Blade runners...

Remember when CDs ruled the world and a 99 whippy ice cream actually cost 99-pence? Those were the days, eh. Time takes no prisoners, and that message hit home loud and clear on this month’s cover test. The original Blade was before my time, but the 929 hit the mark when they launched it back in 2000. It was a piece of kit, fuel injected, with a digital speedo and brakes that could actually stop you. But even that was trumped when the GP-esque RR hit the scene in 04, only to be gazumped in turn when the 2008 iteration metaphorically smashed its predecessor’s back doors in. I raced one in Stock 1000 in 2009 and thought it was a right weapon, as fast as any bike could get and more agile than a greased-up dolphin. And at the time, that’s exactly what it was. I still have fond memories for that Blade, but it was a product of the moment and a good chunk less capable than the latest iteration SP2 I tested recently out in Spain. The question is whether the latest and greatest will automatically win you over the most, every time? Is it always worth spending five times as much as a used model just so you’ve got more levels of traction control and built-in Bluetooth, so you don’t feel lonely when branching more than 10 miles from your house (Boothy’s a bugger for that)? It’s a good question, and one which is pretty subjective to who you are and what you want. As far as these Blades go, there’s good and bad in every one of them, as you’ll grasp when thumbing through our findings. Foibles aside, it was a real privilege to take that Honda-shaped trip down memory lane, remembering what a choke looks like and how bikes used to smell and sound before legislation spoiled the day. Yep, that test was a memorable one, but we’ve also had loads of other antics on the go. Boothy’s been slumming it in Italy on Aprilia’s fancy pogo’d Tuono V4, while Carl’s been getting an education on fork re-builds from Black & White Bikes. Our friend Clive’s given us a ringside view of his Aprilia RS250 rebuild and we’ve gone to town putting together a guide to making the most of this year’s TT. Can you believe it’s that time already? If you’re heading over, we’ll maybe see you there. Make sure to hunt down Boothy and give him whatever advice you’ve got to offer. Judging by this issue’s Race Riot report, he’s struggling to work out which way the throttle twists? Have a cracking month and enjoy the mag.