Saw you over on the Gixxer forum, congrats and welcome aboard
BTW: riding overseas is great isnit it
BTW: riding overseas is great isnit it
Die hard gixxer fan calling in......
....with a new 2008 Blade.
Hi folks
47 year old Norwegian gixxer fan, currently working, living and riding in Korea signing in :th_coolio:
Been riding gixxers all my life and to be honest I have not been a huge Hinda fan and initially wanted a K9 but the herendous price tag on it here in Korea this year opened the opportunity to check out the new Blade.
I guess you guys have heard it all before, but anyways..... below is my initial impressions of the bike with a few pics.....sorry a little long
At the bottom I have posted a pic of my current fully prepped race bikes (K5 and 750) which is premanently located at a race track in Thailand ( www.highsidetours.com)
...and if you want to see where and how we ride in Korea take a look at the 2 year old video I made on my K5: http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=okpo+-+hakdong&emb=0&aq=f#
Well I guess all the superlatives has already been given to this bike in all the magazines reviews and I agree with most of them, although I have a few personal complaints.
Today I took the bike out some roads I have been doing tons of miles on my previous gixxers and even my road form is a bit rusty after more than year with only a few track & race weekends I will try and give my honest assessment of the bike as a street ride.
It is still early days and I bet there is more to come from the bike, but anyways here it goes:
Bike: 2008 Honda CBR 1000 RR EU spec in total stock form with Bridgestones BT 015, 36PSI front and rear.
Looks: The Blade has taken a lot of flack for it flat nose looks, but the bike looks much, much better in person. This is not an ugly bike IMHO. Period.
Also the bike looks so, so tiny....
Suspension: As usual the 'Honda out of the crate' suspension is good, comfortable and soaks up what comes at it pretty well. Even at stock settings I think it can take quite spirited riding, although a few tweaks here and there could make it even better and get rid of a little bouncy feeling.
If I was to compare it to the stock K5, the Honda is way better suspended, especially at the front....although some nitride coating on the fork tubes would be cool.
Brakes: Superb, but a little wooden feeling....might get better...if not new pads and some lines. Absolutely no need to ditch the stock mc's or calipers of todays bikes unless you are pushing WSBK lap times.
Handling: Here is where the Blade really shines IMO. Never have I ridden a more flickable stock bike like this. It turns in very easy, transitions are effortless and steering is ultra sharp...almost to the point of over-steer. I think this bike can take some more trail, but by looking at the forktubes they are already pretty much flush in the triples....so no chance that way....longer Ohlins maybe?
Slightly more stickier rubber up front will give me the feedback I feel is lacking a little now....but that is me....otherwise the bike feels very planted to the surface.
The ignition kill system aimed at taking out the drive train slack seems to be working.
Gearing: 1st & 2nd seems very tall....some re-gearing might be needed
Gearbox is a bit clunky and not as good as on the gixxers. Do Gilles make a shift arm support for the Blade...it could do with one.
Power and fueling: Taken that I'm still breaking it in I haven't ripped the shit out of it yet, but a few tries I could not resist. The motor is very strong, good low end grunt and especially midrange seems to be overloaded. The front gets light in 3rd easy and for those interested power wheelies in 3rd must be pretty easy on this bike.
No complaints on the fuelling, smooth and linear all the way, but midrange is so strong that it seems to kick-in... in a sense....
Another thing that has struck me is how different the engine both feels and sounds compared to previous Blades. It runs and sounds a lot more rough, similar to a gixxer....maybe that's why it is so fast
Ergos: Here is the big minus for me at 5'9. I will adjust to it somehow I think, but I feel a bit cramped and definitely sit much more on top the bike instead of in the bike...something I have come to enjoyed so much on the latest gixxers.
I need stompgrips or something...the tank is narrow and I am used to fat gixxer tanks.
Slipper clutch: It doesn't really come into play on the roads, but couldn't resist a few smackdowns in to 1st and it seems to be top nutch stuff...very, very smooth.
Funny thing it has this little stiction at the lever (same as the K5) and you can feel some small vibes at the lever when the slipper comes to work....cool.
Fit and finish: As usual good from Honda, but in all seriousness I can't say it is that much better than the others.
Minor complaints:
- The bike seems to have valves every where…. it even has a damn flapper valve in the ram air tubes and an exhaust valve that is visible in the outlet....and then o/c the pair valve....what do we have to endure in these emissions times...
- Vibrations. The rhs footpeg is busy.
- The instrument cluster is a bit boring.....look at the K9 Honda!!!....and it lacks the gear indicator. Why Honda after all these years? I'll get used to it, but I miss it after having it since 2005....
- The arrangement of the strap in front of the rear seat is silly...it is just in the way when opening/closing the trunk.
