Disappointment of 2017

Mark Fattore: Bikesales Editor
That Indian hasn’t committed – as yet – to making a volume version of the FTR1200 Custom. What a machine!

Kellie Buckley: Bikesales freelancer
The disappointments began early this year when Toby Price crashed out of the lead of the 2017 Dakar Rally and snapped his femur, effectively sidelining him for the entire 2017 season. The much anticipated and much hyped all-new Honda Fireblade was something of a disappointment, too, not least for the blokes employed to race them. It was the bike that lured Guy Martin out of retirement, only to land him in the hedge at the Isle of Man because of what he called “a gearbox full of neutrals”. The bike, too, that John McGuinness had pegged to return him to big-bike glory at the 37.75-mile Mountain Course, though he never made it after issues with the all-new ride-by-wire throttle meant a frighteningly fast crash and subsequent broken leg at this year’s North West 200. Then there’s the WorldSBK team which struggled all year to comes to terms with it. It’s a beaut roadbike, no question, and a few riders have enjoyed successes in some domestic championships, but it’s going to take a bit more time before its the sharp Blade we’ve come to expect on all racing grids.