Hello Guys! I’m a new member and have had my blade for a year now. I’ve not been riding long and I’m absolutely loving it!! Spent a lot of my time riding around the North West as I’m from Manchester.
Hi Leve, and welcome. Agree that it is a very nice example. You buy it privately or through dealer? 2006 or 2007?
Bought it from a (car/van) dealer in Yorkshire. He had it on a trade in. It’s a 2004 model and only done just over 4000 miles. It’s in great nick
Well, that knocked me down a peg. I thought I was approaching 'guru' status on year-of-models, but I've been caught out. I know there were major changes to the 06-07 over the 04-05, but the paintwork was predominantly the same. The tell-tale I thought, was that the 04-05 had only one 'splash' of paint on the tank, whereas the latter ones had two splashes. Yours clearly has the two, so that's stuffed my philosophy. The only other dead cert to split the two models is the treatment of the end cap cover on the exhaust; the 04-05 with the silver plastic and the 06-07 with the black shroud. Yours has neither because of the Yoshi. I've posted this pic before, (some members are yawning) but I have a 5,000 miler 2004 which I continually claim rides better than later models. You will note I've removed the plastic heatshield from the exhaust (below seat) and polished up the alloy for added 'bling effect'. Polished the life out of the heel plates too!
Very tidy looking bike , North west myself , Fylde area . Keep an eye out in the Ride Outs section, Manchester based riders for a good run out
That’s lovely and looks mint I caught an indicator on a piece of wood in my garage last month and it bent back causing a small crack in the fairing apart from that it’s immaculate. I will be putting a lot more miles on mine over the next few years. I think the previous owners used it mostly on the track. I got the original exhaust, rear seat and pegs with the bike but will keep it as it currently is. It’s a great ride for an inexperienced rider like me.
Easiest way to tell between 04/05 and 06/07 is that the earlier ones have 2 side panels, bolts running horizontally at the join, whereas the 06/07 is effectively a single side panel.
Ah, yes. Thanks for that. I'd never even noticed. Another case of making things more difficult for myself than they actually are.
Welcome to the forum Leve Lad, nice low mileage example you have there. there's a few of us in the NW that have begun meeting up so you're welcome to join us on ride out's. as @Selmer50mark suggested, keep an eye on the 'calling all Manchester based riders' thread in the ride out's section! Where are you based?
I’m in Oldham so pretty handing for getting to most places in and around MCR. Will deffo be up for a ride out!
Hi and welcome from another NW biker from Bolton @Nigel lee is Rochdale and @Beckers is Oldham so plenty of us around, there are a few bikers meeting up now on a Monday night at the veteran's garage at city airport might see you there
Born in Crumpsall Hospital and lived in Middleton until I joined the RAF in 1988. Now left the RAF and settled in Lincolnshire. Will give you lots a shout if I take my Blade up to my folks.