- The so called hooks for helmets on the rear seat is just plain out ridicolous
- The kick stand is to steep and short. Miss my long more angled gixxer one.
One major concern: The oil burning story. Some bikes have had problems with faulty piston rings/seals. It has been repaired under warranty. I see some spots of what appear to be oil coming out of one of the exhaust openings I hope not, I hope not!!!!!
Mods that come into mind other than the usual stuff:
- SS lines
- Speedbleaders
- Akra or Leo Vince slip-on or full with PCIII...or PCV if it will work on the 2008.
- Rear sets
- Shorter throttle
- Grip panels on tank
Two Pros:
- Superb handling characteristics
- My gf likes it too
Two Cons:
- Ergonomics
- Silly, but I do miss the gear indicator
Conclusion:
Not surprisingly it is a very positive experience and I do not so far regret buying this bike at all. It is an improvement in almost every field over bikes I have previously ridden, but for the 'Big Grin First Ride' factor it still comes in second spot for me...K5 still rules for me in that dept.
However this has to be one of the most race/track ready machines out of the crate.
UPDATE*
Took it out on some very tight twisties yesterday, and I mean VERY tight corners...more like 125/250 terretory with about 20 min of slow hairpins, slow & fast chicanes, lots of blind corners etc.... My 750 with lighter wheels and SC's used to shine there and the Blade did pretty well for being a liter bike.
Have noticed the seat is slippery, slide way too much....need Stompgrips ASAP.
On the way home I took it out on the motorway and the bikes is VERY stable and precise at higher speed sweepers.
Got to test the brakes for real and I'm digging them...two finger hard braking is a breeze...
And , again the motor.... WOW does this machine have some midrange
Can not get into full tuck under the screen, which was easy on the gixxers, and having problems resting my forearms on the tank during knee down corners...that's about the only major gripe I have with this bike.
*update* #2
Some more spirited riding and as I said previously, for me this bike needs more trail. It maybe the BT015's but I can't get the confidence I want from the front, besides the bike runs a bit wide. The bike seems very well balanced for my weight at approx 200lbs (haven't bothered to check the sag numbers yet), but I stiffened up the rebound one turn and seemed to help a bit.
The oem seat is as usual from Honda a plank....Energy seat needed and coming soon.
Feel the oem rear sets are in the wrong position for me, too much forward for my style...Vortex ordered.
Bike definately needs to be regeared, 15 tooth front ordered.
Sato shift arm support ordered. This will make the shifting much more instant and positive.
Think I will go for some Supercorsas.
Hi folks
47 year old Norwegian gixxer fan, currently working, living and riding in Korea signing in :th_coolio:
Been riding gixxers all my life and to be honest I have not been a huge Hinda fan and initially wanted a K9 but the herendous price tag on it here in Korea this year opened the opportunity to check out the new Blade.
I guess you guys have heard it all before, but anyways..... below is my initial impressions of the bike with a few pics.....sorry a little long
At the bottom I have posted a pic of my current fully prepped race bikes (K5 and 750) which is premanently located at a race track in Thailand ( www.highsidetours.com)
...and if you want to see where and how we ride in Korea take a look at the 2 year old video I made on my K5: http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=okpo+-+hakdong&emb=0&aq=f#
Well I guess all the superlatives has already been given to this bike in all the magazines reviews and I agree with most of them, although I have a few personal complaints.
Today I took the bike out some roads I have been doing tons of miles on my previous gixxers and even my road form is a bit rusty after more than year with only a few track & race weekends I will try and give my honest assessment of the bike as a street ride.
It is still early days and I bet there is more to come from the bike, but anyways here it goes:
Bike: 2008 Honda CBR 1000 RR EU spec in total stock form with Bridgestones BT 015, 36PSI front and rear.
Looks: The Blade has taken a lot of flack for it flat nose looks, but the bike looks much, much better in person. This is not an ugly bike IMHO. Period.
Also the bike looks so, so tiny....
Suspension: As usual the 'Honda out of the crate' suspension is good, comfortable and soaks up what comes at it pretty well. Even at stock settings I think it can take quite spirited riding, although a few tweaks here and there could make it even better and get rid of a little bouncy feeling.
If I was to compare it to the stock K5, the Honda is way better suspended, especially at the front....although some nitride coating on the fork tubes would be cool.
Brakes: Superb, but a little wooden feeling....might get better...if not new pads and some lines. Absolutely no need to ditch the stock mc's or calipers of todays bikes unless you are pushing WSBK lap times.
Handling: Here is where the Blade really shines IMO. Never have I ridden a more flickable stock bike like this. It turns in very easy, transitions are effortless and steering is ultra sharp...almost to the point of over-steer. I think this bike can take some more trail, but by looking at the forktubes they are already pretty much flush in the triples....so no chance that way....longer Ohlins maybe?
