Well, thank goodness that Norwich Union had insisted on fully comp insurance on the last Blade. The loss adjster was a very nice man and had had a word with the bike shop the old Blade was lad up in its sorry state... I could have a new "P" plated Blade (same model, same colour as last time) for a nominal fee...
So, 3 months after killing the last Blade I had a nice new shiny one which I was determined to be nice to (!)
I treated this one with kid gloves.. lean into corners.. ok but only by a few degrees !
I fitted some nice steel braided shrink wrapped brake hoses and never looked back... This bike was awesome and did everything I wanted it to. Quite early on in ownership, June (and Edward in June's tummy thanks to Howard), myself and Blade went to Amsterdam...
Blade in Dam Square with mystical angelic glow on it (maybe that's why I never binned it!)
...where someone decided it was such a nice bike they'd try to steal it... They made off with the lock and the ignition barrel, but luckily it was saved by the alarm / immobiliser (phew!) - Well actually, it was in Utrecht which is a quick trip down the motorway to Amsterdam.
Blade by canal in Urecht where it may have ended up but for Datatool(!)
What else can I say about the Blade that hasn't already been said? In the best part of 4 years I owned it, it looked almost as good on the last day as the day I bought it; the build quality was second to none. June even like it as the back seat was reasonably comfortable.
Good finish even after 3.5 years
Ed's first lesson
Harriet & June the day it went...
One extra thing... this bike will always have been special me. So far, it was the bike I owned for the longest (4 years if u count the first identical Blade) and it held a lot of memories. I was also grateful that it never spat me off no matter how much abuse I threw at it nor lost it in any corners. I was really emotional when I went to swap it for the next beast but, even though i was a Honda, it was coming up for a SECOND MOT, and, on the last service, a pipe from the oil cooler had needed replacing - who knows what was next to go.. Also, to be honest, it felt heavy and underpowered compared to the next baby....
CRASHES & NEAR MISSES
Ermm... none ! Honest ! A combination of luck and a healthy respect for how much it hurts when you fall off.
The only damage done was when the tarmac melted under the sidestand one hot Summer's day and it toppled over, scratching the clutch cover.
Of note, I also bought some of hose carbon fibre frame protectors but, unfortunately, they flew off after 140mph whilst on a mission of mercy to the hospital (honest, Officer!)
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