Exclusive pictures of the Blade replacement

MCN has exclusive pictures of the 2004 FireBlade replacement, which factory insiders claim is as small as a 600.

Honda has gone to extremes to top the Suzuki GSX-R1000 and Yamaha R1, with a more powerful engine, tweaked chassis, and a lighter-than-ever bike. The current Blade is already a featherweight 168kg, but the new version is rumoured to be even lighter than the current crop of 600cc sportsbikes. The current 2003 CBR600RR weights 169kg.

It’s expected to feature the same under-seat fuel tank system as the CBR600RR, and new underseat twin exhausts will keep the weight close to the centre of the bike and increase ground clearance.

To read more, see MCN, out April 30.

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