all going well I will be trading the gixer in next week for this :cool: Its absolutely mint, 14k, scott oiler and full Honda service history. The dealership are doing the 16k service as part of the deal as well as its the major service.

Can't wait :D

The build quality seems so more finished compared to the Suzuki and they are both the same age.

Apart from that I found it so much more spacious to sit on so more suited to my size - 6'3 and 15 stone than the gixer. Time will tell though so will have to get some miles done to really tell the difference.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/Bravo2zero_sps/Fireblade.jpg

Hey Bob,

Nice bike - the first Blade I tested that I actually liked from the off. In fact I nearly bought one but stayed faithful to the Gixxer, mainly because I'm a lot smaller than you...

Tell you what, though. And I'm only saying it because I care - you know that, don't you?

That screen is farkin' horrible.

Sorry.

SB

;)

LOL cheers Simon. I have the option to change the screen to a standard one as I said I didn't like the massive vibration when on the motorway with it but I had said to keep it on there as it was a high screen but I think i'm swaying towards the decision of changing it back to the standard screen. This may get rid of the vibration problems too as well as that disgusting green/turquoise beeding along the edge of it :D

The other thing was how quiet it is with the standard exhaust. It will be the first bike i've had that doesn't have a race can on it, not sure whether to change it or not - nothing expensive though if I do as the carbon fibre Akropovic I had on the R1 was the biggest waste of £500 I have ever spent.

:cool:

nice one bob:thumb:
(gotta agree about the screen tho-the mint trim just doesnt do it for me:D)
richie

hope the mint trim comes off the screen?

Very nice though Bob..

Welcome to Blade ownership!!

Simon :D

Nice bike Bob.

I'm 6'3" and 14.5 stone myself. I'm hoping to buy my first sportsbike this Spring and was thinking about a GSXR600 K4, mainly as I'd heard I would have more space on it than the 2004 CBR600RR that I also wanted.

Obviously I'll ride them both but which is comfier/roomier/less likely to make me look like a frog on a pebble?

Cheers guys, that screen is getting changed or the trim removed and Simon you helped me sway for the Blade and away from another R1 so just hope I don't regret it :D Will be interested to see how it fares between the gixer and my previous R1, if it will be smack in the middle of a compromise between the 2 or still no where near the R1 performance. (was too sensible to give it welly on the test ride in case I got nicked!)

As for the the choice over the gixer or the cbr I couldn't say as I haven't ridden either of them but which ever one you go for they will both be cramped on leg room for your height. That is the nature of 600's now and in fact bigger engined bikes as well, even the 1000's are now getting the size of the 600's so not built for tall people wanting to do long distance on them in comfort. Test riding them both will be the only way to tell which is the best one for you as it boils down to personal choice anyway. Nice bikes which ever one you got for as a first bike!

I am sure you won't be disapointed!

probably want to change the exhaust within a month :)

I was going to ask you about that! Can't afford a Yoshi so whats a good cheap end can? Had a Scorpion on my ZX6-R and it popped and banged loads on over run. Not sure I want that again as probably not best for long term engine life or fuel economy. Wish I could keep my gixer one, have no idea what it is as its unbranded and looks like a standard can but sounds fantastic. Not sure on brands like Micron as not got 1st hand experience of them. In fact are there any cans out there that look standard? (ie not covered in the name of the manufacturer and just plain looking)

A good quality budget brand are Carbon Can Company (http://www.carboncan.co.uk/) £155 gets you a stainless end can that looks stock but sounds very fruity, the logo used to be just a sticker that you could peel off..

Cheers Mogsi thats exactly the sort of thing I want. The gixer has survived several police checks purely because the can looked standard even though they never checked for the kite mark - looking standard I guess they thought it was.

The last thing I want is something that sticks out a mile visibly with the brand name plastered right down its length and the cops stick a ticket on the bike every time they see it :o

7 Foot, the GSX-R is waaay bigger than the CBR-RR.

I'm only 5'10" and I got cramp on the Honda after a few miles. It's fine on the track where you never stay in one place but on the road, not for me...

