CBR1100XX Blackbird

Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 9:39 am

indison wrote:

My question is, why would you buy a blackbird, when there is a bike out there that was named after the bird that eats black birds.... and has a MASSIVE following...

He he he - I just cannot afford a Busa, but a Bird I can. My wife and I will drive 350km's on Saturday morning to pick up my 2000 Blackbird with 29000Kms on the clock. I got it for ZAR40,000 (about $3200), and it is in excellent condition. She will drive back and I will be riding Laughing

I can't wait. Going to miss my F though, but won't be a stranger here, that's for sure.

Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:59 pm

Very nice, alot of thing have changed from 82-83 to 2000.. Very Happy

Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 2:26 pm

John, I think you will love the scooter.

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 2:24 pm

So I rode it back home about 360Kms. All I can say is Very Happy

Cruized most of the way at about 200km/h and smooooth, excellent handling, and it feels like you doing about 140km/h. An amazing ride. I had to get a little used to the handlebar position, and was a little uncomfortable at first, but 100kms in I was smiling.

Posted: Wed Jun 12, 2013 2:27 pm

JohnYoung wrote:

So I rode it back home about 360Kms. All I can say is Very Happy

Cruized most of the way at about 200km/h and smooooth, excellent handling, and it feels like you doing about 140km/h. An amazing ride. I had to get a little used to the handlebar position, and was a little uncomfortable at first, but 100kms in I was smiling.

Told you so.

Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 9:50 am

Any updates on the slow scooter John?
Maybe a photo or two?

Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 6:40 pm

thx113 wrote:

Any updates on the slow scooter John?
Maybe a photo or two?

G'day Jeff. Sorry for the delay, I still lurk here and I still miss my 750 and 1100 a LOT. Well, the only time this scooter is slow, is when it is parked in the shed. But all I can say is it is the best bike I ever rode and I have NEVER heard a bad thing about them. It has taken me a while to get used to the riding position, but how I am hooked. It is an awesome machine and I will never part with it. 200Km/h for me is cruising speed, you just don't feel it, and handling is great (no galloping horse on the bends anymore). If only I could have afforded to keep my 11 Crying or Very sad

100Km/h+ in first gear, well that is an adrenalin rush of note. I will post some pic's soon, but I am sure Glenn will move this to The Great Beyond soon. Take care.

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 2:57 am

I doubt it will get moved.

Don't sit and idle in traffic in hot temps. The stators are somewhat delicate and cook.

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 7:31 am

JohnYoung wrote:

Well, the only time this scooter is slow, is when it is parked in the shed. But all I can say is it is the best bike I ever rode and I have NEVER heard a bad thing about them. It has taken me a while to get used to the riding position, but how I am hooked. It is an awesome machine and I will never part with it. 200Km/h for me is cruising speed, you just don't feel it, and handling is great.

100Km/h+ in first gear, well that is an adrenalin rush of note. I will post some pic's soon, but I am sure Glenn will move this to The Great Beyond soon. Take care.

Now I know you are lying. How slow the BB's are has been discussed and agreed on here in a number of threads.

In 2 weeks I ride from Perth to Canberra via the Nullarbor, Grampians, and Mt Hotham on my scooter. About 5000km in seven and a half days with 39 other bikes, mostly BMW, then Harley and a mix of other brands. Mine is the only Honda and I realise that I will have great trouble keeping up with the BMW's and HD's on the poor little scooter. I am in the middle of fitting my genuine pannier kit (been in boxes in the shed since December 2006) and electronic cruise control from MCC in Australia. 5k without cruise control would suck even more than riding a really slow bike. Then coolant change, oil and filter change, change the air in the tyres, and I will be ready to go.

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 12:49 pm

Change the air in the tyres?

Are you getting that expensive imported French stuff?

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 2:20 pm

silversurfer1050 wrote:

Change the air in the tyres?

Are you getting that expensive imported French stuff?

