The Full SP? | Road Tests | Motorcyclenews.com
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.พ. 2014
- With a blueprinted engine and snazzy chassis parts,the new Honda Fireblade SP has a price tag to match its European rivals. But does it beat them at their own game? We find out on sunny Spanish roads and around the track, with former WSB champion Neil Hodgson.
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Fast forward 7 years. My non-ABS sp is still fantastic. My s1000rr has gone to a new home. I'm glad to have the last proper analogue fireblade as I plan to keep it forever and I'm sure that it will out last most of todays bikes as they are now far to technical. That said, my new blade is fantastic but I'll be moving that on before the electronics start playing up.
Stay safe.
Ride the wings of change 😋
I don't have my FIreblade for winning races. I have it because it is an high end bike which is easily to control, and I feel safe on it. Finally it is the most beautiful one of the current super bikes.
more beautiful than a Ducati? dreaming
Maybe... I am very happy with the CBR
I'd be happy on a CBR as well I think, but the Ducati is absolutely gorgeous
of course it is
preference sir... we may say that ducati looks sexy but we cant deny that cbr looks good too, let's just say that beauty is something which each of us can define only for ourselves
A great review. Always look forward to the MCN videos
Great stuff guys audio was perfect and content was smashing as usual!
gotta be one of the politest, most well spoken (which here is more important than most anything else) and generally friendly v. fast riders - never mind world champs - I've ever seen. Want more....
The road test is all covered in the paper, as are reasons we chose this particular group of bikes.
Thanks
Neevesy, MCN
So if the Fireblade SP is slower and more cumbersome, how come it, not the others, wins the Senior TT every year?
Because John Mcguinness lol
Great video, guys! Keep up the quality :D
BMW is making everyone else seem like there sitting on there lorals lol Love the cinematography ***** keep up the great edits :D
MCN combo of these two is mega. Another knock of a review. Great bikes all around. I'd own them all if I could.
Wicked video MCN, keep up the good work!!!
Editing and audio quality was MUCH better MCN, good work!
I'm not sure if you're still making/editing your own video Neeves but they've come along so well! The sound video and reviewing quality of this video is amazing! Keep up the good work! The only down point is when the honda is being described it's hard to hear what's being said over the awesome sound. Please keep them coming. Also I've moved to the states anyway of getting the paper out here?
In the US the Fireblade is cheaper than a Ducati 899 panigale in both OTD price and insurance! That in itself is a huge bargain over the competition. Only way you would every pay that price for the other bikes is if they had 10k+ miles on them and bald tired and no oil!
Dear MCN, great vid and please get Neil Hodgson to come back and give his opinion on other bikes you review in future. I loved his honesty and enthusiasm when he shared his opinion which really feels like a breath of fresh air to watch in motorcycling journalism these days
Great video. Thanks MCN.
Production of this video is top notch. Keep it up mcn
Excellent review. I was searching for videos on the SP and came across this. Little did I know the HP4 would be in it. I just love it when the bike I chose to buy wins all these shootouts. They are right: it is very easy to ride. I still love my Honda's though.
Excellent video, keep up the good work.
Such clear feedback. Love your videos, thanks
thumbs up, this is the first time I have actually been impressed with an mcn video
Great video guys! Nice one!
Thanks to MCN and the everygreen Michael Neeves - you've managed to say in a little less than 11 minutes all the needed to be said. I have been a long standing fan of the mighty Blade, but it's glory days are over and it looks like BMW has moved the paradigm along (190bhp???, that's huge), top review! Beer-o'clock - what a classic closing comment :-)
How wonderful to get Neil Hodgson (Cycle-Stig) to come and give lap times and then he thanks you!!
Great video, one of the best you have ever done.
I'd love to see a video from you guys showing the different times your pro gets between the street, track and race tyres. please do it!!!
Great video as per usual from Mr Neeves.
Who would really expect a $15K Honda CBR to actually compete with a $20K BMW HP4 and $25K Ducati 1299? Of course it's going to place last in this comparison. The other three bikes have at least 20hp on the Honda. The CBR SP wasn't designed to be the fastest on the track. At the end of the day, let's call the Honda what it is, an excellent handling superbike that is easy to ride on both the street and the track with a great value at $15 with the included Brembos, Ohlins and smoother engine.
