[Antnee]

Normally I deal with a dealer in Nottingham but I decided to try talking to another a little further afield to see what info they could give me on the CB1000R. I was told that they'll have the bikes at the end of May/beginning of June for a £250 deposit. They're quoting £7,000 for the standard and £7,500 for the ABS/CBS. They also say they have 10 bikes on order and as a result of the MCN review five of them are taken already. Damn

 

[Giggity]

Likewise, checked up on my order today. Late June/ early July. Seemingly, other current Honda models are behind too.
Dealer is really plugging ABS/CBS version. Anybody ride with ABS ? Opinions would be great

 

[Antnee]

On my way to work today I heard my phone ringing in my pocket. I tried to mash the keypad through my jacket to reject the call but when I got to work I had no missed calls or answer phone messages. Looking in the log and it seems I'd picked up. All they'd have heard was me racing along on the bike.

It was the usual local dealer so I gave them a call back to see if they had any interesting info. They asked if I wanted the CBS/ABS model or not. Didn't occur to me at the time that maybe they can't shift them. Funny thing was that only a couple of weeks ago when I had my Hornet in for a service they were telling me that there will be no non-ABS model in the UK, like there isn't a non-ABS Hornet 600 apparently. Don't you hate it when you're the one giving them the info?

Anyway, they too say that they've already had 5 orders off the back of the MCN and TWO reviews, and apparently there are only 150 coming into the country, which apparently works out at 1.5 per dealer, so we're all screwed. Interesting.

Welcome BTW Giggity, giggity goo! :welcome :lol

 

[Giggity]

Ta muchley for the welcome. Going to try out abs/cbs on mate's CBF1000 tomorrow to see what its all about.
But as I average 15/20k miles a year on combination of bikes I do'nt feel I need the hand holding brakes.
Dealer has £2k deposit, via trade in, so I am commited .
Btw, total lack of cb1000r knowledge at several Honda dealers in the Thames Valley area.
Never mind, 20 degrees tomorrow and Italia Moto show in Bristol.

 

[Antnee]

Yeah, looking forward to some good weather tomorrow and getting a few miles in on the bike. Can't wait for summer, CB1000R or not!

 

[mac]

Spoke to the chap in Fowlers again today.

He's getting two bikes in June, of which he'll use one as a demonstrator.
Customer available bikes in July.

He was also pushing the ABS CBS version quite heavily.

Didn't seem that interested in getting me to put down a deposit, basically "you can if you want, but may as well just get in touch around June time"

 

[Antnee]

He was also pushing the ABS CBS version quite heavily.

Sound familiar, mac. I assume that nobody wants those ones so they have them available. Would anyone consider one for a discount over the normal model? I wouldn't

 

[Giggity]

Chap at Abingdon (sphell ? ) Honda explained the reason for limited availability : uk buys balls on sports bikes, no naked sales will ever compete with R1, CBR 6.....etc. And looking around Fox's caff today, i would agree with him.
Anyhows, spent an hour on mates cbf1000 with ABS to see what its all about . Think abs/cbs rightly belongs on a bike that will be used 12 months of the year on crappy roads or if its your first bike. Personally I feel ABS on something like a CB1000R is like having L plates and a numpty fluro vest.
Oh, if anyone sees a pheasant in the Vale of the White Horse with my offside mirror could you ask for it back !

 

[DAN]

On the ABS point... the best bet would be to have a test ride of another Honda with linked ABS brakes such as a VFR.

Personally I think the £500 extra is better spent on aftermarket bits that you might want and then can also sell on at a later time. You'll never get your money back on ABS but it may just save your neck if you get heavy handed in the wet or ice.

 

[Antnee]

Oh, if anyone sees a pheasant in the Vale of the White Horse with my offside mirror could you ask for it back !

Ha ha, will do!

 

[mac]

Got to agree about the ABS/CBS.
I think Honda have made a corporate decision that this is the way of the future and are keen on pushing it wherever they can. Trying to repeat how history went with cars.

