Blackbird???

[Twotter]

It's been just about a year since I part-ex'd my R1150GS for my current XL1000 Varadero and I'm starting to think about changing again. This time I'm looking at going for a purely road bike and having been impressed with the Honda ownership experience I've narrowed it down to a Blackbird.

I want to be able to potter around B-roads to blast along the autobahns. Will be doing the odd sunny day commute, weekend ride out and annual trip to Europe.

Has anyone any experience of them that they could share please?

 

[garfield]

It's been just about a year since I part-ex'd my R1150GS for my current XL1000 Varadero and I'm starting to think about changing again. This time I'm looking at going for a purely road bike and having been impressed with the Honda ownership experience I've narrowed it down to a Blackbird.

I want to be able to potter around B-roads to blast along the autobahns. Will be doing the odd sunny day commute, weekend ride out and annual trip to Europe.

Has anyone any experience of them that they could share please?

probably one of the best bikes I ever owned, I saw an indicated 185mph on the clock...., had some fab holidays in Europe, great fun to commute on in London, did the Edinburgh-London dash for which I arrived as fresh as a daisy.....you can't got wrong....

 

[rob mac]

Loved my Blackbird, found it hard to ride long distances (South of France) without getting burning shoulder/neck whereas on my Varadero not a problem. The performance is awesome and I know it's down to the rider to behave but Blackbirds just "do it" without trying, next thing you look down at the speedo and it's long ban looming. I found myself using the power of the bike to overtake more than the overtake technique, again, different from rider to rider.Build quality is excellent, looks are awesome and to quote a bloke at a petrol station "is that one of them bikes that do that high speed?"

 

[The smudger]

Owned 5, loved everyone of them. Peronally,i prefer the carb version, just seemed better to me. 1999 is about the latest carb version, although a lot of full power bikes were imported around 2000 so you could find a later one. Injected bikes a3lways seemed a bit snatchy at town speeds. Engines are bomb proof, gearboxes a bit agricultural, typically honda, about 2001 a slipper clutch was fitted to stop them 'banging' into gear, front of fork legs corrode on early bikes, again, from 2001 (ish) anodised look stops that, nissin brakes are monstrously powerful, although the CBS has it's hate club, i never found it a problem?

The rear subframes always look 'twisted'. You can look at the rear of the bike and see that the exhausts are lopsided. This was a build issue, "they all look like that sir", dont assume its 'been in one' if you see this, it's normal. Cam chain tensioner, (yawn!), on earlier bikes, chains will last 20k if a scottoiler is fitted, unless you use the throttle as an on/off switch! rear tyres about 8k, fronts 10 ish if sensible, look out for mild steel exhaust rot on early bikes, inc collector.

My opinion? fantastic machine, happiest at warp factor 5 but as happy through town at 30mph, good 2 up, 40 ish mpg.

Why have i not got one still?

Discovered K1200 'S', different league sir.......

You'll enjoy the BB though. Visit www.superblackbird.co.uk lots of good tips/banter.

Steve.

 

[strimstrum]

Really wish I hadn't sold mine..... Went all over Europe in comfort. Sooo easy to overtake in top gear by just opening the throttle and taking off. It is the only bike I've ever owned that has nearly pulled my hands off the bars when accelerating hard. Would suggest you have a test ride and see just what I mean..

 

[Wapping]

I had two.

The standard one when it first came out. Clocked up 30k and P/E'd for the Fi version when it too first arrived.

Probably the best bike I have ever owned. I fitted a touring version Scottoiler and used Ventura luggage. That was it. The oiler did its stuff and Ventura gear is so easy.

Did 50k+ on the Fi one, and only sold it to fund a vanilla 1200GS.

Why? I no longer wanted to go at 160mph+. Do I miss it? Yes, sometimes. The performance was like a turbine. Get it in third off a roundabout, twist the throttle and let it rev... fantastic... Easy around town (way more comfortable than my earlier VFR) - superb on the twisties, up and down the gearbox in the Alps or on D roads in France.

