Re: Honda Blackbird
 

The 'Bird is a great bike, does everything well and even though it's a hefty lump of bike it carries it very well.
The only drawback is the cost of ownership, it's a big powerful bike and big powerful bikes cost lots to run even if you don't use all the performance, unless I habitually had a need to do long distance high speed journeys, (particularly two up - something at which all such bikes excel), I'd begrudge spending all that money on performance that didn't get used.
What will you be doing with your bike? - base your buying choices on that.

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

My dad gets 40-55mpg out of his on long distance trips, and thats two up with 3 full big givi panniers/top box.
Not hanging around either most of the time knowing him.

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

I still want a busa. Cos it looks nice :smt019

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

I've always liked the look of the 'Busa, but I feel the same way about that as the 'Bird et al: What would I do with a 160+bhp super tourer?

Well I know exactly what I'd do: Every now and again I'd point it at the horizon, twang the throttle cable and exclaim 'Bu66er me that's quick!', and the other 99.9% of time I'd go no faster than I would on a better handling smaller bike on which I spent less on tyres, chains and fuel etc.

Don't get me wrong, they're all great bikes but they're pretty pointless. Unless you really really want one and you're prepared to spend the premium running one that it will cost, I'd find it a strange choice.

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

I know what i'd do - every now and again i'd drop it and go "**** me thats expensive!"

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Not just fuel, weight eats brake pads, tyres, chains etc.

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Honda SP-2 is very tempting, sound lovely. The competition is an Aprilia RSV-R (00-01).

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

TBH the aprilia will make the better road bike, less extreme and cost less to run and insure. The SP's are just race bikes with plates tbh. They both have whine of gears too, though the aprilia isnt quite as obvious as the Honda. Besides the Aprilia V60 sounds glorious, get a blue flame Evo tri oval thing on there ;) Yum yum yum.

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

My mate's got one ( 98/99 vintage), and I have had a go on it a few times.
I'm 5'9" and the Blackbird feels a lot more comfortable than the SV. You seem to 'sit in' the bike rather than on top of it. As a relative novice I found it easy to ride and not intimidating, very smooth and lots of power when you give it some.
I liked the brakes and found they inspired a lot of confidence.

Generally very reliable although my mate has had an odd carb issue and reg/battery failure, other than that it has weathered the years and 55+k miles well and it sill looks good. I personally think they look quite good as well - better than say the Hayabusa.

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Two-up journeys with maria covering long distances with topbox and panniers I hope.

I'd keep the SV as my "lundun" bike :D


BTW, honda SP2's - do they have gear driven cams then? I thought honda did away with that? Or am I mis-interpreting postings :smt040