Honda Blackbird
 

Any good? Been offered a 2000 W reg blue Honda Blackbird with 11k on the clock for £2500 - its very clean with only two owners - the current owner I know very well - seems like a bit of a bargain - he has offered me a test ride but I just thought I would run it past the biking oracle that is the collective of the 'org! :D

Quite tempted as I have been offered £2200 for mine from a local dealer as a cash sale (they are desperate for decent second hand bikes). I do like scratching on backroads though so I am not sure its the bike for me. Could always change it later on though I guess... Hmm...!

This is a pic I just took of it... (iridium screen would get binned)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/skip665/bird.jpg

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Don't I recognise that bike from somewhere?

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

I'd PM Baldyman, he had (has?) one, loved it.

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

I very much doubt it...?

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

oh :-(Stretchie??

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Only 2200 for your 750 Skip?

Keep it and beg, steal or borrow the money and use the BB for long weekends and touring. Still under 5 grand invested in bikes.

I know the Birds hide their bulk well and can hustle but it can't be as nimble as your Z.

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Cheers will do

Nope - its a guy here at work

I know but that's trade in money - its probably worth £2700 from what I have seen so its almost a straight swap - ish...

I just fancy a change and £2500 is cheap for the 'bird... (I think)

No chance of any long weekends or touring anytime soon!

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Seems like a very good price to me ?

Give it a test ride

Cheers Steve

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

I know what you're thinking... Nope

I second that




It's a cracking bike, I'm wobbling around on one at the minute. It'll pull yer arms off if you want it to, or cruise nicley if you want it to.

Does what it says on the tin... HONDA...

On a Blackbird forum I'm on, the members service every 12k. Use a high flow paper air filter (not a performance one like K&N, apparantly dynos show the performance ones as not great on the blackbird)

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Done some more research and it does seem to be proper cheap - time to PM Baldyman I think :)

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Looks like a bit of a deal to me.Ive never had a bird myself(no tittering at the back)but a mate had one and couldnt fault it.A bit thirsty was the only downside.

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

It's not as thirsty as a 1,000 twin..

I get about 130 miles from full to when the light comes on, a lot of people on the other forum get 150-180ish. Mine needs a service and the air box doesn't sit right, so got to sort that out..

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Or you just ride it harder! ;)

What forum is that Mister Stee-retch? PM me if you like

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

I like the sound of that but as those who attended the South West ride last week can testify, alas it is far FAAAAR from true...

You have a PM
; )

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Hi All,
I bought the same year and colour to replace my K4S which I mashed up.
As Stretchie says it can be a silent missile or as gentle as a lamb, depending on your mood.
I commuted in Swindon for a year and whilst it is a bit wide, it performs very well and its easy to filter on it.

After a 18 months I had the opportunity to buy my lad's K3 naked and now have the absolute best of both worlds.
For the weekend its the BB, nicknamed "The Butler".....yes, sir, what speed would you like me to dial up? certainly sir, here you go sir.....
For commuting its the SV650N, nicknamed "The Yapper".... where we going today dad? when? when? oh lets just go!!

Summary - you will NOT regret getting the BB.................. GUARANTEED!....................however, you MUST have the mental "nouse" to resist its oh so tempting charms for speed or you WILL lose your licence.
Hope that helps?

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Seems ok if you like the colour. You should be able to get one with hard luggage at that price. Have a ride on it if you need some persuasion.

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Well thought about it all weekend and am not going to make any decisions until I have ridden it. Spoke to the guy this morning and he said I am more than welcome to borrow it for a whole day - even if I don't buy it I cant turn an offer like that down! :twisted:

Wont be until a weekend day though but I will update this post when I have tried it.

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Listen to the voices in your head....

"Do it..
DO IT...."

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Absolute awesome bike. Comfy, fast and handles the corners as well as any SS bike.

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Get you, you kno you want to. Used my makes p-plate recently. Awesome for long journeys

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

I've ridden a couple, and they're very good (but then it's a Honda isn't it :rolleyes:). As somebody mentioned, they hide their bulk well, and they're very comfortable. Don't hang around either....

.

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Just checked the insurance and its £200 TPFT or £400 FC - not bad really - maybe there are some benefits to being over 30! :lol:

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Do it! only downside is they are f**kin heavvy when being man handeled but feel quite light when in motion

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

I would love a 'bird, but the extra power and engine size over a VFR800 means consumables are consumed quicker and insurance will probably be higher

but then

maybe i should just tak the hit

mmmmmm blackbird

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Right - today was the day of the test ride and what a day for it! :D

Did 150 miles in total - all on roads I know well and what can I say - I am totally in love with it!

