Being a whole day into my ownership of the most recent model Blade I've made some observations for what may be sensible or necessary mods/accessories: 1) Radiator guard. What a shiny radiator! All covered with crap after a short ride! 2) Hugger. What a crap tiny hugger! (On the SP at least). Crap flung all over the underside of the bike. 3) Screen. It's small isn't it?! Cruising more comfortable at speed on my old RR6 with the bigger screen (and frontal area) 4) Knee pads / stomp grips. My knees seem to grip the black plastic panels which aren't too bad compared to a slippery metal tank, but for braking at speed on track you'll want some more grip. Only all the aftermarket pads seem to go in the area behind that black panel next to the seat (useless) or above (won't get much contact). Any and all advice very welcome!
First of congrats on the new bike..... Although its not the most recent model anymore Here's a pic of four simple mods, exhaust Arrow GP, tank grips EAZI GRIPS, tall screen MRA, engine covers GB racing. The black knee section on your tank will be a nobbly texture and not sure grips will stick to well to it. Mine is painted and smooth so was able to cut some to shape out of a universal sheet of EAZIGRIP!
Nice bike Paulo! Question about the pipe - have you had the bike noise tested with it? Did you need to mess with the maps or did the bike take to it OK?
Yeah arrow can went straight on with no issues, some people people do speak about snatchiness low down in the revs or when pottering around after fitting an exhaust...... I say rev the tits of it and you won't get that. If you've ever watched and heard a Moto gp bike go down pit lane coughing and spluttering and generally sounding like a bag of spanners?? Doesn't sound like that on full chat does it??!! Never had it noise tested as never planned on using it on track..... I do plan on doing if I keep it next year and we'll see how it gets on with a baffle in
I did R & G rad guard on mine, plus tail tidy (which I know you've done). I'm not a 'tank gripper' but have put clear adhesive in the knee areas to prevent scuffing. No need for a modded hugger for me due to no wet weather activity. Standard screen has not concerned me, but not having ridden with an option one, I'm in no position to know the benefits or otherwise.
rrg rad guard which are spot on , power bronze screen which is a lot better than standard , eazi grip knee pads and rear hugger as standard , and r&g frame protectors do the job .
Here's what I settled on in the end. My brother has a trade account with both R&G and Powerbronze so tried to cover the bases from those two sources. Goals were to spend as little as possible for the most protection with the least aesthetic impact. I'm normally a fan of bungs due to the static drop protection, but no bung solution worked for me (either too expensive, too heavy or needed drilling). 1) Powerbronze light smoke bubble screen 2) Powerbronze black radiator guard 3) R&G RHS engine cover 4) R&G LHS engine case slider 5) R&G Swingarm cotton reels (will probably just use the LHS as my paddock stand doesn't use them) 6) R&G Exhaust protector 7) R&G tank pad Some notable points. I've not engine covered both sides. Feels weird, but then you can't see both sides at the same time anyway. I'd have gone for sliders both sides if I could, as they'll take some of the hit for the fairings too. But you can only get one for the LHS so that forced the cover on the RHS. Exhaust protector is ugly. But if it goes down on that side, do you want to be paying Honda £1k plus for a new one? No replacement bar ends. Opposite scenario. Why not just replace with OEM if the worst happens? No fork protectors. I'll take my chances. Bad idea? Still need to get some tank grips - think the universal eazi grip solution will be the one to go for but might also need some extra adhesive.
Id put a ceramic coat on your paint work too, honda paint is notoriously soft. Chain adjuster too if you're doing a few miles
You have to look at these. So functional yet discrete and no whacking R & G across it. I've used them on a few of my bikes now:
Got most of the accessories on today, bar the tank pad. The RHS R&G engine cover was a sod - had to hack out the holes for the filler plugs with a stanley knife to actually get it on. Don't mind it now it's there though. Equally the engine slider on the opposite side and bobbin on the swingarm are pretty inoffensive. I like the tinted bubble screen on there too. That exhaust guard though Horrendous. Don't know how I feel about keeping it on there... defo want it on there for track, but for the rest of the time? Also the rad guard is a bit jerry rigged in there - just holds on with zip ties. Also it's metal and pretty heavy. Would have thought it would be some kind of plastic but it'll do the job.
Never seen that sort of rad guard before. I hope you didn't pay much for it! And that exhaust guard. I know protection is your objective, but it looks as if some scroat dropped his friggin' police ankle bracelet in the street and you slipped it onto your bike. I suppose it has a curfew now?
What are rad guards for this normally like? How different is your R&G one? And now I can't get that ankle bracelet image out of my mind!!
totally disagree get all stickers and reflectors off they look tacky no one gives a hoot if they are left on...just makes the swingarm looked cluttered ....always have removed on any bike I have had..
