What the press say - Doble Motorcycles

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CBR1000RR Fireblade What the press say... Its’s the first 1000cc superbike test and the Fireblade emerges a clear winner MCN Feb 2008 Michael Neeves & Adam Child Honda Fireblade v Kawasaki ZX-10 v Yamaha YZF-R1 v Suzuki GSX-R1000 the Honda’s rear Bridgestone gives massive feedback . . . Honda’s new shorter stroke engine is an epic powerhouse . . . The fact is, the Honda recorded the quickest lap time, making it MCN’s track winner. The factors that go to make a successful road bike are a different matter. It should make the rider: a) go all tingly while riding it and b) appreciate what it is capable of, even though it can’t be ridden to within 7/10th of its available performance; and c) have serious amounts of compliments throw at it when the ignition is turned off. The new Blade fulfills all these criteria. The Honda is so easy to ride fast it defies belief. As for looks . . . some hate it, most love it. It looks different but works better than the rest. That makes the Blade an easy winner. RIDE Mar 2008 Ben Wilkins My heart is pounding and I’m breathing hard. Just one lap aboard the Fireblade is enough to see that this is not only a new design; it’s a new attitude too. Power wheelies on the way out of corners and the occasional wag of the bars are things I’m just not used to from a Fireblade. Honda appears to have listened to those who wanted a bit more excitement from the Blade as the new bike explodes any semblance of the ‘boring’ stigma. It harks back to the early rowdy Blade, while still managing to be as refined as they come. Rawness and refinement may seem mutually exclusive but Honda seems to have found a way of matching the two. That’s our impression after trying the new machine around Qatar’s Losail circuit. . . . this bike feels smaller and more nimble than the ones it replaces. It also steers incredibly quickly, almost dropping into the first turn. The 2008 Fireblade now has a hint of animal. It’s not visible, but there’s also a big improvement in the seat. Honda has added a second layer under the foam and the very base of the seat has a thermoplastic elastomer layer that distributes the rider’s weight over a larger area. Honda claims this will reduce back pain on longer journeys even more than a gel seat. At first glance Honda seems to be taking riders’ road needs into account. This evolution sees the Blade become more focused, smaller and sharper. But though the overall performance has increased, it’s still easy to ride. I’d not recommend that someone who’s only been riding a few years should buy a litre sports bike, but the Blade is simple enough for even a relative novice to enjoy. . . . and true to Fireblade form, the 2008 bike makes going extremely fast a simple proposition. Now it’s just more fun. TWO Mar 2008 Niall Mackenzie Heading out of the pit lane at the Losail circuit in Qatar and my first impression was once again the Blade had a pretty perfect riding position with everything in just the right place, at least it was for my 11 stone, 5’8” frame. . . . the new two-stage ‘assisted’ slipper clutch has to be the best I’ve tested so far. The light lever feel and smooth slipper action means you get just the right amount of engine braking at every corner, the result being that rear end hopping and juddering is totally eliminated. . . . the latest one (Blade) is much more nimble and easier to ride. Changing direction and stopping now involves much less physical effort and I felt a lot less tired, considering the hot conditions were pretty much identical to my last trip. Overall the handling was noticeably sharper over the whole lap and there was even a tad more protection with the higher screen. The harder I pushed the better the bike began to feel. . . . the new lighter mono-bloc callipers are fantastic. They stayed consistent in the boiling conditions and were most impressive at the end of the long straight where I was braking from 175mph to the next 50mph right-hander with two fingers and plenty more in reserve. Excellent. Press Association MSN Jan 2008 Janie Omorogbe Cocking a leg over the new ‘Blade for the first time, it felt instantly comfortable. It’s smaller than the current model and lighter by 4kg due to a long list of slimmer components, including the frame, engine, wheels and brakes. The petite new battery weighs 1kg less. But although the