Just fresh, clean air. Isn't that part of the major service?

CB1100F Joined: Mar 03, 2004 Posts: 3278 Location: Seattle

MikeG wrote:

One of the best bikes Honda ever made. Ergos need a little help unless you like to lean way over, but engine is flawless.

Very nice motorcycle, except my ZX11 has more character.... Cool

on a Blackbird you have to wring its lil neck to let you know that you have an actual engine between your legs.... like most Hondas

CB1100F Joined: Mar 03, 2004 Posts: 3278 Location: Seattle

indison wrote:

CowTownBiomed wrote:

indison wrote:

My question is, why would you buy a blackbird, when there is a bike out there that was named after the bird that eats black birds.... and has a MASSIVE following...

I'm pretty sure that in SA, you take what you can get, when you can.
I'm pretty positive that the "following" that you are refering to, is quite exagerated.
I'm also pretty sure that "Peregrine Falcons' " (direct translation) do not eat Blackbirds. Laughing

Hayabusa (隼?) is Japanese for "peregrine falcon", a bird that often serves as a metaphor for speed due to its vertical hunting dive, or stoop, speed of 180 to 202 miles per hour (290 to 325 km/h), the fastest of any bird.[6][7] In particular, the choice of name was made because the peregrine falcon preys on blackbirds,[8] which reflected the intent of the original Hayabusa to unseat the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird as the world's fastest production motorcycle.[9][10][11] Eventually, the Hayabusa managed to surpass the Super Blackbird by at least a full 10 miles per hour (16 km/h).[4][12]

Taken straight from wiki suzuki hayabusa... Wink

Yes, yes, yes... we all know the wiki story on busas...

Except, they are UGLY, my ZX11 beats it off the line, & in 3rd, 4th, 5th gear roll on from 50mph to 130+, is only a few 10ths of a second quicker in the quarter mile, and just a shade faster @ top speed. For a THIRTEEN HUNDRED CC MILL?? Thats actually pretty PATHETIC!!!

and I wont even get into Suzukis crappy welding... Honda has them beat by a mile for clean welds.

Id buy the Blackbird, but Ill try to talk u into a ZX11 1st...LMAO!!

Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 11:13 am

Another nice little write up with a couple of suggested mods.

http://garage49.com/bangkok-nights-bitten-by-a-blackbird/

Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 5:32 am

Love the Blackbird ever since 1997 when a Doctor friend of mine bought the first new one he could find. I have owned two myself - a 1997 carburated version and a 2nd generation 2002. The 02 was unrestricted and in 2003 it was governed. The best of all was the 2002. If you can find one that has been well maintained... buy it! Its like nothing else you have ever ridden. When you approaching 300km an hour life has a different perspective. One of the must ride bikes and comfortable for all day touring.

Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2018 1:18 pm

A blast from the past.

Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2018 10:35 am

don't know the blackbird but its predecessor - the CBR1000 - one of the ugliest plastic maggots ever built - I ran one of these as my Mule for about 6 yrs - and for what it was, really could not fault it - TBH, unless you desire the extra ponies and high MPH figures - I would also consider one of these as an option to the blackbird
ugly - yes
handle - yes, they do - within the limits of a big heavy bike, they do very well
Tour - oh yes! - major mile cruncher at a decent speed in comfort
reliable - oh yes - over 100K miles ( 60K by me ) - I replaced a noisy alternator bearing - did the valves once in 60k miles
Torque versus HP - yip, forsure you need to rev them to get the full whack, but they make well decent progress using the midsrange
cheap - very - I bought mine for £900 - sold it for £800 +60K - service cost beyond oil n tyres - the bearing as above

so - a bike you wake up in the morning and check out - nope - a bike you wake up in the morning stick a key in and bugger off for a days fun - all day

Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2018 3:25 pm

Not many CBR1000 survivors over here. Fairly rare to see them (at least in the west).