Advise on which bike

[Jaq-Ass]

Always liked the Blackbirds, but would appreciate any advise or comments on whether it'll be suitable for all year round commuting covering about 100miles per day and touring two up on the continent two three time per year?

Friends have given conflicting views , some say a VFR others Blackbirds and some ZZR1200s, i ultimately need reliable, comfortable (2up) and a non corroding bike under me, bearing in mind it will se a daily commute throughout the year, i've no experience on the pros or cons of this bike and feel the only way i'll get factual advise is from those in the know.

PLEASE fl4g71

 

[bigtone]

Always liked the Blackbirds, but would appreciate any advise or comments on whether it'll be suitable for all year round commuting covering about 100miles per day and touring two up on the continent two three time per year?

Friends have given conflicting views , some say a VFR others Blackbirds and some ZZR1200s, i ultimately need reliable, comfortable (2up) and a non corroding bike under me, bearing in mind it will se a daily commute throughout the year, i've no experience on the pros or cons of this bike and feel the only way i'll get factual advise is from those in the know.

PLEASE fl4g71

HI

All I can say is that I use mine in ALL weathers, off Touring to Normandy next month and Germany in September, and it is SUPERB in EVERY condition :yo::yo: therefore I would not hesitate in buying a Bird again (I have had 3 Blades, 2 VFR's, 1 ZXR etc.) and this bike is the best of all of them :bow::bow:.....Oh! and welcome to the site dood.

 

[derek kelly]

I am in the process of cleaning mine up [first clean this side of christmas] & she's coming up nice [thanks robbo] I have used mine throughout the winter & I cannot fault her, I can't comment on the others but if you get a BB I think you will get a pleasant surprise followed by a stupid grin from ear to ear

 

[andy102]

All three are pretty good bikes, the Viffer is good but you wont get the grin that you get with the 'Bird', can't see the ZZR surviving year long use, as soon as there is salt on the road it'll disappear in a pile of rust.

So the 'Bird' it is then :yo::yo:

 

[andyBeaker]

I'm a mere 50 miles a day in all weathers. Can't comment on the VFR but the Bird is an admirable conveyance in all weathers.

It is much better in traffic than I expected - nice and stable and the mirrors are a great height for filtering, although the turning circle is I would think longer than most. The wood burning stove type heat from the motor can be it much in heavy traffic in hot weather, but in my view a small price to pay.

As above, I simply haven't got the time for a detailed clean every day in winter. i normally leave it for 2 or 3 weeks and give it a quick soak with Muc Off and then power washer; still comes up a treat after 79000 miles.

Like all bikes the brakes need regular fettling to get the best out of them if you ride in winter, and i would strongly recommend a Fenda Extenda to keep the muck off the very expensive and vulnerable radiator.

 

[Jaq-Ass]

Thankx for all the advise, looks like i'll be finding a dealer to let me have a ride on a BB to give me the :yo: factor, if it fits and is comfortable for my girlfriend ridding pillion, then depending on dealer prices, a BB it will be

 

[trophychap]

JA

Speaking on behalf of all the pillions of all the riders on this site who carry us - our bums have done - jointly and severally - literally hundreds of thousands of miles on Blackbird rear seats - most of them standard ones, the only thing I would say "add" if like me your gf has acres of room on the seat, is a bit of that 'non-slip' stuff. (about ?9.99 or something, from M&P or wherever) And a backrest on the top-box if you have one.

I see that Roxxo has just bought another Bird - read what he said about Carol!

Happy riding.

Jen

 

[dufus]

Alreet jaq

ZZr1200 not a bad bike if you get it cheap, but if you ride a blackbird 1st then buy a zz you will always wish you had bought a blackbird.

Vfr? stay away from the vtec horrible step in the power band around 7,000rpm and the vtec makes servicing not cheap. Go for the older 800 just before vtec ONLY if your a small fella though, bigger fellows will struggle especially 2 up as they are not that long.

