Even pushing the bike into the van, the CBR is the undisputed miniature of the group, and it’s not just the weight, so much as its compactness which really strikes you and which translates as amazing agility even by the standards of the class.

Ever a neutral and natural steerer, the CBR now turns even faster than the 03 or 04 bike and can be flicked in with little more than a hip dip, while the accuracy of the way the front end tracks is not prejudiced in the slightest, nor has it any need of the electronic damper as fitted to the 04 and 05 Blade.

Suspension is firm, but fair and makes the Yamaha feel soft by comparison, though no way is it as sublimely balanced as the GSX-R or as race-oriented as the 636. If anything, the rear shock still feels a little blunt compared to the latter two.

Up front, however, the improvements in the front fork mean far more resistance to dive and an even greater tolerance of the brake lever well into the corner radius, while the new radial mount calipers are possibly the best of the group. 

On the road, on softish rubber, such as Bridgestones, it would be hard to find the limit of the CBR once you’d dispensed with the hero haemorrhoids, though these are shorter than the Blade’s and fitted to much nicer looking pegs.

Having said that, the CBR just doesn't seem to attack the apex like the Kawasaki.

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