MCN bought an aerial drone, lovely! this will undoubtably deliver some great shots!
Neil is an absolute gent , and a great racer too !
1:08 actually scared me!
Awesome video. Being a BMW S1000RR owner I was smiling ear to ear.
Please do a video with the HP4, 1199R, Factory RSV4R, ZX10R, and Fireblade SP! It would be more of an even match-up. Other than that great video as always!
Great review. That BMW is one amazing machine! I ride a Kawi but do appreciate what BMW has brought to the table.
Great review
Much better audio ! Good Video
the SP was simply made to sell to the Honda fanboys... No one would spend 16k+ on a bike that hasn't been updated for 7 years.... I love my cbr1k but..... if I was going to spend that money I would defently buy the standard s1000rr or for a couple more G-bars buy the Aprila with that nasty V4
yeah or take the stock or used blade and make a tuning from Fw developments or HRC power up kit. Is expensive but is much better
It was actually made because of the rules for World Superbike. The rules were you had to run the same suspension, brakes, engine mapping, etc, etc on the race bike as the stock bike you could buy off the showroom. They made this so it would have the best of the best as far as suspension, brakes, and other stuff.
I paid $8000 for my 2014 SP. What up?
John Mcguiness Rides Honda...He's not doing Too bad beating other pretenders at IoM TT.
Good golly miss Molly. To say the BMW makes the Blade feel like a 600 is quite a statement! Amazing.
Great video MCN, cheers!
wouldn't mind the blade but givern the choice an money no object id have the bmw.....sex on wheels
I would too, I love the looks of the thing as well. Those headlights are a bit marmite but I think they make it look more aggressive.
Mrbadger Martin the s1000rr and the Blade SP are pretty much the same price ( just not he HP model) they are both around 16,500+-
still both out of my price range at the min lol but love them both
This is were context matters. Makes it feel like a 600 in terms of light weight and turn in speeds?
Its dumb to compare bikes, HP4 vs SP, when their price points are so far apart.
One bike is made for purist who want to ride their bike to the best of their riding ability, and the other is for riders who want to ride their bike to the best of the bike's ability.
Looking to buy either a 2012 onwards Fireblade or 2015 SP in a years time. Still looks awesome!
Top notch review.
Can we see this test again, with the fireblade sp, 1199panigale r, s1000rr hp4, rsv4r factory and the zx10r? Think thats more even. The s1000rr is the top of the range as also the fireblade sp, but not the ducati and the aprilia. Why?!?
I wish I would have known growing up that there would be a profession called "automotive journalist"! Testing cars and motorcycles and gettin paid for it sounds pretty damn cool to me!
You're right brotha.
Yea or like fine dinning food critic, lol.
But a lot of candidates and a few chosen. At least with accounting you can buy a bike.
Or like a porn star.
A good video, about time someone did it properly away from all these American personal garage reviews. So many arguments about the 1199 & the HP4 and who better to give the verdict. Clarity= HP4! PS its good to see better video and sound creatives coming through. Thanks for sharing
You know what? I could've bought any of these bikes... but what I did? In the end I bought the Blade SP because it's so balanced and so great to ride on/off track which you can't say about the italian bikes and BMW....well that's a story for itself. I just don't like it and it's looks so ugly (least for me), but that's just my opinion. Secondary this video also looks a bit like HP4 promo...but no offence though!
Great video MCN and very smart to put the Fireblade SP against some competition. Honda is really being lazy right now. I also wonder why the HP4 was chosen, but not the 1199 R or RSV4 Factory? However, I have a feeling a normal S1000RR would have still got the best lap time.
Anyway, seems like you guys putting more work in the video editing. However, it was very hard to hear Neil speak about the bikes as he didn't have a mic. Presumably you guys were just using the camera mic to try to pick up the voice. I think just sorting the audio quirks would take a mere 10 minutes (to set up properly) and your videos would be 10/10. Right now, everything is there, the presenters (Neil is such a class act and Michael is always great to listen to). Video editing is now better, just the audio.
honda sp is the most special machine for road use
I have a question when lowsiding like at 1:34 isnt there risk for your legg to be cut off? :P i mean cause of the friction with your knee and the raod and the bikes velocity thats points on the oposite side of that friction :P
Alot of stupid comments. Dont get me wrong we all love bikes but its clear that only a few of us ride for years.