Slightly more stickier rubber up front will give me the feedback I feel is lacking a little now....but that is me....otherwise the bike feels very planted to the surface.
The ignition kill system aimed at taking out the drive train slack seems to be working.
Gearing: 1st & 2nd seems very tall....some re-gearing might be needed
Gearbox is a bit clunky and not as good as on the gixxers. Do Gilles make a shift arm support for the Blade...it could do with one.
Power and fueling: Taken that I'm still breaking it in I haven't ripped the shit out of it yet, but a few tries I could not resist. The motor is very strong, good low end grunt and especially midrange seems to be overloaded. The front gets light in 3rd easy and for those interested power wheelies in 3rd must be pretty easy on this bike.
No complaints on the fuelling, smooth and linear all the way, but midrange is so strong that it seems to kick-in... in a sense....
Another thing that has struck me is how different the engine both feels and sounds compared to previous Blades. It runs and sounds a lot more rough, similar to a gixxer....maybe that's why it is so fast
Ergos: Here is the big minus for me at 5'9. I will adjust to it somehow I think, but I feel a bit cramped and definitely sit much more on top the bike instead of in the bike...something I have come to enjoyed so much on the latest gixxers.
I need stompgrips or something...the tank is narrow and I am used to fat gixxer tanks.
Slipper clutch: It doesn't really come into play on the roads, but couldn't resist a few smackdowns in to 1st and it seems to be top nutch stuff...very, very smooth.
Funny thing it has this little stiction at the lever (same as the K5) and you can feel some small vibes at the lever when the slipper comes to work....cool.
Fit and finish: As usual good from Honda, but in all seriousness I can't say it is that much better than the others.
Minor complaints:
- The bike seems to have valves every where…. it even has a damn flapper valve in the ram air tubes and an exhaust valve that is visible in the outlet....and then o/c the pair valve....what do we have to endure in these emissions times...
- Vibrations. The rhs footpeg is busy.
- The instrument cluster is a bit boring.....look at the K9 Honda!!!....and it lacks the gear indicator. Why Honda after all these years? I'll get used to it, but I miss it after having it since 2005....
- The arrangement of the strap in front of the rear seat is silly...it is just in the way when opening/closing the trunk.
- The so called hooks for helmets on the rear seat is just plain out ridicolous
- The kick stand is to steep and short. Miss my long more angled gixxer one.
One major concern: The oil burning story. Some bikes have had problems with faulty piston rings/seals. It has been repaired under warranty. I see some spots of what appear to be oil coming out of one of the exhaust openings I hope not, I hope not!!!!!
Mods that come into mind other than the usual stuff:
- SS lines
- Speedbleaders
- Akra or Leo Vince slip-on or full with PCIII...or PCV if it will work on the 2008.
- Rear sets
- Shorter throttle
- Grip panels on tank
Two Pros:
- Superb handling characteristics
- My gf likes it too
Two Cons:
- Ergonomics
- Silly, but I do miss the gear indicator
Conclusion:
Not surprisingly it is a very positive experience and I do not so far regret buying this bike at all. It is an improvement in almost every field over bikes I have previously ridden, but for the 'Big Grin First Ride' factor it still comes in second spot for me...K5 still rules for me in that dept.
However this has to be one of the most race/track ready machines out of the crate.
UPDATE*
Took it out on some very tight twisties yesterday, and I mean VERY tight corners...more like 125/250 terretory with about 20 min of slow hairpins, slow & fast chicanes, lots of blind corners etc.... My 750 with lighter wheels and SC's used to shine there and the Blade did pretty well for being a liter bike.
Have noticed the seat is slippery, slide way too much....need Stompgrips ASAP.
On the way home I took it out on the motorway and the bikes is VERY stable and precise at higher speed sweepers.
Got to test the brakes for real and I'm digging them...two finger hard braking is a breeze...
And , again the motor.... WOW does this machine have some midrange
Can not get into full tuck under the screen, which was easy on the gixxers, and having problems resting my forearms on the tank during knee down corners...that's about the only major gripe I have with this bike.
*update* #2
Some more spirited riding and as I said previously, for me this bike needs more trail. It maybe the BT015's but I can't get the confidence I want from the front, besides the bike runs a bit wide. The bike seems very well balanced for my weight at approx 200lbs (haven't bothered to check the sag numbers yet), but I stiffened up the rebound one turn and seemed to help a bit.
The oem seat is as usual from Honda a plank....Energy seat needed and coming soon.
Feel the oem rear sets are in the wrong position for me, too much forward for my style...Vortex ordered.
Bike definately needs to be regeared, 15 tooth front ordered.
Sato shift arm support ordered. This will make the shifting much more instant and positive.
Think I will go for some Supercorsas.
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