View Full Version : Honda Blackbird opinions?
Jackie_Black
08-11-12, 07:23 PM
Any one on here had one? I've read they are amazing, would like an orgers opinion or two if possible!
Going to look at one on saturday.
I think I read somewhere that the cct is weak but is like a 20min job to swap out. Would love one eventually.
maviczap
08-11-12, 07:30 PM
Asked Skip he had one
Jackie_Black
08-11-12, 07:56 PM
Looks right up my street, a big fat, lazy, fast sofa of a thing that can take a passenger.
Wideboy
08-11-12, 08:03 PM
stretchie has one and squirrelhunter has commandeered it for a while, they covered some serious mileage on it ask them
squirrel_hunter
08-11-12, 08:55 PM
stretchie has one and squirrelhunter has commandeered it for a while, they covered some serious mileage on it ask them
I'm sure its the other way round...
Not really sure what info you're after?
Living with it mine had a top box with optional full luggage, very handy but the scaffolding is a right pain to take off. Other designs are available but this one came with the bike, Stretchie can tell you the make. Fuel gauge reads full for ages before hitting the top mark after that it goes down fast depending on riding style.
Linked brakes are strange at first but once I got used to them I quite enjoyed making the bike squat on the road rather than throw its weight forward. Power and speed well you know about that. Handling is not as good as the SV I was faster on my SV then on the Bird but its not bad or anything. You can still throw it around and do interesting things with knees on floor even with a passenger, now thats funny to see. And as for passengers they find it quite comfortable.
Would I have one again? Yes.
Jackie_Black
08-11-12, 09:03 PM
Well thats the best review i've ever read!!, the one i'm looking at is black with 16k on it 2002 model and honda panniers £3.5k. The wife only insists I fit a top box. Didn't expect sv like handling and ive had linked brakes on me hornet, i like them. Really looking forward to saturday now!!
if they can suffer my mate having one then they are bullet proof.
he has a 96 on a P plate. will mot it one year then ride it around for a bit then forget about it for a few years then do the same. i think the only thing he has ever done to his is change the tyres and he has done around 26k since buying it, yes and that's on the same oil&filter plugs yada yada. it flies threw the MOT when ever he does take it and has never spent a penny on it apart from tyres. ooohhh and he doesn't even wash the thing, ever, never.
they will pull 150mph in the blink of an eye, very stable and fairly agile for such a big bike.
squirrel_hunter
08-11-12, 11:28 PM
Not sure how prices are with them but from what I've seen they do hold their value.
On the subject of tyres, I don't think it went through them any worse then any other bike I've ridden. However we did experience an interesting handling issue from a strange wear pattern on the front tyre only cured by replacing it. From what I remember and this is a couple of years back it don't like Avon Storms. Nothing wrong with them as a tyre, was happy with them, but they wore on one side more than the other which resulted in a bit of a shake at the bars. Thought it was head bearings but others have had this as well. Reblancing the tyre only worked for a few hundred miles, replacement was the only solution which was a shame as there was still a good amount of tread remaining.
And now for some shameless photowhoring...
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s216/squirrel_hunters_photos/Castle%20Coombe%20BikeSafe%202010/policebikeday1633.jpg
Jackie_Black
09-11-12, 07:03 AM
Are they too quick for the roads? Or are they actually still a bit of a laugh to hoon round on?
They are only as fast as you make it go.
Dave my ex boss still has his .
Its been service properly now showing 50k last spring.
Its quick but flexible engine .
Yes bit heavy to chuck around .
Jackie_Black
10-11-12, 07:31 PM
Had a good look at one, sat on it. Liked it. Seemed quite roomy, was actually filling the form in to buy it, then suddenly changed my mind and didn't.
Think i'll keep looking.
squirrel_hunter
10-11-12, 08:39 PM
What made you change your mind? Was it the bike that you were looking at or is it the model?
Jackie_Black
10-11-12, 08:45 PM
I don't know what made me change my mind. Just got a funny feeling and decided against it. Never usually happens when I sign on the dotted line:confused:. So i decided to leave it, bike was very tidy, great condition mainly dry use and no winters either. Perhaps i could feel my driving licence being removed and ripped into tiny bits, who can say. My wife reckons i'll have it bought by midweek.
if you had a feeling then maybe it was the right choice.
but to be honest the blackbird is a very easy bike to ride, it's as happy at 30mph as it is at 130mph and takes two up with full luggage in its stride. bikes only go as fast as you let them.
Jackie_Black
10-11-12, 09:22 PM
Maybe i'll change my mind again! I couldn't find anything to dislike, just an overwhelming feeling of dread making me not buy it, weird.
widepants
10-11-12, 09:27 PM
did the thought of spending money make you feel feint?
Jackie_Black
10-11-12, 09:32 PM
nah, i have absolutely no feelings for money, its only numbers. There was something else, and it wasn't the wife she gave me a free pass to buy whatever i wanted.
_Stretchie_
13-11-12, 10:47 AM
I know you changed your mind but if you think about it again I woould like to throw in my tuppence
I think I read somewhere that the cct is weak but is like a 20min job to swap out. Would love one eventually.
Original CCT is weak, it has a single green dot on the side, the re-worked one's have two green dots on the side but treat them as a servicable item but at a couple of 10's of 1,000's between changes. Dead easy to change.
stretchie has one and squirrelhunter has commandeered it for a while, they covered some serious mileage on it ask them
I'm sure its the other way round...
No it's not... My comments are in red on Squirrell's post but mine is a 1998 carbed bird that has not had a nice life before me or since me, it is held together by cable ties, hopes and aspirations
Not really sure what info you're after?
Living with it STRETCHIE'S had a top box with optional full luggage, very handy but the scaffolding is a right pain to take off. Other designs are available but this one came with the bike, Stretchie can tell you the make [It was a Nonfango, they went bust I believe but are on sale again, Spanish I believe]. Fuel gauge reads full for ages before hitting the top mark after that it goes down fast depending on riding style.[Yeah, it takes 80 miles to show the first quarter of the tank has been used and then the rest 3/4 goes in 50 miles. It would be nice if I could find someway to recalibrate the fuel level sender]
Linked brakes are strange at first but once I got used to them I quite enjoyed making the bike squat on the road rather than throw its weight forward.[I do like the linked brakes, many people de-link them because they prefer to have full control of the brakes, my gut instinct tells me that about 90% of these people actually delink because it's ALOT cheaper to replace the brake lines if de-linked, it's well over £200 for a replacement set of brake lines] Power and speed well you know about that. Handling is not as good as the SV I was faster on my SV then on the Bird but its not bad or anything [He was/is faster on the SV this is true]. You can still throw it around and do interesting things with knees on floor even with a passenger, now thats funny to see [He's not wrong here, Grunty loves it when I get my knee down and she's on the back, she likes waving at other bikers as we do it :D ]. And as for passengers they find it quite comfortable. [This is seat dependant, I have a Corbin seat which is AMAZING for me the rider, but this particular seat is very uncomfortable for the pillion, whereas the standard seat, with a tribo cover, is great for the pillion AND rider]
Would I BORROW STRETCHIE'S AGAIN again? Yes.
Are they too quick for the roads? Or are they actually still a bit of a laugh to hoon round on?
As someone else said, it's as fast or as slow as you make it. I will say this however, it has plenty of torque under 7k revs, it'll pootle around fine but if you have it pinned open and get up to 7k revs it will very convincingly f**k off. The only problem is that just doing that in 2nd gear can get you banned...
But I love mine to bits
More pic whoring
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j11/Stretchie_/picsay-1331558969.jpg
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