I've ridden my K4 750 Gixxer (same size bike just with bigger holes in the engine) to the Nurburgring and back quite happily. With luggage :)

SB

Does anyone know if they did a rear seat cowl for the CBR?

Thanks Simon.

Does anyone know if they did a rear seat cowl for the CBR?
Yes they do.. but not seen where to get one from..

Cheers Simon, had a search on google and found a nice one from the US but its about $200 and that is just too expensive for a little bit of plastic so may forget about getting one.

My new bike...

So you got rid of weapon69 then? :wonder:

:rolleyes:

the biggest waste of £500 I have ever spent

what about 3 months of lunches at the Still & Star???

LOL

BB:)

lol mate those were the days, 3 hour lunches in the pub, 2 hour breakfasts on the roof, the Still and Star and Kellys made a fortune out of us lot.

bob, i'm meeting charlie at the railway (liverpool st) if you fancy a quick beer!!

after 6pm!!

Can't make it mate, working till 6 then got to get home. You still got that pad in Docklands? Have to meet up for a beer in the week round Canary Wharf if you have.

Nice looking bike mate, hope you enjoy it immensely.

Thanks mate, spoke to the dealership today, and they said its had the front forks replaced today under a Honda recall :o Didn't say why but done as told to by Honda! Oh and the screen is now reverted back to standard :D

Roll on Wednesday!

Excellent..

Just to prove that hideous screen has gone and it makes it look a lot better and much less motorway vibration :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/Bravo2zero_sps/Blade003a.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v85/Bravo2zero_sps/Blade002a.jpg

Now get some tax on it :D :D

Looks v nice....

LOL shhhh

Got to wait for the insurance cover note before I can tax it. I've got my receipt for the bike carried on me and also still got the tax for the gixer which I will show as proof I do tax my bikes before I cash it in after the blade is taxed as knowing my luck I will get stopped before its taxed.

I'm really impressed with the power delivery on it, so much better than the gixer for motorway riding and back up there towards R1 power (although not quite there) and it is the most spacious bike I have owned for leg room which is great, makes it really comfy. The build quality difference between the blade and the gixer is massive. Everything feels more solid about it and for example look under the rear seat and all the plastics are enclosed so can't see whats inside like wiring loom etc. The gixer was totally open and could see all the bike wiring and is why it went bad being so exposed to the crap flying off the rear wheel. If Suzukie wanted to do that they should have at least fitted a hugger as standard. Something I never thought of untilit was too late. The digital clocks are huge and clear and easy to see and also the previous owner fitted a gear indicator which is a novelty for me oh and I love the way the rear seat flips up like a boot lid :D Its also fits properly whereas the gixer seat cowl you were always worried if it was going to fly off while riding along due to it being such a loose fit.

The one thing that every report has said about its downside is true though, thirsty on juice due to the fuel injection and it is a nightmare at low speeds or pulling away, really snatches. Also I don't think it handles as fast as the gixer but then its much bigger and i'm not used to it yet so that may change.

So all in all I don't want to get off the thing and actually look forward to going to work in the mornings now just for the hour blast I get on the bike :D

I love the way the rear seat flips up like a boot lid :D Its also fits properly whereas the gixer seat cowl you were always worried if it was going to fly off while riding along due to it being such a loose fit.



Ahh, but at least you get the pillion seat and cowl free with a gixer ;) :D

Lovely bike mate, wanted one of those myself when Motorcycle City (remember them :0 ) were doing some good deals on them as the model changed. Just couldn't afford the insurance at the time though.

They have one of the best std looking swingarms on any bike, although the Scottoiler sticker on the LHS spoils it a bit, you going to keep it on??

Decided on a can yet?

Hope you have more luck on the reliability front than your gixer, I've been very lucky with my gixers and had no probs at all, even with winter riding, but then I was a bit anal about stripping it down and coating the whole thing in WD-40 every weekend :D

Enjoy!!

Matt