kraftwerk
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Shameless motorcycle galleryDid a bit of polishing / fettling this weekend...
Took the 'Bird out for a really nice ride yesterday - up in to Herfordshire. Got to Hertford, set the GPS for no highways to Stevenage (there's a good bike accessory shop there) and it took me on some tiny B-roads. Trouble is, most of them had a line of gravel all the way up the middle, so I had to be a bit ginger with the right hand - both for throttle and brake. Almost came a cropper on some sort of agri-waste; back wheel slid a good couple of feet to the left while I was keeled over for a right-hander.
You don't get much more of a buzz! I absolutely cacked myself.
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Nice Guy Eddie
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Bikes are looking good.
Pardon for me asking what is probably a stupid question but what are all the covers for on the tanks?
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Boxer6
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Sounds like great fun! (but only when you do stay on board!!)
/me goes away to reminisce, in a manful-type fashion of course
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kraftwerk
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| Slow Eddie wrote: | | ...what are all the covers for on the tanks? |
Just protection for the paint, really. I like the way they look. They also double as a harness for a tank bag should you need one.
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D.
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Great job done there. Can I bring mine over for you to do the same to it?!
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Matt
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Looks like Twelfth isn't the only one who either cleans to perfection or only pretends to use them... 
Seriously, I hope my paint work looks as nice as the X11 at Prescott.
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kraftwerk
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The X11 (the black one) is used every weekday.
The 'Blade's not been out for a serious blat for a while. First planned is BladeDay 2 at Donington, the day before Prescott. A celebration of all things FireBlade, with thousands expected to attend. First 500 through the gate can ride the circuit. Yes please!
The Blackbird is, admittedly, seldom used and I keep it immaculate. Yesterday was its first semi-serious run in a couple of months. Next one is Prescott, then to France on 10 June.
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franki68
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Kraft can I ask why 3 similar bikes ? This is showing my bike ignorance,but to a non biker it appears you have the equivalent of a 997c2 s,997gt3 and 997 turbo.
What I do know about bikes is that those you have got are 'motherfucking ' fast.
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kraftwerk
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Ah well, Chris, they're all vastly different, actually. To put it in simple terms, the FireBlade (the orangey one), is the motorcycle equivalent of, say, a Caterham R500. Blisteringly quick, incredibly agile, not something on which you want to spend prolonged periods of time, but hugely enjoyable and rewarding in short bursts.
The X11 (the black one) is like an Audi RS4. Huge performance, particularly in the bottom end, stable handling, all-day comfort thanks to a sit-up riding position and absolutely ideal for every day use. It's my daily rider.
The SuperBlackbird (the blue one) is like an Aston Martin DB9. Mindbending performance in every gear, continent-crushingly long-legged, supremely comfortable, docile beyond belief when need be (it'll pootle about all day without a whimper), but vastly entertaining on the right roads, where its girth seems to disappear. It really is one of the finest motorcycles ever made - and Honda kept it on its roster for 10 years with no major revisions (EFi in 1999, but other than that...). Testament to the inherent rightness of its initial design.
I hope I don't sound like I've overstated things (Big Blue? Dan?) nor been patronising. Thanks for asking.
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D.
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Pretty much spot on there.
I had no idea that the Blackbird had been around for 10 years. My bike is 5 years old later this year, doesn't seem like it.
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kraftwerk
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Thanks Dan. Yes, Blackbird introduced 1997, discontinued 2007 and yet to be replaced. Word is Honda has been through many, many prototypes, including a V5, but have yet to find anything as good. I'm not surprised; it's a totally awesome machine. Feel free to have a spin at Prescott if you like.
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D.
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Now that's an offer I simply cannot refuse. 
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kraftwerk
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| Dan wrote: | | Now that's an offer I simply cannot refuse. |
Brilliant. I look forward to hearing your verdict.
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franki68
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| kraftwerk wrote: | Ah well, Chris, they're all vastly different, actually. To put it in simple terms, the FireBlade (the orangey one), is the motorcycle equivalent of, say, a Caterham R500. Blisteringly quick, incredibly agile, not something on which you want to spend prolonged periods of time, but hugely enjoyable and rewarding in short bursts.
The X11 (the black one) is like an Audi RS4. Huge performance, particularly in the bottom end, stable handling, all-day comfort thanks to a sit-up riding position and absolutely ideal for every day use. It's my daily rider.
The SuperBlackbird (the blue one) is like an Aston Martin DB9. Mindbending performance in every gear, continent-crushingly long-legged, supremely comfortable, docile beyond belief when need be (it'll pootle about all day without a whimper), but vastly entertaining on the right roads, where its girth seems to disappear. It really is one of the finest motorcycles ever made - and Honda kept it on its roster for 10 years with no major revisions (EFi in 1999, but other than that...). Testament to the inherent rightness of its initial design.
I hope I don't sound like I've overstated things (Big Blue? Dan?) nor been patronising. Thanks for asking. |
Thanks,but who's chris ? Apart from that,brilliant...I would certainly have been a biker were it not for women and their fears over the safety of bikes.
One of my all time favourite driving experiences was being driven on a kawasaki ninja many years ago by a mad welsh man.
I might take it up they offer so much more thrills than a car,and for such a lot less money,just need to work in the wife a bit.
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kraftwerk
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Sorry Franki, I got you confused with Frank Bullitt - whose name is Chris.
Tell you what - I'll take you for a spin on the Blackbird if you let me have your R8 for, say, a month? How about it? You're not going to get a better offer all day!
Enjoy the footie later.
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franki68
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I know you start low when negotiating,but not that low.
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kraftwerk
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Alright - six weeks, then?
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"him"
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franki68
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six weeks using my car,alright then.
Dunno what ill use for the dogs though,they love that volvo.
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kraftwerk
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I knew you'd come round in the end. Drop the keys (for the R8, nothing less) off at my office in the West End, would you? There's a good lad.
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scamper
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| kraftwerk wrote: | | Slow Eddie wrote: | | ...what are all the covers for on the tanks? |
Just protection for the paint, really. I like the way they look. They also double as a harness for a tank bag should you need one. |
I was wondering they may be somewhere to put your sarnies or act as a travel pillow?
Looking good all the same Krafty. Clay bar?
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kraftwerk
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No, no clay bar yet. Not needed it. They live in a garage at night and my daily rider in an underground car park during the day. Tree sap's the biggest pest, but they're seldom exposed to it.
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