Longtermers: Emma Franklin liked her longterm Blade so much, she’s now bought one!
But Emma’s time with the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP isn’t over…
Maybe it’s the ‘Lockdown Effect’, or perhaps it’s what’s known as a mid-life crisis (they’re not just for men, you know). But whatever the reason, the result is I’m now the proud co-owner of a 2020 Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP.
My time with MCN’s longterm test Fireblade has basically been a very-extended demo ride. In between last year’s lockdowns, I’d racked up over 2500 miles doing fun local loops, longer motorway grinds and even managed to squeeze in four trackdays. But I still felt I’d not even scratched the surface of what the Fireblade SP could do – and, most importantly, I’d not got bored. Every ride, even if it was sixth-gear highway cruising, was absolutely thrilling. I’d never ridden a Honda – or indeed any motorcycle - quite like it. The CBR1000RR-R got its claws into me, good and proper.
So, when the chance to buy a used RR-R came my way, I found myself face-to-face with serious temptation. I’d just sold my Kawasaki KR-1S so had a bit of spare cash and, as my partner was also up for going halves (spoiler alert: he didn’t take much convincing), we decided to take the plunge into ownership. I call it an early 40th birthday present. Now, I already knew what I’d be getting into from a rider’s point of view, but what a long-term test doesn’t quite put into perspective is the full nitty gritty of ownership. How much a bike like the Blade costs
to run, even if it’s just sitting in the garage not being ridden (as mine has been since December).
First, insurance. As a rider with 17 years’ experience, six years’ NCD and (ahem) three penalty points, the Fireblade costs £398 per year to insure on a comprehensive policy with BeMoto. That’s also with a
prerequisite Datatool Stealth S5 tracking system fitted to it (which came with the bike), costing £9.95 per month (or £109 per year) for the subscription. Then there’s the vehicle tax, £93 for 12 months. Next up is servicing. The CBR1000RR-R’s service intervals are an impressive 8000 miles… or every 12 months. As my bike has only 2000 miles on its clocks but has just celebrated its first birthday, that means a service is needed in order to keep the balance of the two-year warranty live. That’s £190. This all means that the Blade costs roughly £85 every month to keep taxed, insured, serviced and protected,
regardless of whether it’s ridden. Then there’s the parts; idly flicking through the’ manual, co-owner Bruce noted that Honda recommend that caliper bolts are replaced every time they’re removed. Annoying, you might think, but as an important safety component you shouldn’t question it. However, when you discover that each one costs £31 (£124 for a set of four) it might have you wondering how long you could get away with reusing them.