Gallery: The last of the pure Fireblades

The outgoing Honda Fireblade is getting a bit long in the tooth now – it’s been around since 2012 – but it’s still one of the best road-going superbikes you can buy.

It might not have the headline-grabbing power figures or electronic rider aids of the latest superbikes from other manufacturers, but it more than makes up for it with bags of easy grunt, a smooth throttle, flawless power curve and balanced handling. The SP version pictured here also comes with Ohlins suspension and Brembo brakes.

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That was all the reason we needed to spend a surprisingly mild Autumnal week with the Fireblade SP, as it comes to the Autumn of its lifespan, before the new all singing, all dancing Fireblade arrives next year.

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