Last year, in my previous position as motoring journalist for WIEL magazine, we had the opportunity to drive and test most of the cars that CAR magazine appraised. Those included the semi-old school (relatively big body, classic V8 power) Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and the extremely fast Porsche 911 Turbo to name just two examples. They are serious performance machines that are fast in a straight line, grip properly around corners and I have several fond memories of spending time behind their steering wheels.
There was one machine though that topped both of them. See, Honda was kind enough to give as its updated Honda Fireblade with the new ABS braking system.
For those who are not familiar with superbikes, the Fireblade produces 131 kW at 12 000 r/min and weights 199 kg. If you are looking for a 0-100 km/h figure, well, then you are in the wrong company, since motorcycle manufacturers rarely release those figures. It all depends, mostly, on the rider.
The best time to fully experience a superbike is, without a doubt, on a racing circuit. But the other option is to get up really early, meet up with a fellow biker/friend and head for some of the smoothest (important with a superbike) and most twisty mountain passes the Western Cape has to offer.
In the past couple of hours I have experienced several adrenalin rushes. I could almost touch the tarmac with my one hand (real riders would have been able to) a few times. I have done speeds which I will never be able to mention here. I have, again, discovered what a sensitive piece of machinery a superbike is. It totally depends on your body movements how the bike goes through a corner. As with a car, it takes no effort going fast in a straight line, but it is the corners that matter. That’s where a superbike’s capabilities will be surplus to the riding abilities of 90 per cent of its buyers.
While the Honda cools down and I inhale the machine’s warm mechanical smell, I think back over the first part of this day. For the whole morning it was me, a powerful machine with two wheels, the road ahead and a simply spectacular landscape that was ever changing. The Fireblade has a power to weight ratio in line with that of a Bugatti Veyron; it’s a machine that changes direction quicker than most supercars, a machine that revs to 12 000 r/min, a machine with no traction control and no stability programme!
What’s the point? If you consider yourself a petrolhead you have to (at least once in your life) either ride a superbike, or worst, sit pillion on one. You will never look at a sports- and supercars in the same way.