R1 or Fireblade, with a spend of £5k?

[Straker]

I just can't make up my mind.

Any objective opinions on the pros and cons of each?

Any older iterations of each that might reduce my spend but still get me a decent bike. Going for a litre bike I am obviously interested in stepping up in terms of power but would also want something with a bit of reliability.

thanks
Straker
____________________
Current: CBR 900 RR3 (954 Blade)
Previous: CBR 600 FY (01),
09 Triumph Street Triple R (nicked), R6 (04), CBR 600 FX (00), GPZ 305 (lol)

[Paullec]

Myself would go for a rsvr mille, but im a sucker for v twins.

out of those i would pick R1 as it has a bit more midrange.

[P.]

2005 CBR1000RR - £3500

[DMCpro]

R1! but go to a dealer and sit on both, most dealers will let you test ride them!
____________________
Honda CB-1, TS125X
VW Golf Estate

[P.]

[Matt-]

Matter of personal preference,

I'd go with the R1
____________________
RIP jack (wheelie king), you will never be forgotten.
Current Bike's - Road Legal TZR 125 Pitbike, Aprilia SR50R 2010

[gixerstu]

2006/7 Fireblade best bike I've ever had, improved midrange from rr4/5. Better looks, comfy for touring (just done 2000+ miles round germany/austria) handling is superb way better than my gsxr1000.
I dont know what the newer R1's are like so I cant comment but the blade is awsome get a test ride you wont regret it.

[The Tot]

Blade for me, but be aware of the known issues surrounding the charging/electrical issues. <06 blades are known to go through alternators. I've gone through 2 alternators and 3 regulator/rectifiers! Bransons Honda have said that it's an issue that affects certain blades up to the 05 model.

Plus, they look like an RCV, so you can't complain!
____________________
The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[J.M.]

I'd go with the R1.

Not because I've ridden both of them and think it's the better bike, because I've always wanted an R1 and vow to get one when I can realistically afford one!
____________________
2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[salty21]

blade, simply because its a honda and hondas are awesome
____________________
04 NSR 125(sold) ---- 03 CBR 600rr(sold) ----90 pan euro ST1100 '' ----02 CG 125
94 CB400 Super Four ---- 2000 VTR SP1 (sold) ---- 08 ninja p8f(sold, meh) ----05 CBR600rr

[madturk999]

R1 all day faster and better looking
____________________
Yamaha r1 2008 mod 2 passed 09/11/2010

[salty21]

[salty21]

[Gman360]

For me prob the blade. I had a 600rr a few years back and if the blade is just a bigger version, well yeeha.

On the flip side for 5k I expect a newer lower mile R1 would be on the cards.

Both awesome
____________________
HONDA VFR400NC24, YAMAHA FZR600R, LAVERDA 750 FORMULAS, CB250 SUPERDREAM, SUZUKI GSXR750K1, YAMAHA R1 5PW, APRILLIA RSVR, SUZUKI GSXR100K5, SUZUKI GSXR100K5 TK2, SUZUKI GSXR750K7, HONDA CBR600RR, YAMAHA R1 5PW, KAWASAKI ZX6R C1H CURRENT

[L-Jam]

Go and test ride, and make your own mind up. Blade's better looking I think though, more understated. R1 screams chav. Having said that, I wouldn't mind either.
____________________
Journalist, student, egotist.
Click here if you're a young biker, wondering what to do after a moped/125!
Skp 50 --> GS 500 --> CBR600F with custom HRC paint jobby --> GSX-R 750 K7, beautiful!

[swiftb]

5k will currently get you an 08 blade (private) which im currently considering myself (though prob wait till spring now)
From what iv looked into there are some known issues however, one of them being high oil usage(burning) which has put me off a little but not totally.
I liked R1's when I was 17. That was when the 98 came out - Ive found every R1 since to be too big and bulky and also extremely hideous.

[madturk999]

[L-Jam]

Lol whoops, misread and thought you accused my bikes of being chavvy .
____________________
Journalist, student, egotist.
Click here if you're a young biker, wondering what to do after a moped/125!
Skp 50 --> GS 500 --> CBR600F with custom HRC paint jobby --> GSX-R 750 K7, beautiful!

[salty21]

[Noxious89123]

I wanted a 1000RR, but found I could get a much newer/nicer 600RR for the same money. The insurance was going to be pretty crippling too, it was a pretty massive jump from my 600F to the RR.

If you can, test ride a 600RR. So much better than the old F! I still quite fancy a 1000RR though...

Wasn't so sure on the 2008~2011 blades, but really like the new 2012 bike, so that's what I'm looking towards in a few years time, when they become affordable.
____________________
'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[flyer]

Blade. Does it all
____________________
Stand up paddle surfing wales Caravan decking wales

[Fizzer Thou]

A friend owns a 2007 Blade which I think is the better looking of all Blades

https://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/Bikes/Picture396_zpsba12320f.jpg
https://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/Bikes/Picture018-2.jpg

He manages to keep up 75% of the time when we ride out together
____________________
Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[.Bishbash.]

I'd say the R1, oh look at my signature, there's an R1 for sale.....

Seriously though, I've ridden both and preferred the R1, hence me buying that beast.
____________________
Current bike - GSX-R1000 k8

[Noxious89123]

I do sort of wish I'd got a 1000RR instead of a 600RR, but then I'd have been looking at 2006/2007 bikes with 20k~ on them for the same price I paid for my bike with less than 3k on the clocks. Got downhearted with the old bike starting to look it's age, nice to have something that's been garaged all it's life and barely ridden / molested.

If you're able to test ride both bikes, then that should be the first thing to do before spending any money. I'm too young to get a test ride, so I had to buy on blind faith
____________________
'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi