My Test Day:2008 Fireblade & XL700V Transalp

[Shep]

I had a day off work today, so i went down to our local Honda Dealer Moto Select in Farnham and had a 2 hour test ride on the new 2008 Fireblade and then 2 hours on the XL700V Transalp.

After owning numerous sportsbikes and an Africa Twin and a Varadero these are my thoughts.

Fireblade.

Dangerously close to perfect, shatteringly fast and i mean ballistic. But completely neutral handling, smooth, storming midrange that flows seamlessley into warp drive top end. Incredible brakes, excellent gearbox. you simply cannot fault it.

XL700V Transalp

I fell in love today, what a wonderfull motorbike, Ok not as rufty tufty as my old RD04 Africa Twin but personally this bike had everything that i wanted on my Africa Twin

Perfect riding position, superb seat, very powerfull smooth engine up to 100mph is instant, excellent fuel injection better than the 650V Strom. Briliant chuckable handling, great gearbox and silky smooth engine all the way through the rev range.

So much fun to ride more so than my Varadero, i absolutely loved it.

For me i would have chosen the Transalp every time OK the Blade is mental but in reality you cannot use it and a sportsbike is so very one dimensional, On our terrible rough Britsih roads the transalp will easily keep with it anywhere.

For the blade you need a smooth road, and no cars around you. The Transalp was simply fantastic in the real world.

When i got back to the shop i was not sorry to get off the blade but i really was with the Transalp, says it all really

[phil w]

Sounds like a good day then, in all

[Xander]

So you buying one then?

[piguglyshandydrinker]

Sounds like you had a good day Shep.

Not totally convinced about this bit though.....

On our terrible rough Britsih roads the transalp will easily keep with it anywhere.

Phil

[Whealie]

If I had legs as short as yours I think I'd like the Transalp too.

[Lord Vader]

If I had legs as short as yours I think I'd like the Transalp too.

Ouch thats gonne hurt