• Welcome to the new B.I.R.D. Forum. Please be sure to read the "New Member / New Registered ? Please Read" thread in the Coffee Shop. This contains some important information. To become a full member ( £5.90 a year ) simply click on your user name near the top on the right I hope you enjoy the new site ................ Jaws ( John )

New Member / New Registered ? Please Read

Revvingkevin

Registered User
DEG5Y, yeah came across those myself.
I just wonder if they are just fifty quid Chinese imports or genuine quality replicas
With the £250 to get it painted I think it's worth a punt on a full set already painted from our slitty eyed ebayers.

Incidently, have you checked out the prices of genuine Honda spares from the USA? Limited colour options but $480 (£370) for a factory upper fairing! Even with shipping, import duty and vat still a viable option.
 

DEG5Y

Been there, and had one
Club Sponsor
DEG5Y, yeah came across those myself.
I just wonder if they are just fifty quid Chinese imports or genuine quality replicas
With the £250 to get it painted I think it's worth a punt on a full set already painted from our slitty eyed ebayers.

Incidently, have you checked out the prices of genuine Honda spares from the USA? Limited colour options but $480 (£370) for a factory upper fairing! Even with shipping, import duty and vat still a viable option.
They reckon, they make them to order.
 

Mr C

Registered User
Just bought this on a 57 plate. Hi.........
DfOa6DI.jpg
 

firestorm916

Registered User
Thank you, I'm glad to be on board.

Considering a Blackbird, I thought I'd better see what there was to know.

I'm not a fan of upright, 'of-road' style tourers, even though that seems to be the current trend. This looks to me like a good compromise.

There are plenty about, plenty with high miles. What's anybody's opinion as to the cut off mileage wise?
 

Cougar377

Express elevator to hell
Staff member
Moderator
Club Sponsor
Thank you, I'm glad to be on board.

Considering a Blackbird, I thought I'd better see what there was to know.

I'm not a fan of upright, 'of-road' style tourers, even though that seems to be the current trend. This looks to me like a good compromise.

There are plenty about, plenty with high miles. What's anybody's opinion as to the cut off mileage wise?

Mileage isn't a problem for the Bird. It comes from an era when Honda could build a decent bike.

Condition is everything. A well looked after Bird with all the right rider friendly mods is what's important. Obviously what constitutes "rider friendly" depends on you. If you're not getting sized up for a zimmer frame just yet then look for "the sport pack" - replaced fork springs and replaced or refurbed rear shock with added spacer. If you're as geriatric as most on here then you should also be looking for "the comfort pack" - gel seat, lowered pegs, bar risers, taller screen, mirror arm extenders.

As the Bird is a sport tourer you'll find plenty with decent luggage fitted. Other than that, your only minor worries are the usual Honda ones - CCT and Reg Rec. Ask for proof that they've been done.

Birds for sale crop up on here from time to time and it's usually worth the wait.
 

andyBeaker

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Club Sponsor
Thank you, I'm glad to be on board.

Considering a Blackbird, I thought I'd better see what there was to know.

I'm not a fan of upright, 'of-road' style tourers, even though that seems to be the current trend. This looks to me like a good compromise.

There are plenty about, plenty with high miles. What's anybody's opinion as to the cut off mileage wise?
I sold my first at 105k miles and the second at 60k+ miles, both going strong now. The motors are understressed and will go on forever.

As above, don't worry about miles, condition should be the key factor.

I think most would agree that a Bird maintained properly by a caring owner is a much better bet than the dreaded 'full service history by Honda dealer'.

It is a buyer's market, loads about, you can pick up a decent usable bike with maybe a few marks on it for less than £1500. Personally I struggle to see that any Bird is worth more than £4K at the top end, but others disagree...:couch:


Either way, you are better off with a car.
 

firestorm916

Registered User
As I thought then really.
I wasn't aware of the CCT problem though, thanks. It's a big issue on a Firestorm, I know. I hoped that they would have sorted it by now though.

Honda = reliability (once you fix the problems)
 

andyBeaker

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Club Sponsor
As I thought then really.
I wasn't aware of the CCT problem though, thanks. It's a big issue on a Firestorm, I know. I hoped that they would have sorted it by now though.

Honda = reliability (once you fix the problems)
And exclude the charging circuit on the Blackbird!!
 

Jaws

Corporal CockUp
Staff member
Moderator
Club Sponsor
As I thought then really.
I wasn't aware of the CCT problem though, thanks. It's a big issue on a Firestorm, I know. I hoped that they would have sorted it by now though.

Honda = reliability (once you fix the problems)
It is sorted in a way.
Takes 15 minutes to change, is not fiddly to do and if you get one from Jaws motorcycles is probably good for 25 - 30k miles :)
 
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