South West Bikers | Motorcycle Forum

If you're looking for something that looks good and will stay looking good then get an R1. The finnish quality is the best I've ever seen. Them and R6s just don't corrode. (Not like others anyway)

Don't go for a Suzuki of that age cos they'll all be really scabby.

Have ridden both over the years.

The blade is great bike for distance/comfort with the performance when required. By todays standards it's a sports tourer.

The Original R1 is an absolute classic. Stonkin bike. Buy a clean one now and look after it and you won't loose money.

I guess the answer is to try both?

R1 ... No contest for looks IMO! R1 is much nicer

the r1 is winning my vote at the moment, saw a stunning r1 in gts last week,went back to test ride it and it had been sold!

i was going to try a k4 gsxr1000 but they said due to the road conditions at the moment they arnt letting any bikes out.

guess ill just have to wait for the weather to clear a bit and possibly pop up bridge next weekend

Might be a bit more than you wanted to spend but there's a red and white one at Taylors. Check it out at

http://www.taylors-motorcycles.com/stoc ... ?dlr_cat=5

R1 for me.

Although I don't know anything about either, so that's purely on looks and not advice.

I've heard Blades are very good bikes...

watters wrote: i was going to try a k4 gsxr1000 but they said due to the road conditions at the moment they arnt letting any bikes out.

guess ill just have to wait for the weather to clear a bit and possibly pop up bridge next weekend

thats an entirely more expensive bike than either of your other two options!....certainly it is in a completetly different league to a a pre 2000 blade or R1.

There is an enormous difference between a 150 bhp gixxer thou and a 120 - 130 bhp blade or R1 (neither of which got 150bhp engines until 2004 onwards). Last time I rode a blade it felt like it was only firing on three cylinders, Id still take a blade over an R1 though because I just can not get on with the handling of R1's - the early ones are horrid (never rode one newer than 2002 mind)

I have ridden both. Blade is the stable easy to ride fast one. R1 is a pig handling wise on the road. Its too sharp, and extreme.

Mind you Jason, you've been spoilt with a GSXR. More power, and miles better handling. Also relatively easy to ride fast and safe!

You don't own a 98 R1. It owns you.