Nice on-bike shots btw MCN, cheers!
At the end of the day, it's pretty unlikely that any single commenter (myself included) could match those track times anyway. Makes for an amusing time watching them all bicker about who's better, lol. ;)
Good video.
MAN I LOVE THE INTRO!!! EPIC!... but where is my favorite dany pedrosa?!? thats messed up
5:30 find the GoPro
I had an S1000RR back in 2011, wunderfull machine. Fast, really fast.
Japan if you are watching this, step up your game!
Super vid proper opinions well put, sound and footage top stuff, long rule the BMW
i chose the sp, eventhough it's not the best
i chose Honda SP, b'cause they have good aftersales service..
Aaron Bike nothing wrong with an older Aprilia, maybe have to wait a little longer for parts. I’ve owned a few and they have all been rock solid, including the two stroke RS250.
Yay sound quality yay!
why the full on HP4, vs a base RSV4r, panigale s... they should have done the pani r and the full on rsv4 r aprc etc... i dont think it was a fair comparison... just my $.02
because a duc s cost more then a bimmer hp4
+Patthon Sirilim it's called the full SP! That means the best of the best. 1199R is a tick faster than the HP4 on track....see Bostrom lap them both.
I would take the Blade SP as it can live in both worlds very happily. When the Honda RVF 1000RR arrives watch out as it will mind blowing. I suspect the new Ducati V4 will be impressive as well , but no one builds a better V4 than Honda as witnessed in Moto GP ( I know a V5) but it came from the three cylinder from Freddie Spencer era who suggested a V 4 and bang they did it . This year at Milan we hopefully will see the Honda RVF 1000RR and that will the new King!
great video, i wonder if Panigale R would get closer to the hp4
any thoughts on how the MV Agusta would measure up?
Why wouldn't you put the 1199R on there or the factory RSV4 R, but you put the HP4 in this test with a full system Akro? Those are the comps to the HP4
vous remarquerez qu'un ex champion de WSBK fait le plaisir de nous dire ce qu'il en pense ... c'est pas nos pilotes français qui le feraient ... merci MCN UK !
Great video - although this is the track tests, rather than the advertised Road Tests.
***** They're not track bikes - they're road bikes - they have mirrors, number plates and everything :P Anyway - my point was the title and the reference in the video to testing them on the road and track. I just guessed there was a road part to come.
Great comparison, yours are the best in my opinion testing bikes and commenting how they are, but ... that day we will see a comparison with ALL superbikes? (R-1, Ninja 1000, "Gixxer" 1000, CBR 1000 RR Sp, HP4, RSV-R Factory, F-4 RR Corsa Corta & Panigale R) both on the road, circuit, engine dates, etc...
I also say the same as regards the category "Supersport" (600 cc)
It is my opinion and I think you can do it.
Thank you. ;)
Gr8 vid!
Opening the garage door in the beginning you already know who is going to win. Cant any manufacturer compete with the BMW in standard trim? Getting kind of boring being able to predict every shootout :D Great video and sound has improved greatly.
On the contrary, the RSV4 Factory usually beats the HP4 in track times. Regularly.
What was the reasoning for not also having the current top spec GSXR1000, Z10R and R1? I know the Suzuki and Yamaha are a little outdated but its give a more broad view of what's out there.
I'd love to see a similar reviewing with all the current supersport bike in their top spec as the 600's are still a fantastic track/road bikes.
What's up with the Panigale's left side headlight/LED? Appears to be blinking during the rider review. And hell yeah to beer o'clock! :D
its led and it appears to blink on the video, its the same with the s1000rr rear light
pumpahhh Refresh rate on LED lights is bigger than camera can capture. So you see it as blinking. Only top quality cameras can catch LED lights properly.
Video frame rate, evidently...
ZX is still the best bike outta Japan
Do a flip
Few years and I'll be having me a HP4! :)
I wasn't sure but how he reviewed the bikes I knew its Neil Hudgson only hardcore racers will call these bike OK bikes...his active years were 96-03 w/ duc, kawi. wsbk #100 on Ducati, 1 world sbk title, ridiculous fast bikes, ridiculous competition level
Good comparison, very well balanced. Except the HP4, being limited edition etc etc it is probably more of the 1199R class, no?
