916、good choice. from just style alone, but then there was that new engine that was a big jump for Dukes and especially for other twins. A real jewel even with all it's faults and I think someone said it was the bike that got him really into two wheelers. Probably not alone in that! Italy at its best!

Fireblade - nah
It was just a 750 with a big bore on it - other than that it was just another IL4 and never as good as a GSX750R

I have to agree with ant, the blade is the bike that's got nothing wrong with it. I owned one for 7 years and it was perfect, couldn't fault it.

The 916 is an icon, it's obviously an awsome bike in race trim but as a road bike, to be honest, it ain't really up to much by comparison. Don't get me wrong, my 996 is the only reason I come to work every day, it's a top shelf bike which I've always aspired to, but to say it's the best can only be based on desireability, surely. Think I'll write a letter!

Stone me, burn down my house, even step on my blue suede shoes if you must... but my good ol' FireBucket gets my vote.

Hmmm..not sure about where tha stats came from either...I seem to remember the monster and laverda jota being nearly bottom of the poll in the first edition a few weeks ago..?? :puzzled::puzzled:

Nat

What a truely awesome response, not sure i agree though, no offence meant, not knocking yer, just putting my personal twopunce worth in.

The Fireblade is a brilliant and iconic bike in its own right, although on the H0nda front still prefer the RC30, but the Blade changed the whole scene, and was far more readily available to the general public than either RC30 or 916.

The Blade is a better bet in a lot of ways but doesn't stir the soul in the same way the 916 did/still does. As you say your 996 is the reason you go to work. I don't think the 9** is that bad a road bike, but maybe i'm just strange.

The Blade in its various incarnations (my Favourites being the original which blew me away at the time, and the 2002/2003 model) is a great bike, and is a milestone along bike development.

Other milestones being CB750, Z1, GPZ900, GSXR750, (Blade), R1.

But my personal top 3 would be
916 1st
RC30 2nd
Blade 3rd
CB250 G5 4th (bag of scrap but it was the first roadbike i ever owned)
:D

p.s. this is only my humble opinion, not having kept a Blade for 7 years, but i have ridden all the different models and had a couple of them in the garage over the years.

Did you notice that it was a RED 916 in the MCN!:roll::roll::roll:

Hey BDG, my opinion's worth sweet f.a. when it comes to the crunch. I've only owned 10 bikes, and not ridden many others.

I remember the rc30 tho - a guy up the road had one, and I used to dream of getting one of them after i'd learned to ride me Puch properly! That was until the 916 came to light...

:)

No way is your opinion worth sweet f.a. Your opinion is just as valid as mine or anyone else's. I thought it was a great response especially as it wasn't the party line on a Ducati board. I was only voicing a purely personal alternative.

Just read wot I wrote... I'm gonna get turfed outa the club aren't I..!!! :lol:

Seriously tho, these rating lists don't do a lot for me. I don't think a bike can be rated, cos when they say 'best' what do they mean? Best at what?? And how can bikes from different era's be compared?

So, best all round bike of my era is what my thoughts were based on... I even used to go get the weekly groceries on the 'blade - big cardboard box bungee'd to the back seat... it was a sight to behold!

But on trackdays my 996 is noticably better to me. Don't know if it's quicker (i think it is?) but it sure is more fun. And it's as sassy lokking as a bike can get!

orange Jota.Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm,I would have loved one of those instead of me SS50 five speed:)