Fair comment Mike but I wonder; does any bike maker fit them as standard? Probably a standard fitting on skidoos' and maybe some quad-bikes? Are they a standard fitting on some BMW's? I don't want to 'go on' about my new bike 'cos someone will soon be along to point out that 'THIS IS A FIREBLADE FORUM MATE SO PISS OFF! but Whilst were talking about stuff that should be on the bike but isn't, just allow me to mention one glaring omission. i.e. no centre-stand. It's a £180.00 extra FGS. Now I've got a (practical?) weakness for single-sided swing-arms. Need to remove the rear wheel? Pop it up on the centre-stand, undo the wheel nuts and Bob's yer Uncle! Except he isn't if you didn't buy that particular essential extra. It gets worse! As we're all aware, to check the oil level on the 'blade all that you need to do is hold the bike upright and check the dip-stick. However, on the VFR 1200 there is no dip-stick but a sight-glass that's so tucked away under the clutch housing that it's impossible to see whilst, as the owners manual advises holding the (610lb!) bike upright. It sounds like I'm unhappy with my new purchase. I'm not. Just running my eye over it, under close inspection, it oozes Honda's 'Rolls-Royce quality' of build. As for what it's like to ride. Well as yet I can't say. Working long hours, Salt/grit on the roads and now a streaming cold mean that in the ten days since delivery it's stood, on it's factory-fitted side-stand and hasn't turned a bloody wheel. Oh well spring is just around the corner.
