There's something reassuring about these middle-aged British guys enthusiastically talking about sport bikes. It's a nice change of pace from the young Monster Energy guzzling, bong pulling, ripped-jean wearing American guys who seem to dominate RU-vid. There's a time and a place for that, sure; it's part of the "living on the edge" appeal of motorcycles. But there's a professional side to the sport-bike world that's sometimes gets forgotten. Good stuff here....
I wish i could go back to 2001 as well. But i love FortNine and think people like him, Matt Farah & Jay Leno do a great job of speaking about bikes. I live in California and wouldn’t own a Royal Enfield Interceptor or even know what it was had it not been for them all raving about it. I just knew Enfield as a gun manufacturer… i am America after all 😂
I had a 98 blade until last year, traded it in for a new gsxs1000. As nice as it is I miss the old blade. You would never guess it was over 20 years old. It rode beautifully. Im on the look out to change to a 929.
I'd take the 954 any day over an r1, better looking and itl go forever iv got a 94 1000 f beautifully built and runs like it was born yesterday. Go Honda
Totally agree i dont like these new style sports bikes. Half fairings and strange back tails on them. Best sports bikes built was late 90s and up to 2010.
@Stuart Murphy Im on a cbr 600fy and going to view a 2001 blade this week. Wasn't sure how good and reliable they are plus comfortable riding position. Im liking the reviews so far. I love my cbr 600 tho want to move up to 1000cc
Still got it, used every summer, MOT was yesterday. Had to order a new battery, the current one lasted 4 years. Went for a ride about after mot test, every time you ride it is something special. Will never sell it
I like the 929 better than the 954. Maybe because I'm a little biased, as my dad owned one back in the day, except his was red (he wanted the yellow but couldn't find it for sale). He considered trading it for a 2001 model in dark blue, but ended up getting a 600F in 2003.
iv had mine 12 years and i noticed all the new stock are taking on the old style look , hey what goes around comes around , its a little dated on the speed , but as they say its not the bike but the rider !!!
I bought my 'blade new thirteen years ago and I have never heard the audible indicator?? I too have a open Staintune exhaust. I even cut the little wire basket thing off on the end of the exhaust.
Samuel Fitzsimmons - 96 models don't have upside down fitted from New, although I thought the same when I first viewed the 97 I was buying, they look like upside down forks. Just an immitation with the design...
These are one of the best "bang for the buck" bikes to get used in 2020. In some areas there are alot of them for sale. $3000 for a well maintained 20-30k plus. My only complained is the small performance gap between it and the 600f4, or any of the 99-2000 600s. On the track and back roads, a 600 will smash it. I think 2002-2010 is when the litre bikes started to find their place and offer what a 600 can't. Before 01 def 600f4 the best. Unless you pinging up the freeway at 150+mph doing speed runs. The day a 600 i4 isn't "fast enough for you" is when it's time to hang up the keys.
What? Two equal ability riders, same track, 900RR will put gap city on the 600. 600’s can’t match the extra 20-25 torque that the Blade has. These bikes top out near 170, not 140-145 like the 600’s of the old days did.
I almost bought a 929 in 2000, it was the one i wanted, until i test rode it. It felt too much like a 750, it felt no torquier than the GSX-R750 after jumping off the R1, in the end i went with the R1. Which i still have.