Is it out of date now? The engine, definitely no. The rest of the package? Probably a bit dated and tired, but who gives a stuff when you have an overbored FireBlade engine....

Buy with confidence.

 

[GS_Mad]

This is a very topical thread for me. I have an 1150 GSA and had been wanting a faster and smoother bike. I decided that the Blackbird was the bike for me.

I bought a brand new one last December and it has been in the garage since. Well last weekend was my first chance to have a ride.

What can I say - coming from an 1150 GSA this is a completely different experience. It is certainly faster and smoother. God knows how you get to use all the available revs - using only half the available revs in 3rd or 4th gear and you are already at 3 figure speeds.

I've still kept my GS and there will be occassions that I will prefer the GS, for long distance and comfort.

Things I really like about the blackbird;

Smooth
Fast
No vibration (at any speed)
A gearbox that clicks up or down (as opposed to Clunk)
the balance of the bike

Check out my website at for more info at www.deansbikes.co.uk

Cheers, Dean.

 

[Big Den]

i have also had two and they are great, only thing to try before you buy is the riding position as its a reach to the bars. Carb ones are best

 

[RichieS]

Blackbird

On my second one.....an 07. Got rid of my first one when i went down the GS route and was soon longing for sublime smoothness and speed. Now i own this and an HP2E....best of all worlds.
I have ridden the k12S and the ZZR 1400 and to tell the truth there is NOTHING between all 3 except that the BMW is FAR too much money for the same performance and the jury is still out on the looks of the ZZR. Besides which you can get a BB in stunning condition with low miles for a fraction of the price of the other 2.
Stick Bridgestone BT021s on which gibe about 8k at the rear and 10-12 at the front. Either get the suspension set up professionally or if funds allow, get an Ohlins rear shock. Change the chain and sprocket at 16k and fit a scott oiler. Hondas 2nd generation heated grip are just as good as BMW and a life saver. There is a zilion options for luggage out there depending on what you like or budget and spares are plentiful on flea bay.
Economy....depends on how far you twist the throttle really. I generally ignore MPG and work on miles to the tank. I generally get about 150 miles before the reserve light starts flashing at 80-90 ish. Give it some real wellie and i have seen this drop to 100miles ----but boy did i get there quick.
Would i sell mine? Nah! Its a keeper. And the fact that they dont make em anymore means that the real world value is kept.
And the engine is good for 180000 - 200000 miles if maintained regularly.

Go do it.....they are ACE!!!

 

[Kneeslider916]

I did Manchester to Stranraer in 2 3/4hrs last year for the NW200 without trying. Magnificent bike, if anything almost too capable of going very very fast without trying. Watch your license, owning a Blackbird for a year was enough to swap this ex Fireblade owner into GS ownership.

I wish i could have afforded to keep it tho,......

 

[(RIP) MOTÖRHEAD]

Carb ones are best

They can handle surprisingly well for a big sports tourer.

Sold mine to keep a clean license and couldn't afford to fund countless track days.

Loved it, and do miss it a bit. Had it for 7 years.

 

[Steady Eddie]

Blackbird

Went on a tour to France with MCI when I had my GS , and the guy running the tour was riding one .
That thing could shift , he said it was comfortable and easy enough to ride around town - also bullet proof - a very capable machine .

Steve

 

[Fitzy]

Great bikes but possibly too much power in the wet UK as it's easy to lose the back wheel when accelerating hard on a greasy road. However for long distance work and touring thay take some beating. I rode all the way from Strasbourg to Warwick in one go just stopping for petrol, coffees and the tunnel. Very comfortable and everything works the way it should. Oh and it's nice to buy a bike which you don't have to keep adding accessories and other bits to.

 

[(RIP) MOTÖRHEAD]

Great bikes but possibly too much power in the wet UK as it's easy to lose the back wheel when accelerating hard on a greasy road.