I personally wouldn't want the ABS because:
a) It's one more thing to go wrong, and it'll be expensive if it does. I know 2 blokes I can think of off the top of my head that have had this issue. One on a VFR, one on a yam FJR.

b) I'm not massively convinced it'd be much use. The point of ABS on a car is so that you can still steer under panic braking. If you got to the point of locking the front on a greasy road on bike, would it really be possible to steer? Wouldn't the front still wash out anyway?

And I don't want CBS because I don't want the back brake pedal affecting the front, even if it is 'just a tiny little bit'

I'm perfectly ready to accept that the CBS does give a nice feel under normal sensible riding, I'm just not convinced that it's any benefit at the limit. However, I've not ridden a bike with it on, so I'm ready to be corrected

 

[DAN]

Yes you are right... it is a complex system consisting of 11 or so different brake lines, plus other components. The ABS model is not the one to go for if you plan to fit braided brakes lines (Goodridge or HEL for example).

The system definitely works, in the wet particularly on a straight it might see you right if you had to suddenly brake but as we know on bikes there are so many other variables to take into account. I can't see it would help much for example if you were mid corner and braking. Even on a straight it is possible to lose traction, much depends on your tyres and the road surface, but the ABS will try to manage braking to best suit the circumstances.

For me I found that it made braking more "refined", with little or no front dive. But with the system managing the level of braking, I found that brake performance (distance to stop) was not as good as a standard braking system where you can stop almost instantly at lower speeds.

 

[Giggity]

Date if delivery , according to dealer will be the second week of July at the earliest. In Black and .......err......hmm........I will be worshiping at The Church Of The Assisted Braking Fellowship, The Reverend Honda man showed me the error of my ways. Praise be to ABS. ( he loaned me a abs hornet to cane about in the wet.............sold)

 

[Antnee]

Hey, I have nothing against people who ride ABS bikes Giggity, and if it means you can have your bike sooner then great, but I won't be having one with ABS (he says). How much are you paying? Do you know yet?

 

[Giggity]

Do'ne tell the missus but :List price less usuall percentage for goodwill, list seemingly 7,495 on abs. Honda have a habbit of throwing on extras with new models ( huggers , etc )shortly after release, buyers could ask if they could qualify for these if they are offered within 6 months of purchase.

 

[Antnee]

Spoke to a couple of local dealers again today: One seems to think he can guarantee a launch bike, the other says probably not a launch bike but immediately afterwards, and then something about having a black ABS bike and a white non-ABS and swap the panels over to make the ABS bike white and the non-ABS black so that I get a black non-ABS model ASAP.

Fingers crossed gonna finally get my deposit down before the weekend is out :thumbup

 

[Ratty]

Ooooh Ant'...

getting serious now mate... :clap

Missus know yet... :taunt2 ?

 

[Antnee]

No, but I did send her an email earlier telling her that it will cost less to own the CB than the Hornet, so there's no real argument. Now if only I could get a decent price for mine :cry

Anyone know anyone else who wants a 600 Hornet around the beginning of July for around £3000? Fair price for a 56-plate and I'll leave the bits on it (Honda hugger, belly pan and heated grips and ArtFibras undertray). :thumbup

 

[DAN]

Spoke to a couple of local dealers again today: One seems to think he can guarantee a launch bike, the other says probably not a launch bike but immediately afterwards, and then something about having a black ABS bike and a white non-ABS and swap the panels over to make the ABS bike white and the non-ABS black so that I get a black non-ABS model ASAP.

Fingers crossed gonna finally get my deposit down before the weekend is out :thumbup

Dobles mate!!! remember delivery anywhere in the UK... after that you have the who dealer network at your feet....

Worth a phone call to Paul.

 

[Antnee]

Yeah, was thinking about calling Paul actually, but I still need rid of my Hornet, though the cash I save on accessories at purchase could make up for any short fall. I want the heated grips, hugger and seat cowl at minimum