And lastly the bird, Honda build quality, possible 200,00 with good maintenance and no fancy gizmo's to f*k up,

The one, the only Hondaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa blackbird (in blue though yer)

 

[clarky]

Hi Jaq,
Just to add to the comments over on the vfr site, I think if you try both the vfr and the blackbird, you'll probably go for the blackbird. Having owned and enjoyed the 750 vfr, vtec (04) and now a BB, I find the BB gives me the same buzz as the 750vfr, but much more power of course. The vtec was a little too "developed" for me, it seemed to lack the character somehow. However, my 16K service on the vtec was ?320. Now that's the one everyone dreads due to the double shim check and frankly I don't think that was too bad. I've never heard of a vfr needing shims at 16K anyway and rarely at 32K so don't be put off too much by rumours and preconceptions.
As to the vtec Kick at 7K. Depends how you ride it. Bimbling around i found I tended to shift up a gear just befoe the vtec cut in, partly because I had V loud cans on and the noise was a little anti-social in built up areas. On the other hand scratching round the French Alps last spring was a real blast as the revs were mostly over 7K. Consequently it became a different character altogether. That's the beauty of the vfr, it will do most things very well. BUT, If you want a mile munching comfy powerful 2 up sports tourer first and foremost, which is also happy as day to day transport, then the Bird is the best choice, IMHO of course.
There's a couple of nice ones on e Bay at the moment btw.
I'll look forward to seeing what you finally turn up on in August. :yo:

 

[Artemis]

Hello Jaq-Ass, want a sweetie?

Oh and the pillion on the BB is the most comfortable I've ever sat on. As mentioned before add a backbox with backrest, it allows for relaxing and easing the numb bum syndrome associated with long distances on any bike.

 

[bikesnoopy]

I own a Blackbird AND a ZZR1100(and a ZRX1100... ).
Ive had the ZZR1100 for quite a while & i WAS going to change it for a ZZR1200. I had one on loan for 3 days,but sadly,i didnt find it an improvement over the 1100.
When i bought the Blackbird,i held on to the ZZR as its a lovely bike. It does most things that the Blackbird does-as comfortable,as stable,goes almost as well,better brakes,better fuel economy,better weather protection,better mirrors,comfy seat etc etc.
The Blackbird,however,is just that bit more "modern" feeling.A bit lighter,a bit easier to ride,a bit smoother,more modern looks etc etc...which it should be as its a more modern design,but this in no way makes the ZZR a bad bike. If you'd never ridden a Blackbird,you'd be perfectly happy with it.
My Blackbird's done 40000 miles now,but my ZZR's only done 22000. I use them both all year round & the ZZR shrugs off the worst of the winter as well as the Blackbird.
The Blackbird's my "main" bike,but every time i ride the ZZR,it puts a smile on my face...dare i say it,the ZZR has that little bit of "character" while the Blackbird's a tad "sterile" by comparason...
Either way...if youre going for a ZZR,i'd certainly go for a late model 1100 over a 1200 any day. Like i said,the 1200 ISNT a better bike...

 

[Jaq-Ass]

The advise all you BB owners have imparted is invaluable, just makes me more like a child waiting for an early christmas present p0pc0rn41

Jen thankx for your advise from a pillions perspective, i look forward to reading Roxxos write up when i get a chance hopefully later today.

Cheers to all who keep submitting their advise, only problem is i now want the BB and to keep my Thunderace, but 1+1=2 bikes will = no Girlfriend

Still this wet behind the ear biker will just have to sacrifice................ A bike.

Been looking at a 1999 BB for sale in Dorset, its on MCNs bikes for sale section, on page 4, is candy red and has a full set of colour coded hard luggage going for ?3450 with 14,583 miles.

Any advise on what to look out for ie Oil in the airbox etc??

 

[roXXo]

You can listen to other's anecdotes and advice but at the end of the day go with what you really want.

Others cannot make your mind up for you.
Go with your feeelings.
If you really want a Bird, get one.
If you don't get on with it , sell it and get something else you fancy.

You will not be happy if you chose a bike with your head rather than your heart.