Fireblade’s slimness can be likened to a 600 supersports bike, it’s still remarkably comfortable, even for a six-footer like me. And before you instantly dismiss the new snubnosed styling, leave your final summation for an in-the-metal viewing. The looks are indeed a brave move away from the current more angular trend, but the overall result’s classy and understated. British Superbike and TT racer Guy Martin confirmed the quality of the bike’s new Assist Slipper Clutch: “It is the best slipper clutch I’ve ever used in a production bike and if I was racing it in Superbikes, there’d be no need to change it. None at all.” And best of all, just like the second generation steering damper, you don’t need a racer’s ability to recognise or benefit from Honda’s helping hands. Honda has succeeded in continuing to supply us with a Fireblade for the masses. It’s still user friendly, but it’s more memorable than before, it feels more alive. Superbike Mar 2008 Alan Dowds . . . for an initial session at a new circuit, the Blade is actually pretty friendly and easy to get on with. There’s a good spread of power from 6,000rpm up towards 12,000rpm with a linear, progressive delivery and smooth fuel injection. The brakes are incredibly strong too, and they dig me out of one or two little holes with ease. There’s nothing really standing out about the CBR’s performance though – just lots of good stuff going on. The brakes are impressing me more and more each lap, with seemingly limitless power and even more feel now the tyres sand suspension are sorted. It’s easy to hold a tight line through the longer hairpin bends – essential on this flowing circuit if you’re to keep in position for the next corner – while the bike feels composed through fast direction changes. The slipper clutch is great too, giving seamless control over hard downshifts with no juddering, grabbing or anything disconcerting at all. And the new engine is still just fine on the track, pulling in a strong, yet friendly manner through the midrange and top end. For the job Honda set it in Qatar, the Fireblade excelled. Getting round a serious, WSB-class race track in quick order, while making it seem very easy is no easy task, and the new bike managed it a treat. Performance Bikes Mar 2008 Guy Martin The 2008 Fireblade is special. It could be the most honed, evolved capable litre bike every produced. Last month we said that Kawasaki’s ZX-10R could be the fastest litre bike ever built. And it might well be faster then the CBR1000RR – we won’t know for sure until both bikes hit the 2008 PBTT. But whether the Blade is faster or not, it cossets and encourages you. It is easier to extract more performance – just like an 07 Yamaha R1. The bike is a huge step forward from the comparatively bland, dour Fireblade of 2006-2007. It’s smaller, lighter, more nimble and faster. For trackday riders everything is better, for road riders it is a step forward, for race teams it could be faster, but it’ll be more work. But you don’t think about that sort of thing when you’re riding it hard and the Fireblade lets you get on with the job of riding the hell out of it. It excites you in a way the old model never could . The Blade has got its balls back. MCN Dec 2007 Trevor Franklin That warm, tingly excited feeling is intensified within the first four corners. Warmed by the previous rider, the Blade’s Bridgestone BT015 tyres are already dealing with some hectic lean angle and throttle abuse. This shot of confidence is not just down to the tyres. This bike begs to be thrown into every corner. No muscle as such is required, just a simple matter of look where to go, push on the bar and show hot desert air leathered bum as I hang off. One scraped knee slider and a few seconds later I’m already more than impressed. I’m also keen to praise the second generation Honda Electronic Steering Damper . . . for fast riders and track day fiends the way the motor feels very, very much more alive when prodded is going to win some fans. The exhaust is a work of art. To compact header pipes, catalytic converter, baffle box exhaust valve and flap valve (spring loaded flap that opens on exhaust pressure alone to reduce noise in testing mainly) in a short angular design is just short of a miracle. The finish detailing would put Buell’s 1125R exhaust near my black waste collection wheelie bin. But then that’s Honda for you. Visordown.com Tim Skilton So what’s the verdict? Those that rode the new Kawasaki ZX-10R at the bike’s press launch at Losail the previous week reckoned the Blade was more composed, less frantic and generally easier to ride. They also said the Honda wasn’t as exciting, as it was probably a little too composed. I disagree. I found the Honda useable, blisteringly fast yet immensely forgiving. How forgiving? I’d not ridden a bike for 10 months before the launch (seriously, I’m not joking) but felt totally at ease on the new Honda. It gave me no frights and forgave the multitude of mistakes I threw in its face. Sure, it’s possible to make the Blade misbehave but you’ve got to grab it by the scruff of the neck and provoke it. And that’s something you can’t say about most 1000cc race reps. Motorcycle Sport & Leisure March 2008 Chris Moss . . . in real terms that means it can perform just as strongly as a fully fledged BSB bike just a few years ago, and take you down to the shops with ease as well. A broad range of usability like that is nothing short of remarkable There aren’t too many areas where the new bike is significantly superior to the old one but overall it’s appreciably better and even easier to use at the limit. It’s a highly impressive piece of kit and though it’s not faultless its certainly one of the easiest bikes to ride hard that I’ve ever tried. The precise feeling of its chassis is the primary reason for the peerless poise and
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What the press say - Doble Motorcycles

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