Fireblade, am i mad?

I wasn't looking for a new bike but i've come across the opportunity to buy a '96 fireblade. 17000 miles and it's had the valve check at 15K. Ohlins shock plus lots of other nice extras for £1700

My SV is great (i've got an 01 curvy) but i'm spending a lot of time on the bike at the moment and wouldn't mind a change. How have the fireblade owners of the forum got on with their bikes?

Also, there are no probs with my SV and i'm not anticipating having to spend any money on it for a while (apart from oil and filters) as the big service was done at 15K. A bird in hand and all that, I'm in a real dilemma!
So I though wise words from the org members would help me make up my mind..

Thank you!!
mary

[Biker Biggles]

That is about the going rate for those blades which makes them a stonking bargain IMO.Mate of mine just bought one in perfect nick for a tad under that price.They are great bikes and last forever.

you're convincing me - i looked at the prices for cbr600s as a comparison and couldn't believe how much more they were.

Nice Blades those, they are the softer sports touring version but they still have plenty of welly! Good value for what is a very capable all round motorcycle.

To be honest it depends what you are going to do with it - if it's round London commuting then be aware that though they handle lighter than their 'real' weight - it's still a hefty bike to be bimbling about on

OK - that's the unbiased sensible bit over and done with, so, on with the totally biased bit...

... just sold mine :


... but not for any reason of the bike's poor performance.

Yes, it was always going to be capable of far more than my riding could exploit, but the whole package is so well balanced it never was a 'scary' bike. A great teacher more like, ready and waiting whenever I wanted to push the boundaries a bit...

... and on the track (Nurburgring to be precise)...

... man oh man. I never felt sooooo safe at such speeds. I knew the bike was more than capable of handling itself and so I was just along to enjoy the ride.

I'm only 5'4"(ish) and did have an inch sculpted out of the seat, but even so it was extremely comfortable (did the run to Germany with barely a fidget) and with so wide a tank and Rse end you really feel like you are locked into the bike and riding behind the wheel rather than perched on top like a spare part.

For my mind the earlier models are more stylish (2000 + starts to go all pointy) with the '98 being the best... obviously. but anything pre'99 should have the 16" front wheel and so be sharper turning, espescially at low speeds.

Oh yeah - tank bag or tailpack... panniers are a non started on that rear. Trust me.


So...

... yeah...


... don't get one. They're terrible.

i found my 2003 blade a more confertable than my 96, but thats a good price....... and theres not a lot that goes wrong with them

go on do it

K your bike looks luverly!
I haven't test ridden it yet so i'll find out then I suppose. All these positive comments though, very reassuring.
I'm getting quite excited now
mary

which colour scheme is it?

[Biker Biggles]

I think they had morphed from the Urban Tiger to the Rural Moggie by then.

Black with orange writing
v nice looking
mary