Honda have moved to radial mount calipers for 2004 and the Fireblade's Tokico four-piston items clamp on 310mm disc rotors. At the rear a single 220mm disc aids the stopping process.  One finger is all that is needed for road riding. These stoppers really have some bite. 

When first hopping aboard you will quickly find that you need to cosset the brake lever, ham-fisted efforts are not received kindly.

So how did I fare after a 900km day in the saddle?

The seat is fairly firm, but also gives in just the right places. I found it quite comfortable for the long haul, this is obviously well aided by the compliant suspension which dispatches all but the biggest bumps without punching you in the kidneys.

The pegs are quite high.  When first hopping aboard the bike I thought they might pose some problems.  However, after some time on the bike my legs became accustomed to the riding position, getting on and off the bike after long stints caused me little drama.

The reach to the bars is quite comfortable, offering a good balance between weight on the wrists and backside.

My portly 180cm frame soon became accustomed to the riding position. I would have no hesitation in doing a similar interstate trip again in the future.

The look of the new Fireblade has certainly grown on me since I first saw it. Form has not overtaken the main design criteria of function in this baby though. All the controls fall perfectly to hand and the machine has been designed with the rider very much in mind. 

The standard of finish is impeccable.  The Fireblade is Honda's flagship model and they always go that extra mile to ensure it is seen as such.

The lower fairing has a strange coarseness to the paint that refused the adhesion of stickers. The tail section proved remarkably resistant to scuffing. I deliberately did not tape up the rear section where the straps securing my luggage were going to rub in order to see how resistant to scuffing this area of the bike would prove. It passed the test, with flying colours.

Unfortunately, the tank was not quite so impervious to scuffing. My leather clad inner thighs did manage to dull the finish. A good tank protector will be needed to keep this area looking good.

The Fireblade is a little heavier than its chief rivals. Perhaps Honda built the machine with plenty of beef in all the right components to provide a long service life. I have seen Fireblade gearbox internals next to that offered by a rival manufacturer in racetrack pit bays in previous years, and you don't have to look very closely to see which one is stronger.