Is it worth paying an extra 70p for the specially dried Columbian virgin coffee beans from your local barista, or does the run-of-the-mill stuff they serve taste just as good, at half the price? Can you really tell the difference, or are a few sexy words scrambling your brain into thinking something is simply better because it costs more?
The reason for this tangent is to give context to the Blade and my relationship with it. It is a bike I know well, having not only been on the latest iteration's launch back in 2020 under a roasting Qatari sun, but also going on to clock 5000 miles on my termer that very same year. In 2022, I was there on the launch of the updated 30th anniversary model, on track with a certain Mr McGuinness, and only last year that same bike powered me through some unforgettable riding experiences on the Isle of Man. The Blade is one of my favourite motorcycles of all time, made so alluring by its precise and informative front end and its mind-warpingly fast and exciting motor. It is an absolute beast to ride a literal testament to Honda's engineering prowess that's translated to many wins on the racetrack, and which is sure to power a fair few more in the months ahead (albeit it on the newer, tricker 2024 spec machine).
But here is my quandary... why is the McGuinness bike any better than the 30th anniversary SP, which in itself is a looker and comes fully loaded with about 95% of the components you'll find on this limited edition? That question rattled around my grey matter as I blasted along my favourite backroads, getting reacquainted with this compact pocket rocket.
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