once have a tank slapper trying to go a little too quickly round a country road corner, but I've never felt even close to one on the RR. I'll take ease of riding any day over a little more capacity - to really take advantage of any difference you'd have to (a) Be on a track rather than a road in London (unless you're a complete lunatic); and (b) be a markedly better rider. For a bike like this, for 99.9% of riders any small tech differences will be moot, if people are honest about their ability.

I think the newer 16s, while a bargain, I don't want to spend 6k on an uptick (I just forked out for an XKR the other year!). 8 is my target strike price but I think I'll probably have to settle for closer to 9 for a 14, which seems to be the year that makes the most sense. Also at 14 the bike will be 3 years old which I'm not sure but probably starts to cross into a lower category for the insurance, which being a London postcode will be eye watering enough, even with my newfound NCD.

[Angrybiker]

3DP said:

I try to avoid built up areas full stop. The CBRs are pretty easy to ride in traffic, but TBH, anything more upright and naked or a 125 scooter would be more comfy and faster point to point in London!

Personally, I prefer bikes that 'feel' confidence inspiring, rather than rely on confidence through acts of faith that the electronics will sort it out. Seeing friends ride bikes that have electronics, and don't have electronics, I would say their pace on the road is much more dependent on how they feel on the bike rather than knowing there is an electronic safety net. For me, there is no situation where a tank slapper is fun or entertaining, but I like fast turning and fast steering bikes. The 600RR and 1000RR manage the trick of being super fast turning and having super stability and calm front ends. You'd be surprised at how many bikes manage the exact opposite by feeling both ponderous and unstable. If you feel a bike is predictable, your pace will be quicker.

Adding to the mix - I wouldn't discount the outgoing GSXR1000. Superb bike playing the same game as the last gen Fireblade, at a decent price point.

That's exactly why I ended up going for the 600RR way back when. At the time I really wanted an R6 but when it came to test ride there was just no comparison. Since then Hondas only for me, just so confidence inspiring and such a pleasure to ride. (besides, Gixxers are a bit Council aren't they? <see 'a bit council' thread if you want a laugh>)

I tend to make faster progress than most. Any scooter who rides faster than me is riding way above what they should be given the relative amount of grip and handling they have; and nakeds, well they just don't hit the button for me, plus the extra wind on the motorway. Also, build quality.

Edited by Angrybiker on Monday 24th April 15:41

[Angrybiker]

Rawwr said:

That pretty much sums up why I like and stick with Fireblades.

Rawrr - why did you sell your blade?

[Angrybiker]

Rawwr said:

To buy a Fireblade.

What you just wanted a new one? If I may be so bold what did Wheels give you for it? I've seen one with a few fewer miles selling private for 1,100 less so I'm wondering how much they're highballing.

[Angrybiker]

Rawwr said:

£8k. It's a very tidy bike which has been well looked after. At least I could tell you its full history

OK gimme the skinny. my interest is piqued.

[Angrybiker]

Sounds great - seems odd to switch it out at just 7k though, poor thing.

[Angrybiker]

Just put down a deposit on it!!

They gave me my bike + 4k so basically they gave me a grand more for my bike than Chiswick were going to give me.

Plan is to do the swap on 13th next month when my insurance is up, that way I have another year's NCD.

Lord help me and my driving license, and my bank balance for the additional insurance..

[Angrybiker]

3DP said:

Congrats! Do you need to change your username to happybiker now?

Thanks! , but no there are too many cyclists and scooters and general idiots on the roads, and stupid councils with money grabbing no bikes in bus lanes polices, ne less than 50 cameras on my daily commute, etc. etc. etc. Too many things have to change for me to start being happy.

But a nice bike helps..... a bit....

[Angrybiker]

Rawwr said:

Oi! Was it my old one?

Well they didn't give me a reg. yet, it all happened so fast at the end of the day yesterday, but this one:

http://www.wheelsmotorcycles.co.uk/pages/used/used...

which I think is yours?

Edit: Yes, it is, it's the link you posted earlier!

Please tell me you're not 30 stone and stuffed the suspension already

How were the tyres / pads etc doing when you traded it in?

Edited by Angrybiker on Tuesday 25th April 10:20

[Angrybiker]

Rawwr said:

Tyres and pads are fine. Hope you enjoy it ??

Thanks . Well at least you know it's going to a good home too. My Leyla is mint.


Now, Anyone have any insurance recommendations? I'm currently with Carole Nash with a great quote but I've found them a bit hit and miss in the past.

Also - aftermarket cans (if I decide to), anyone any wisdom to offer?

[Angrybiker]

May 13, when my insurance is up

[Angrybiker]

It's a really long way though from SW London, and the A1M isn't my favourite of roads... If the weather isn't perfect of if I'm just way too tired I might ring them up and get them to deliver it. Then again it's a good trip to properly say byebye to my lovely machine and get used to the new one... Definitely will depend most on the weather, I have zero intention of being rained on for 4-5 hours!