I have just bought an Alfa Romeo 147.
My work colleagues warned me off it and take the piss out of it and me, but I love it.
:beer:

ps. I wouldn't buy a bird for purely solo use.

 

[R2B2]

only problem is i now want the BB and to keep my Thunderace, but 1+1=2 bikes will = no Girlfriend

Result!!! Two bikes and no handbrake!! :-:

Do it....

 

[andyBeaker]

Been looking at a 1999 BB for sale in Dorset, its on MCNs bikes for sale section, on page 4, is candy red and has a full set of colour coded hard luggage going for ?3450 with 14,583 miles.

Any advise on what to look out for ie Oil in the airbox etc??

I haven't seen the add but if in the condition you would expect at that milage i.e. absolutely 100% pristine i would say that is a fair price. There seem to be a lot of Birds around at the moment so if you are brave and leave it for a while the price might drop. The fact it has hard uggage I would take as a good sign as I would say that 'tourers' spend most of the year polishing and fettling, and then piling the miles on in one go.

Don't pay 'extra' for the luggage if you don't want it, although there would be probably ?200+ from someone on this site after if you wanted to get shot.

I think the most important thing to check will be the downpipes and exhaust collector - depending on which model it is the downpipes might be mild steel or stainless steel[ if not stainless they are likely to be pretty well corroded by now despite low milage and will cost a lot to replace.

I think I am right in saying that the collector box on all models (anyone correct me?) is mild steel so have a good dig around with a screwdriver.

Best thing you can do is find out if the owner uses this site and review all their comments - might be revealing!!

 

[silverfox.xx]

I haven't seen the add but if in the condition you would expect at that milage i.e. absolutely 100% pristine i would say that is a fair price. There seem to be a lot of Birds around at the moment so if you are brave and leave it for a while the price might drop. The fact it has hard uggage I would take as a good sign as I would say that 'tourers' spend most of the year polishing and fettling, and then piling the miles on in one go.

Don't pay 'extra' for the luggage if you don't want it, although there would be probably ?200+ from someone on this site after if you wanted to get shot.

I think the most important thing to check will be the downpipes and exhaust collector - depending on which model it is the downpipes might be mild steel or stainless steel[ if not stainless they are likely to be pretty well corroded by now despite low milage and will cost a lot to replace.

I think I am right in saying that the collector box on all models (anyone correct me?) is mild steel so have a good dig around with a screwdriver.

Best thing you can do is find out if the owner uses this site and review all their comments - might be revealing!!

Supporting the above, if its an efi the downpipes should be stainless (mines a y2k and all exhaust parts are stainless). they may have a brown coating of burnt on road grime as a lot of peeps don't take the fairings off to clean them. (brick acid and scourer will remove the grime). Late 1999 models were efi, prior to carb models.

Price/mileage sounds about right... check for miss matched panels or other drop damage.

If you're fairly local to another BB owner... it might be worth bunging them a few quid to view it with you.

Get to look at service receipts..... The chain without an oiler will do about 19k miles and the tyre (rear) will average about 5 to 7 k.

 

[andyBeaker]

(brick acid and scourer will remove the grime).

Why??

I am impressed though!!:bow:

 

[paulsbluebird]

Other options

VFR is a great option, less power than the Bird and ultra good in the rain.,

 

[ericonblackbird]

I can't add much more than has already been said, but as a commuter I have found over the last 7 years that the BB really does the job well throughout the year.Shortest commute was a round trip of 26 miles all town and city.
Best was 87 miles of potentially stupidly fast A roads and B roads - not that I ever tried of course
Longest was 187 miles of mainly motorway.

The MOT tester comments each year (it hasn't failed one yet) how well the Bird has stood up to its life ................ I can't disagree with that.

Oh and it goes to France several times a year as a 'thank you' for its good service!

 

[Duck n Dive]

............ 2007 post mate yer replying to, they're probably onto another life, never mind bike, by now ...........

It's OK Karlos .... he needed to get his posts over ten or end up as annother deleted for advertising his bits for sale shhhhhhh...........

Have a quick look at his history h1d1ng2