The Motor Forum

kraftwerk · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 8:28 am Post subject: Shameless motorcycle gallery

Did 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 · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 8:58 am Post subject:

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 · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 8:58 am Post subject:

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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Just keepin' on keeping on.

kraftwerk · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 9:00 am Post subject:

D. · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 9:50 am Post subject:

Great job done there. Can I bring mine over for you to do the same to it?!

Matt · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 10:41 am Post subject:

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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Small car, big heart.

kraftwerk · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 11:30 am Post subject:

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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I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.

franki68 · Petrolhead Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 2379

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.

kraftwerk · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 5:53 pm Post subject:

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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I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.

D. · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 7:11 pm Post subject:

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.

kraftwerk · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 9:21 pm Post subject:

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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I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.

D. · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 10:40 pm Post subject:

Now that's an offer I simply cannot refuse.

kraftwerk · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 10:43 pm Post subject:

franki68 · Petrolhead Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 2379

kraftwerk · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 11:43 am Post subject:

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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I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.

franki68 · Petrolhead Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 2379

I know you start low when negotiating,but not that low.

kraftwerk · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject:

Alright - six weeks, then?
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I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.

"him" · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 3:21 pm Post subject:

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franki68 · Petrolhead Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 2379

six weeks using my car,alright then.

Dunno what ill use for the dogs though,they love that volvo.

kraftwerk · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 12:27 pm Post subject:

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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I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.

scamper · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 4:24 pm Post subject:

kraftwerk · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 4:41 pm Post subject:

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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I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.