Neil was right. The S1000RR is good enough it itself, and it should be the one used here. Hell, it might still win the comparison too.
But enough of that. Sex appeal was not part of the review unfortunately. Otherwise, Ibsabur would be happy to see the Panigale winning it :)
So simply said, the Blade SP is not worth the money. For the normal road the standard version is fully enough and on the track you have lack of power...
Nice vid mates!
I'm still curious to know what Hudson would say he'd buy for the street. That knowing what they can do on the track and knowing that he can max these bikes out, which one would he daily?
Did he just say 193 HP at the back wheel....? Mother of god. Must have!
What a coincidence it's beer o'clock for me too
What about the zx10r? Good video anyways!
If they're gonna bring out the Hp4, they could have at least brought out the rsv4 factory and Panigale R
I like all MCN reviews, Michael Neeves does a good job. This review in my opinion was a little pointless. The 2014 Fireblade SP is basically a 2008 model with expensive parts. Honda is six years plus behind and comparisons are just worthless.
Do the same test with kawasaki, suzuki, yamaha as slightly mentioned earlier
Cbr means business. I just got #268 out of the 1500 they brought to the states. Everybody is asking me if I think it's worth the money. Of course I think it's worth the money. However I have friends who wouldn't ride a honda if you gave it to them. They like kaws and zooks.
dont you think you should have tested the RSV4 Factory instead of the R version. all the bikes had the best suspension expect the aprilia, i bet that would have changed the time
That 1:09 moment!!
So what is the best all-around bike? I've heard the CBR SP is one hell of a street bike compared to the BMW because it doesn't have all that power (that no amateur is going to fully utilize on the street/track) and is more manageable. Anyone road either of these bikes on the street?
josh saiz I want the Honda because it comes with what I want (not sure if I need it lol) like Ohlins suspension and Brembo caliper but no ABS. I like the solo seat, amongst other features on the SP model, and applaud Honda for making two different models.
How old is the 'Blade design now, 7-8 years with only some minor changes?
6 years old. ABS brakes was pretty massive change, headers were pretty big change, bigger fly wheel, that was a big change, lighter wheels, new fairings, pistons...all through those 6 years. Now the sp and then its the road going motogp bike coming soon....so....whats ur point lol?
Dougie All of those are MINOR changes, standard year over year items. ABS is 15-20 year old tech on motorcycles, a new fairing to update looks does nothing to change the nature of the bike, a change to the exhaust and flywheel were minor power curve tweaks, but the chassis, the engine, the BONES of the bike are one or two generations behind everyone else.
Rumblestrip.NET "If it works, dont change it" Seems to be fitting here. I don't hear John McGuinness complaining about it :D
Callum Bateman Mate the bike John McGuinness is riding is so prepared as to not resemble anything that comes off a showroom floor. Take some time and find out just how much work goes in to prepping a bike of the IOM. Also, you either move forward, or you get left behind.
Callum Bateman Mcguinness don´t have a stock blade with brakes.... the CBR TT Legends have a hard and expensive job made HRC. In engine, brakes, suspension, transmission, etc.
Oh yeah? Well I've got an SV650, lol.
But as a true street bike, witch is the best overall ? Pick the right track, and any one bike will come out on top better. BTW whats the cost of these bikes ?
I think you might benefit from adding alex rins to the intro to
what track is this?
ohh..that is why I did not recognize it...I heard about it only from people staying in Spain. thanx!
Why was the Kawasaki ZX-10 not included in the test?
I like your vids. It's bear o"clock. I'll remember that one.
The title says road tests but it is a track test. Weird.
Good video but consider prices when compairing bikes. Biggest bang for the buck is probably a normal s1000rr. But a blade SP has also a lot of bang/buck.
It just keeps on going this BMW. It makes you wonder what will they come up with next doesn't it ?
Hopefully prettier headlights. ;)
SexyToshi Over my dead body ^^
They used top of the range aprillia cbr and the hp4 but only the s model of the Ducati bit unfair
APRILIA RSV4 factory ftw!!!!!
Wtf is wrong with these ppl
The V4 Factory would of been faster.
Nice looking video but 7:15 sec, need a better external microphone.
HP4 FTW!!!
wow,rsv4 great,