O U R
G E T TI N G S PA R E S
Parts are relatively easy to source at the moment
although no doubt it will get harder especially
the decals for this model which was the low
volume one for that model year. I already have
replacements for a few of the decals that have
knicks and scratches in them but there’s no point
fitting them as the bike is still in regular use and
they’d only get marked. David Silver Spares (they
have US and UK operations) and Lings Honda
Parts have been my go to suppliers when I’ve
needed bits, they’ve always been really helpful
and I’ve got the bits I needed and the prices have
been more than fair. I think the switch cluster, an
unused genuine Honda part, cost me around $100
delivered from the US.
42 KIWI RIDER
B I K E S
DODGED A BULLET
Now, here’s a thing. A few months back I found
the original sales receipt for the bike. It was
purchased September 18, 1997. I paid $16,400
(AUD) for it back then. Adjust that for inflation
and you’re looking at something in the region of
$28K (AUD). When you look at the tech on modern
litre superbikes and compare it to the absolute
absence of electrotech on the ‘Blade, the 2020
models don’t seem so expensive after all.
I nearly traded the ‘Blade when I bought my
Speed Triple a few years back. Luckily the
dealership offered me a stupidly low amount of
cash for the Honda and I was smart enough to
turn it down, because if I had sold it I’m pretty
sure that I would be regretting it every sunny day
of the year. I can’t see ‘Retro’, as it’s known, going
anywhere soon. It’s a little piece of 90s superbike
cool that I’m stoked to have in my garage.