Okay, here's the update. After considering all the responses, VERY CAREFULLY I might add, I ditched the lot and did my own thing! Here is my 'runabout'. As forecast by those who have sussed my idiosyncracies (or at least, some of them) I have already commenced the 'detailing' work - Harpic Power Plus with steel wool, Scourer and Brasso on the wheels (had no Autosol) and a general tidy up. This thing is magnificent. Never ridden a V-twin before; totally different experience. The problem now is if I get really hooked on them I might have to make a move on a regular member for one of his SP2s. This is 1999 model. Sure, they are down on power from our Blades, but they have a character all of their own.
Don't get it too Tidy" or you wont want to use it in the rain and you will have to buy another wet weather hack
Excellent choice, my brother had one of those before he got a Fireblade. Completely different power delivery, nice low end torque.
AND.....we want piccys of it all shit up in the rain at least 60 miles away from your home address as proof .....
cbr600 steel frame, dirt cheap and fantastic bike had 3 loved them all. and if i have to sell my bigger bikes i all ways end up buying a cibber to keep me biking
Nigel, you are officially bike mad! Congrats on the newest addition to the family! There is definitely something about having a cheaper run about bike which brings a different aspect to biking. When I bought the fz6 to commute on its was so much fun but in a different way to the blade. Rode it in all weather's without worry, messed about pulling skids and trying to back it into corners, all stuff I keep to a minimum on the blade. Plus when I was knocked off it I wasn't as fuming as I would have been if it was the blade.
personally think your mad going out in shit weather on an old bike when u have good machinery to hand, looks like your putting your safety 2nd to save a few quid or even worst just to have a clean bike, sorry I do tend to speak my mind,
Like roboticus has said....I think I'd have used the 11 plate Blade you've got Nigel for what you were wanting. It's great all year round with the right tyres on and they clean up real well anyhow.
What about something from Mutt Motorcycles - they do 125cc and 250cc - they are really popular locally, they seem to have sold loads of them. website:https://muttmotorcycles.com/pages/mutt-motorcycles lovely colours on this one. quite reasonable prices, as they are only little low tech bike - but cool and great fun...
No probs with anyone speaking their mind, I do enough of it myself! Don't follow the logic though. If an older bike is just as mechanically sound as a newer one (as is the VTR) I can't see how my, or anyone else's safety, would be jeopardised.
Think you might have missed my earlier post, @Mattie660 . I bought a 1999 Firestorm. Thank goodness too. I can just imagine filling out the next census: 'What vehicles do you have?' I would be listing a few bikes, finishing with a Blade SP2 with the addendum, Oh yeah,and a Mutt 125!' Thanks, but no thanks. You stick to touring and I'll stick to cleaning!!
They look great little bikes them Mattie!... seems they've some near me at SMC in Sheffield...I'm going to pop down for a nosey
Well, you do your own thing, if you like cleaning your bikes. Never ridden one of those, big Honda V-Twins before, but rode a big V-Twin Aprilia Tuono, took it for a test ride and said I will have a think - but sold very very quickly. A bit of a brute compared to a nice easy spinning 4 cylinder - I remember. It was a laugh - it looked like this but over 10-15 years old:
They run really well - I think they use Suzuki GN motors. Even non bikers love the look of them. Prices seem reasonable......
bikes have come along way since 99, what the thing weigh, forks don't look up to much iv better on my push bike, brakes wont be good, im just seeing a lot of deaths on the roads at mo of people going to and from work and im guessing there on similar machinery, work horse's, im not saying its down to the bike but good components are not cheap for a reason, they work better, a newer bike just might be the difference in tricky conditions,
