R1 or Blade ??

[iwilde]

Why limit yourself to only those two? Theirs always the ZX10R and the GSXR1000

[Stopper Dan]

Innit great to have such a choice! If it's purely about looks as you say then the R1 wins hands down - sexiest Thou on the market IMO with the K5 in at 2nd.

Check out this comparison, i trust you're looking at the 2004+ models cos the CBR1000 didn't exist b4 then. :spudwave:

Was just refering to a blade in general, i don't think 12k would buy me an 04 blade. The lower capacity blades are still cool. I do like the underseat can on the later ones though

[Maha]

R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 R1 need i say more?......

[Stopper Dan]

Why limit yourself to only those two? Theirs always the ZX10R and the GSXR1000

This is true, but if i was to buy any bike it would be Ducati's 996 in yellow/white
still 12k limit! (don't get married, im still trying to get my pants back)

[Paulus]

I've ridden and owned quite a few Blades and currently own a 98 R1. The first fuel injected Blades (the 929) had nasty fuel injection snatch which was downright scary in slow corners. Don't know if this was fixed in the 954 as I've never ridden one. The eariler (pre 2000) ones feel anaemic compared to an R1 (they're giving away 20hp). Get an old low mileage R1 ($8-9000) and spend the rest of the money sorting out the suspension. PB did this same thing recently and were well pleased with the result.

[Zed]

Was just refering to a blade in general, i don't think 12k would buy me an 04 blade. The lower capacity blades are still cool. I do like the underseat can on the later ones though

Okay, but don't forget that the earlier Blades were not 1000cc, but rather 893 & 918cc depending on which year, so classified as the 900cc...the Thou's are the next step (generation) up, so the R1 is the superior machine to buy in both looks and power.

Still, Blades have always been awesome bikes!

The following from http://www.xtremedecals.com/fireblade92-93.htm

Model Year 2000

Honda hoped in 2000 to regain the top position. But Yamaha didn't sleep and also modernized its R1. The Fireblade again had to be satisfied with second place although the lead held by Yamaha was huge.
The introduction of new CBR was in Spain on the Estoril circuit. The Fireblade almost qualified as sport touring bike. High power on the top of range disapeared, same as slightly unstable controllability. The new Fireblade finally got what needed long time ago - 17'' front wheel. This together with front fork /upside-down/ calm down the front part of the bike and subsequently allowed more hard manoeuvring.
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The Fireblade represended highly a sophisticated unit that could overcome the R1 but ... Yamaha didn't leave anything to the coincidence and for year 2000 also modernized its R1. The R1 lost 2 kg and got titanium exhaust muffler together with many improvements in engine and chassis. But the Fireblade also prepared itself well, it got an increased engine capacity from 918 on 929cc and decreased weight its weight to 170 kg. It also was given fuel injection. Honda finally increased power - it reached at least on the paper 152 HP, but was proven it was too optimistic - checks on dyno showed more realistic value about 135 HP.

[iwilde]

This is true, but if i was to buy any bike it would be Ducati's 996 in yellow/white
still 12k limit! (don't get married, im still trying to get my pants back)

Been married twice now, so any advice to me fall on deaf ears! But, theirs always bargins coming up for 12K and under for the ZXRs and GSXRs. A very nice GSXRK2 went for 10K not so long back and it only had 8K on the clock