I had the opportunity to queue up for a few test rides this weekend at the ABR. I chose the brand new Fireblade SP (the R -iest blade ever 
) out of pure curiosity as I have my lovely 2004 model and also chose the Kawasaki ZX-4RR as it sounded like it would be an absolute blast.
Honda CBR1000RR-R
My biggest challenge with the blade was starting itâŚkeyless ignition with a strange wheel to the side of the TFT screen to switch it on . Once it was started, there were so many options to set it up that when I was asked what I wanted I just said not with everything off and maximum power, but not totally dulled down eitherâŚso just down the middle .
It was, as you would expect, as smooth as silk and absolutely monstrous power - wise. I donât think I got out of third gear (may have touched 4th brieflyâŚ) and at points I did manage to go âquite fastâ. The sound is absolutely amazing past 5000 revs, a really loud induction howl that just gets louder and louder the more you push. The brakes are insanely good as is the handling and electronic suspension. It was a ride that made me smile and I would happily have stayed on all dayâŚhowever âŚit is just so much bike for the road and the gap between my talent and the capability of the bike is immense. It does make you feel like you are a far better rider than you actually are as the technology is constantly compensating for you I think. It has less character than mine and I actually prefer the stripped down nature of it too; I donât know how long Iâd need to ride for to actually find which settings were best as the combinations seem infinite.
Verdict? Absolutely fantastic for a fun test ride, very comfortable, noise and power were addictive. Even if I did have almost ÂŁ29000 to spend on a bike would it be this one? More than likely not just as I wouldnât utilise even half of its capabilities I donât think.
Kawasaki ZX-4RR
My first impression of this little Kawasaki was that it was compact, light and fast - looking. When you start the bike youâre met with a noisier, sportier - sounding engine note than you might expect and the TFT is clear and just has three basic modes. The guys at Kawasaki just advised that it needed keeping really high up in the rev range with lots of gear changes using the quick shifter to achieve that.
I canât really explain how intoxicating this little bike is; itâs light, so well balanced and just pure FUN. It is really noisy all the time and the more it screams and howls the more you want to keep it there. It picks up really, really fast, the steering is precise and I just could not stop grinning inside my helmet. It comes alive after 10000 RPM and redlines at 16000! I absolutely did not want to get off this bike, it is so agile and so full of character, a few other people on the Kawasaki test ride said to me that I looked like I was having a lot of fun and they were right. You can really use this bike and the work up and down the gear box to keep it spinning along is just so absorbing and the quickshifter is really slick.
Verdict? For me the riding position is very comfortable, itâs sporty without being too aggressive and the seat is small and narrow. The brakes are great and the suspension is a good spec but Iâd set it up for me on for sure as it wasnât quite right for my weight / riding style I donât think. Overall though it just delivered total joy every time you twisted the throttle (the ridiculous smile on my face on the photo says how I felt about it as I came back from the ride ). I like it so much that I might get a longer test ride from a Kawasaki dealer.
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