Well it had to happen sooner or later, our bright orange ABS Fireblade has gone back but it has been replaced with another one. This time a non-ABS version in a much more understated dark blue and silver colour scheme. It’s not as bright and in your face as our Repsol replica, which I must say, had grown on me in the time we had the bike.

This non-ABS version feels slightly more responsive on the throttle, although that might be my imagination knowing that it’s 11Kg lighter. It does definitely feel more well mannered though, almost docile in fact. This is of course a good thing but I did quite like the edginess of the orange bike. It never felt as though it was trying to throw you off or anything, it just let you know that it wanted respect.

It is amazing the difference between 2 examples of what is essentially the same bike. I like that though, that’s what gives the bike character.