the 2004 blade was a nice bike. Not quite as sharp and evil as the ones before or after.
It is still quite a bike for an in experienced rider, but that doesn't mean it cant be a good one if you build up your experience and take it steady.
two good mates started riding at the same time as me, one went CB125 for test, CB500 to improve on and then stopped because he kept crashing it,
I went Yamaha DT125, Briefly Divvy 600 (Found it way too slow and boring within a couple of weeks), CB750, CBR600, VTR1000, Blade then on to R1. I spent a fortune and wasn't happy until I got the Blade and spent every penny I had.
3rd one passed on a borrowed 125 then get a blade. He never crashed and was an IAM rider within a year or two. Initial insurance was a killer, but soon started coming down.
In a very rambling way, go for one if you are comfortable and like it but take it steady while you learn to ride it.
