Last year, around February I passed my full motorcycle test having had a strong urge to do so for several years. My first “bike” was a 125cc Gilera Runner scooter. The little two wheeler was ideal for traveling around Central London to work and back, excellent in avoiding Ken Livingstone’s idea of public transport and the nasty congestion charge.

After playing it safe with a lovely Honda CBR600F, the all rounds sports bike as a first big machine and several thousand miles later (well two), I fancied something a little sportier. Enter the new Honda CBR600RR, which after rave reviews I was very keen to throw a leather clad leg over. After 30 minutes in the saddle though, my amble backside was just a little sore (although I was actually wearing jeans at the time so this could explain). The bike did handle exceptionally well though, although it just didn’t like the strong gusts of wind that day or some big fat biker wiggling about with sore knees and bum cheeks.

Upon getting back to my local Honda dealer (Two Wheels) who couldn’t have been more patient, I spotted an 07 plate CBR1000RR with just 1200 miles on the clock and in stunning Honda Racing Colours, a limited edition with so much gold coloured adornments. you could open a jewelers in Hatton Garden. I asked David and Robert in the showroom what they thought, having just passed my test earlier that year and they advised me against, but offered me a test drove if I promised to take it easy. So, ten minutes later I was on the Blade. First thought - “Oh shit I’m going to die”! The feeling of power from the saddle reminded me of the time my friend Dan let me sit on his Suzuki GSXR 750 and blip the throttle - it scared the crap out of me. Approaching the first set of traffic lights a few yards down the road, I experienced the braking power of this litre bike - just phenomenal, later to sense their feedback and what I feel are the best stoppers of any bike I’ve ridden (including my 1981 Raleigh Grifter which was an awesome machine in its day, well t least when you’re 7).

The bike has a very big sense of purpose when you get in the saddle, the controls are clear and purposeful and nothing is there that doesn’t need to be. On first opening the throttle I let out an involuntary shriek of what I think was joy, tempered with a bit of shit-scaredness. Down the bypass, with strong winds the bike just didn’t move, which was a relief.

On the twisties the first run on the CBR1000RR showed me just how much power the Honda has compared to the 600RR. It felt like it was twice as fast - no exaggeration. So, taking it easy I took the bike through some very familiar corners. The Blade needs some great deal of concentration with the throttle, too early on and things get a little tricky, smooth progression is what’s needed. Not as easy as the 600 on turn in but smooth nonetheless.

The sheer amount of power on this machine has to be experienced to be believed. Having been lucky enough to own a Porsche GT3 briefly, this seems to be the two wheeled equivalent, but so much faster. Whereas the GT3 makes 100mph in 8.9 seconds, the Fireblade does so in 5.8s, making 140mph in 8.9s. That’s as fast as a Bugatti Veyron. Not that you can use that power on the road.

After returning to the dealer, excited, scared and looking at two bikes at the same price, one new, one lightly used but both very different, I decided to sleep on it and make a decision in the morning. When I thought of the Blade, I smiled, the 600RR was good but the CBR1000RR was the daddy.

Next morning after another test ride I bought my 2007 Honda HRC CBR1000RR and haven’t looked back.

What a simply stunning machine.