Not at all. Get some good tyres and know how they handle.
Just get 'em nice & hot first.

Like this
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[Twotter]

Thanks for all the info gents

Nice bike & website Dean

Looks like this could be a go-er as long as it's comfy and I can do a deal.

Thanks again

 

[Twotter]

Just checked out the insurance situation and there's no extra charge to change bikes on my current policy - v.surprised

 

[Wapping]

Twotter

If you are looking for a Blackbird, I think I know of one that may be for sale.

It would make a fantastic secondhand buy and is reasonably local to you. It is owned by an underwriter friend of ChasMill of this parish, and sat in Charlie's garage for over a year.

To the best of my recollection it is an early Fi version, with very few miles on the clock, in near enough perfect condition, the owner having very rarely ridden it.

I have no idea if the owner wants to sell it but (as he rarely if ever rides it) I guess he might? It might be worth getting in contact with ChasMill by PM, perhaps?

 

[Twotter]

Thanks for the info

I do have a lower back problem which really means I need to sort out a test ride but if all I need is a set of bar risers then that will be easy to sort. Otherwise it will be a case of bringing my Varadero out of it's winter hibernation and either do a deal with a bike shop or sell it privately to raise the funds.

Still very interested in a Bird

 

[Twotter]

Mrs Twotter and I took the day off today and went to see a few bikes

First stop was Lings at Harleston. I've always liked big Kawasaki's and have been very tempted by the ZRX1200R. Although I would prefer one in green this silver one caught my eye up for £3895...



I took it out for a test ride and rode a mixed route of twisty country roads, fast A-roads and a little bit of dual carriageway. Not much happening at low revs but grab a handful of throttle in low gear and bang! It accelerates really well and likes to be revved. Handling was fine, not sporty but not a slug either. Seat was comfy and the riding position was okay too but the mirrors were poor. The clocks felt hidden away and the numbers were quite small so needed a second glance to make sure of my speed. Wind blast was fine up to 70'ish but much above that (on private roads obviously) and it was a bit of a struggle. So nice bike but I was keen to try a Blackbird as the lack of weather protection was an issue.

I had a sit on an older Blackbird they had just taken in as a part exchange. P-reg with 31k on the clock. Numerous scrapes, scratches and scruffy fork lowers but an honest bike for £2650. Couldn't take this out as it hadn't had time to go through their safety checks.




So we headed on to Lings at Lowestoft to have a look at two Blackbirds they have in stock. The first was this silver one for £5195...



I could only sit on this in the showroom but it was surprisingly comfortable, mainly due to having bar risers fitted. Looks great in silver but the price is a bit rich for me. Shame.

But sitting outside in the sunshine was this Blackbird up for £3495...



Now I'll admit that it isn't my favourite colour and the previous owner and I would definitely disagree on the gold wheels, bolts and stickers! But, I really wanted to see how it rides on the road and if I've got a chance of being comfy and able to ride one for long distances without crippling myself.

First impressions were that it felt very odd! My knees were bent leaving my feet feeling like they were tucked up under my backside, my stomach lay right across the top of tank, my head was tilted right back and the bars felt as though they were attached to the front axle. I nearly changed my mind there and then! But I braved the Lowestoft traffic and took it out. Very easy to ride at slow speed but roundabouts were a bit tricky at first. 30mph was easy to stick to and power was smooth from zero all the way up. It felt nice and slim so that I was able to filter easily. Moving out into the country and it was simply a case of putting it into top gear and picking a speed to ride out - very impressive! Heading back to the dealer and I felt more at home on the bike. Slow speed turns were easier and the riding position felt better. I wouldn't have this particular one but the test ride was definitely worth it.

So, would I have a Blackbird???

Yes

But the very first accessory would be a set of bar risers

 

[Trippy]

I want to be able to potter around B-roads to blast along the autobahns. Will be doing the odd sunny day commute, weekend ride out and annual trip to Europe.

What about a Pan or 1150RT?