Honda Fireblade RR8

HONDA FIREBLADE RR8 2008-2019 175bhp 84lb·ft 199kg 820mm seat 17.7-litre tank

In its recent update, Honda took the radical decision to focus its Fireblade on the track at the sacrifice of road manners; a shame, as the Blade has always been a great road bike first and foremost. The 2008-onwards Blade demonstrates this perfectly, as its turbine-smooth inline four is packed full of the kind of midrange that is so lacking in not only the new model but also, most of its rivals. If you want a sportsbike to ride and enjoy on the road without the need to be touching silly figures just to get its motor going, buy an older generation of Blade.

Three things to look for

C-ABS was an option from 2009 on the Blade.

The 2012 bike has uprated

suspension, 12-spoke wheels and an updated dash.

The ABS system takes four hours to change the fluid on, which should be done every two years but is often skipped due to the cost.

Improve it

The OE exhaust’s paint flakes on its cover and the collector can rust, so replacing it with an aftermarket unit improves a used Blade’s looks.