I had a small ride of the RSV4. Yes I liked it, but it seemingly had a little less torque than my 999 in slow blind bends (lots of them around here). Yes it has more top end, but that is largely irrelevant as these days, any time I take the 999 out for a spin I find myself worrying about what the letterbox might bring in the next couple of days... But it all comes down to supplementary fun vs large cash outlay, and that's where I struggle. Trading in any bike or laying out 1000s of ££ means that the replacement really does have to deliver a large dollop of fun that what you currently have doesn't. Up to now, I haven't found anything which would justify chopping the 999. I'd be much more likely to add a different bike which delivers a different sort of fun - the sort of fun you might have by not going balls out everywhere, trying to really use the power and handling you have. When the extra fun is only delivered at 3 figure speeds (mph), that's when you are going to run into difficulties. An 848 sounds like a good compromise unless you feel the desperate need to have the fastest thing on the road. I like to have more top end on tap than I'm likely to use very often, but I also want large amounts of torque for lazy riding. L-Twins deliver that kind of performance, which is why I've never owned a bike with more than 2 cylinders in 30 years, despite having tried all sorts of things. I'd love to see power and torque overlay graphs of the 999 vs the 848. The last time I traded down in capacity (from 916 to 749) I didn't enjoy the experience. Three cylinders are a nice compromise, but even these don't have the low down grunt of a twin - a grunt that has me addicted. If you do want the smoothness of a 4, then a V4 will be closer to the twin experience - but it's still a 4.
I think that summarises nicely how I feel glid. It's difficult to put it into words/tease out the different strands of thought while in the midst of the decision making process. Once the dust settles it becomes clearer but I'm still inside the cloud at the moment :frown: The 1198 was great because you can still use the power low down, whereas the IL4 litre bikes I've tried (2!) you need to be caning it for that feeling of oomph to kick in (though the gsxr was nice and syrupy, the R1 felt hollow). I almost certainly will stick with the 848, but still have a test ride of a Fireblade to get out of the way - it'll either complicate things or seal the deal. I loved riding my vstrom last few days - using the power you have on a completely different type of bike is great way to make both more fun over the long term. Jumping onto the 848 afterwards makes it feel like a rocket! Down the line I'd like to try a hypermotard, or maybe even a 250 off roader.
I think to have real fun on a Hypermotard, you need a specialised riding style which involves frequent wheelies, stoppies and backing it into corners. If you can manage all that, it must be a hoot. I have never learnt how to do any of them, so I end up riding the thing as I would any other bike, and fail to have much fun on it. I also found the wind protection abysmal, so rather defeats the object of the exercise for me as I like going on long trips, some of which are inevitably going to have motorway sections. But if you just want a bike to hoon around on, and you know how to hoon around, then I can see that the Hypermotard could be a whole bag of fun.
Glid - T9 defo has more grunt but think Evo has bit more top end. Heres mine after CJS mapped it, started 131 with a DP flash
I don't, but a hyper would be a nice way to learn. The 848 has very little wind protection while my vstrom has a big screen but the buffeting is horrid. In many ways I prefer the 848 on motorways (probably not in the rain though).
Stayed with most of the fast guys on throusands at Anglesey only losing bike lengthor two max up the hill after turn 3 but does not give enough to get alongside if they are only a little earlier on the brakes. But allows more aggressive throttle off the corner having carried a bit more speed...and for me that is where the fun is just need quickshifter and carbon wheels and its a perfect bike
View attachment 17185 Big race screen is what you need, I can litterally lay n the tank and look tru it. Not to all tastes, and tbh I prefer double bubble look, but gives nice big bubble
Aha, right. The stock 848 screen is purely cosmetic I'm sure, I can't get behind it. Will defo look into a bigger screen for the Corse.
Mine? Ohlins front and rear, Sigma slipper, QA throttle, smattering of carbon, race screen, custom mapped ecu, Akro slip ons, different levers which improve being able to adjust on the fly and flip up in a drop. Stuff that makes it go faster or handle better mainly.
I suspect I'd prefer an 1198 /1098 on the road, because on a long trip, when you're tired, just opening the throttle and grunting past cars or out of limits is what I prefer. Problem seems to be the farcical tank range with these bikes when you're on a long trip. You don't want to spend all your time worried about where the next petrol station might be on a Sunday afternoon in France. Interesting comment on the 848 grunt verses 999. Thanks for that useful info.
But then on most sports bikes you really want a break after a hundred miles anyway so kinda makes sense
I had a K6 GSXR thou and part ex'd it in for a 2008 Fireblade as apart from the engine,the Blade was much better in every other way.Honda's trick is to make bikes that not only go like stabbed rats but are completely at ease as a complient road bike.Some say that they are boring to ride but all depends on what your after in a road bike.I sold my Blade as I was getting frustrated with having all that power and poise and not being able to enjoy it on todays congested and ever slowing roads but definately worth a road test.I think it all comes down to whether you are just going to stick with one bike to do it all which the Blade will cover well or whether you want two bikes,one to be a focused and uncomprimising track based scoot and another for day to day comfort and useability.
Nice sensible mods. The Corse comes with rear Ohlins shock, but can't help wondering if it would have made more sense for the forks to have been Ohlins (people seem to complain most about the 848 forks). I'd be considering that as my first major upgrade I reckon. How did you find them over stock Bradders?
The latter I have two bikes and I want them to be as different as possible. I'm really surprised at how easy to ride the rice rockets are, like you say they seem to be made more as all-purpose rides than a ducati. I was out on the 848 yesterday taking it easy - wasn't in the mood for it really and couldn't get my mind focused on the job. Part of me missed the easy handling of the R1 :/
When I was in the UK, I used to rag the arse out of a demo bike every week at my local Ducati dealer, P&H. They knew I wasn't going to buy but it was them who insisted. I rode everything from a Victory to a KTM off-roader. The Victory was actually a hoot but living with it would be impossible. The KTM RC8R was the biggest disappointment, it has a great riding position but it feels more like a Massey Ferguson than a bike. It needs about a million years of development. The Blade is so easy to ride quick. Typical Honda, you feel at home within a millisecond of throwing your leg over it. The R1 cross plane crank sounds nice but if you want a V4 go for an Aprilia (I had one, it was great). The biggest fun I had was on a 696 Monster, banging it off the rev limiter everywhere. What a great bike. Anyway, nothing came close to the involvement of riding a Ducati.