That's exactly what I thought - I couldn't lift it onto the centre stand on the chaps drive but I think that was more down to technique than me being a weakling (I hope! 8-[) Once you get moving the weight just disappears! All my fears about not being able to enjoy 'B' roads were unfounded as I the old 'Bird can still hustle through the twisties - as two GSXR power rangers found out this morning :twisted: The performance was nowhere near as intimidating as I expected - you can roll around between 4-7000rpm riding the massive wall of torque or if you want to give your neck muscles a workout keep it over 7000 and the instant shove is intoxicating! After two hours and 100 miles of great roads I stopped for a break and realised that I had no back ache, no bum ache and no arm ache either! Its just soooo comfortable! I have ridden a few bikes in the years since I bought the Zed but the 'Bird really did feel like a worthy replacement - it felt 'me' if you get my meaning - I could see it as my bike.

So here it is my new bike! Just got to replace the hideous iridium screen with a smoked one and job jobbed! Oh and the small matter of selling the Zed to pay for it! :lol:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...0887Medium.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...0888Medium.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...0889Medium.jpg

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

heare a very very capable bike that is available for very little money. Great ride, usable power and good fun. Park the latest model (2007/8) next to a bike in the same class/size of the same year and it will look every day of its age. I wanted one but bought a hayabusa in the end as they havent changed from day one.

Apart from looks they are fabtastic but wouldnt pay over the odds for one.

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Well done, my mates BB is preety quick as I found out Friday!!! Enjoy.

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Exactly - its not my first choice of bike - but for the condition and the price it was too good to turn down :)

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

it's a truely awesome engine, I rode an X11 for a few days several years ago; with a view to creating a custom streetfighter, but really it was to wide and not what I was after, ugly as sin, but then you don't see it when on the bike............:cool:

Enjoy it mate, it's another of those experiences everyone should have at some point.

Cheers Mark.

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Damnit Skip, we buy something that might stand a chance of keeping you in site, albeit with binoculars, then you up the ante and buy this warp machine.

Can't afford a 1198 :cry:

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Sorry Pete although I have to say this isnt quite as nimble through the corners as the Zed - did surprise me though how well it handles - I was expecting it to be a bit of a whale but it just isnt when you are moving.

Then there are the bits in between the corners! :shock::shock::shock::shock:

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Nice one!! That blue is probably the best colour too :cool:

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Well done mate, mine had iridium screen too, I want to replace it with a black one too just never got around to it.

Also mine seems to have a turbo at 7,000 rpm : )

If you want it a bit nimbler then lower the front forks a bit, there is also a spacer that goes in above the rear shock, that'll have it flicking around quicker than Hugh Grants quiff....

Not adjustable forks but you can swap out the internals for something better, get the rear shock rebuilt cheap(ish)ly. And just like people swap the SV front over for a Gixxer front end, you can do it for the Bird too but I can't remeber what you swap them out for.

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

love blackbirds, looks really good, a bit like a hayabusa with the Japanese writing on the fairings.
________
PlaifulKittie live

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

What Japanese writing on the fairings? Am I missing something?

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Probably

; )

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

lol, epic fail on my behalf
________
LIVE SEX

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Skip/Stretchie
I bought a Fabbri Double bubble (Glazed Matt) which looks great.

Skip, Congrats on becoming a BB pilot by the way, enjoy your flights;)

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

Ignoring the Japanese writing thing, you really think a blackbird and a hayabusa look alike?:shock:

They are both pretty bikes (in the eye of the beholder) but the differences between them visually are like chalk and cheese! The blackbirds all sharp edges and a square back end whereas the hayabusa has curves and flows all over it.
http://www.bikez.com/pictures/honda/...0-%20Honda.jpg

http://www.polyweb.com/danno/bikes/H...3hayabusa3.jpg

Re: Honda Blackbird
 

I love BBs... Just great, proper bikes.

I remember sniffing around Chronos's on the way to AR06, basically trying to find fault with it, and then saying "Look, these bolts are all corroded". "Well, it IS ten years old" "**** me, really?" It doesn't exactly look cutting edge but it also doesn't look old at all, even though it's practically unchanged from day one. That's impressive...

On the other hand, it was the only bike to break down at AR06, Honda reliability eh :smt023