Car (or bike) Chat!

[InThe Sticks]

Ah, the last and best Blade by Tadao Baba and certainly considered the pinnacle.
I had a RR4 a while ago and whilst i loved its looks it was just too predictable, like almost too safe with no real excitement attached.
What i didn’t like about it was that it kinda disconnected me from the road, so i’d go into a corner thinking i was doing 50mph, but id be going much faster, there was no real feeling of attachment or feedback from the bike.
Don’t get me wrong, it was crazy fast and one of 2 bikes I’ve maxed out the top speed.
I do however still miss it and that Yoshi can..



Give it 5 years, the RR3 will be worth a fair bit as it was and still is a classic.

[Alex_UK]

Proper bikes, before the electronics police got involved.

[Pigmy Pony]

Ah, the last and best Blade by Tadao Baba and certainly considered the pinnacle.
I had a RR4 a while ago and whilst i loved its looks it was just too predictable, like almost too safe with no real excitement attached.
What i didn’t like about it was that it kinda disconnected me from the road, so i’d go into a corner thinking i was doing 50mph, but id be going much faster, there was no real feeling of attachment or feedback from the bike.
Don’t get me wrong, it was crazy fast and one of 2 bikes I’ve maxed out the top speed.
I do however still miss it and that Yoshi can..



Give it 5 years, the RR3 will be worth a fair bit as it was and still is a classic.

Cheers Jon, I'm thinking it could indeed be a future classic, which is why I'm keeping it as close to original as possible. Although I wouldn't say no to an aftermarket can, Yoshi or Two Brothers Racing or something.

When everything goes electric, I reckon all Fireblades will become classics. It's such an iconic brand, and helped to some degree by having a name rather than a collection of letters and numbers.

A dozen years ago, a lady friend bought an RR4, and we went out for a run round the Trough of Bowland. We swapped bikes for much of the run. Verdicts? The RR4 definitely had more shove, and the stability through all the bends and on the straights was rock solid, no doubt helped by the steering damper. But I couldn't help feeling that this would egg me on to go ever faster. Also I found the riding position a little more cramped than my older Blade. Definitely a more focused bike.
My friend found mine to be plenty quick enough, and quite roomy, belying its class-leading (at the time) 168kg. But a bit flighty at the front when going for it. So in the end, much as we enjoyed each bike we were happy to get back on our own.

Is that yours in the pic? It's the exact same colours as hers.

I'm rubbish at posting pics, but I did once manage to do one of the bike - it's on page 2 of Abstract gallery, "Another attempt to post a bike pic". The first and last time I succeeded.

[struth]

This it?

[Pigmy Pony]

Thank you Grant! That's my baby, in happier times

[InThe Sticks]

Jon, I'm thinking it could indeed be a future classic, which is why I'm keeping it as close to original as possible. Although I wouldn't say no to an aftermarket can, Yoshi or Two Brothers Racing or something.

Originality is the key to value, thats for sure.
I sold my track car to a guy with a S2 Escort RS turbo which he spent years modifying, he’s now undoing all that work to get it back to stock and doubling its value.

dozen years ago, a lady friend bought an RR4, and we went out for a run round the Trough of Bowland. We swapped bikes for much of the run. Verdicts? The RR4 definitely had more shove, and the stability through all the bends and on the straights was rock solid, no doubt helped by the steering damper. But I couldn't help feeling that this would egg me on to go ever faster. Also I found the riding position a little more cramped than my older Blade. Definitely a more focused bike.
My friend found mine to be plenty quick enough, and quite roomy, belying its class-leading (at the time) 168kg. But a bit flighty at the front when going for it. So in the end, much as we enjoyed each bike we were happy to get back on our own.

Is that yours in the pic? It's the exact same colours as hers.

Yes, that was mine before the ZX10R i have now, but that will be going soon in favour of a Tuono V4 factory or a Superduke 1290 SE. I’m just waiting for the world to stop burning before dishing out £10K or so.
If i’m honest the 10R is too much for me now, its great on a track but not ideally suited for road use or my knackered knees. I mean having a bike that does 104mph in first gear is fun, but not really necessary.
The pic i posted above was at a time when my work colleague had (still has) a RR3 and it felt like i was sitting in it as opposed to being perched on top, and way more comfortable.
And you’re right about the steering damper and the extra speed and confidence.
Yes, bikes need to be safe, but when you’ve got ABS, traction control etc etc then imo you’re disconnecting the rider from whats actually going on. I’ve done many track days where people are on WOT round corners and are practically drifting the bike. Theres no skill in that.
The same goes for cars, some of the bigger Mercs i drive at work disconnect the driver so much that you wouldn’t know if you were driving on sheet ice or up the side of Everest.

[walpurgis]

If i’m honest the 10R is too much for me now

You'll end up plodding along on a Harley like all the other old codgers.

[struth]

safer in a car..

[InThe Sticks]

You'll end up plodding along on a Harley like all the other old codgers.

Not in a month of Sundays, just no, not ever
The closest i'd get to a Hardly Rideable would be a Ducati Diavel.

[Ian7633]

You'll end up plodding along on a Harley like all the other old codgers.

Wash your mouth out Geoff. I have a mate who works at a Harley dealers and he said he would never have one, piles of unreliable junk.