Blade goes onto the time machine

Running our new Fireblade through the winter will no doubt furrow brows, but there is method to this icy, salty and windy madness…

USING THE FIREBLADE FOR winter commuting duties mightnd seem a bit like making a thoroughbred race horse pull the rag and bone cart for half a year. But one winter is equivalent to at least five summers, so the experiment will be a time machine, demonstrating how the Blade will hold up long term. To make it comparable with previous test bikes I put it through my winter prep routine, which involves coating anything rust-prone in anti-corrosion potion ACF-50. To do it properly you need to remove the fairing panels, which isn’t too hard on the Blade – just the usual mixture of allen bolts, screws, plastic press-rivets and the odd rubber press stud. The fairing panels are superb quality, made of thick, durable plastic that withstands my cackhanded bending. And the fit is superb – putting it back together is simple because once you’ve clicked the two lower panels together all the screw and allen bolt holes line up precisely. Removing the fairing panels does reveal how useless they are at protecting the bike from road crud though. Everything is plastered. The ACF50 will have its work cut out.

Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade

TYRES: Metzeler M7 RR

COST: £15,225

MILEAGE: 2793

MPG: 44.5

Westlake sponsored by ACF50, other anti corrosion potions are available