Hi All, I'm new to the forum and would appreciate your expertise. I've currently got an 08 R1 and would like to part ex to a Blade. Can anyone suggest the best year to buy. According to MCN they suggest the 06/07 model, but i'd like to hear from real world 'bikers'
I wouldnt listen to MCN too much. It all depends on your budget and your preference. You wont go far wrong with any model Blade.
Agree with Steve , but I do prefer the 04 to 07 models. Early 04/5 ones had alternator probs, but think they had sorted by the 06/07. Nowt wrong with most Blades though, mines a 1998 model, a lot of peeps like them?
My mates 07 is awesome but its bigger and feels heavier than my 2011. Some bargains out there on 07's and 08's for that matter .. Unless your at the top of your game racing and seconds count then i think its down to looks and which one flicks your switch
IMO the best blade has to be the 2007 as the alternator problem was still evident on the 2006 despite Hondas denials. The later ones although were good were oil burners which put off many intending buyers. The RRW/X was perhaps the best of the carbed blades until Megawilly arrived.
Thanks all, i'm just trying to find if there were any 'issues' with certain years. I wish i'd done this before i bought the 08 R1, cause it turns out some of them have suffered with valve issues, needing engine rebuilds, which unfortunatley mine has. Cost me a neat £2k. The 09 R1 just sounds too trick for me! Let's hope within the next month i'll be the proud owner of a secondhand blade. Thanks again!
Have a ride on em all would help you decide.I rode the 2011 blade demonstrator that Kent m/c's lent me and instantly gelled to it.I'm a shorty and it's the only 1ltr sportsbike I could put both feet down on.It was so easy to ride thats why I bought it.It's comfortable and the build quality is good.The early ones hurt my wrist with the ride position.The 04-07 were a little too tall for my legs.Whatever one you buy, you are buying a good bike.Good luck we won't be offended by what you buy as long as it's a blade.
if you got an 08 r1 cant see point personally in getting an older rr7 good as they are, your p/x deal would probably be poor go for the newest one you could afford imho. happy hunting!
I can only vouch for my model, 06, which has been awsome to me. Goes as well as anything and can still pound 600 miles in a day. Looks better than the rest mind you, in the best colour!
Merry Christmas and welcome mate I've got a 2010 HRC Blade. I test rode one in April and was blown away! I had the chance of another go in July but this time i had it for several hour and i was sold, it is a truely amazing piece of kit and it totally takes you over! So i got mine on 1st Oct and i can't wait till the spring!!... If you check out MotorcycleLuke cbr1000rr on You tube you'll see a Yamaha R1 man in conflict with himself there is 4 videos of him on a 2010 blade, start watching them from his earliest entry i can honestly related to him getting smitten-ed by the Blade! He is a DJ for Kerrang and a road tester for motorcycle world and has road tested 100's of bikes but it's the Blade that seduces him!!!!.... You should try the 06/07 then a 08-on that's the only way to be sure it's a personal choice! I heard that 06/07 they changed the sprockets to improve acceleration to keep up with rivals but sacrificed top end!! No such problem with the 2010 pure drive all the way up to an official 200.137mph in standard trim (disabled 186mph limiter) on Bonneville salt flats the first for a production litre bike and it's the mid-range king that blitzes the beemer a thou!! It's the only second hand bike to get 10/10 in Fast bikes mag! No wonder it's the choice of weapon at the TT !!! Sorry i sound like a gibbering idiot but that's the effect it has on you. Anyway Good luck with your search regard Trev
only had one which is a 2011 model . So I would say 2008-11. But after test riding a R1, BMW1000rr I'm glad I went for the blade. First sports bike, first Track day and first Huge Euro tour on the blade and well impressed still
Hello mate and welcome to the forum. I'm no techie and certainly no top level rider. However, I have owned 3 R1's '98, '08 and '09. I've also owned 2 Blades, both '11. I bought the blades after one of my riding buddies bought one while I owned the '09 R1. I preferred the growl of the R1 to the Blade but in my opinion, the Blade out-classed the R1 in all other aspects, including looks. Being a superficial kinda' guy, that appealed to me. I've been very lucky and not had any mechanical or technical issues with any of my bikes (save for carb-icing on a ninja many years ago). I'm sure you'll make a great choice and will enjoy whatever year/model Blade you end up with. For what it's worth I think the Repsol is the best by a country mile (without bias of course) Take care Mick
Fantastic, i'm loving all your replies. I'm out test riding this week, and hope to bang a bargain. So far i like the black and white colour scheme, but that's just on the computer ha! I'll let you know what i end up with... 'excited from West London'
