Blackbird longevity - just what is the truth?

[Sled-driver]

Before buying my first Bird 15 months ago I researched the bike and was told they were good for at least 200,000 miles without major work, and some had done far more than this.

I also found out that the carb bird has 165bhp.

So how come the new article in Bike magazine by Jaws now says that "[he's] seen mileages of more than 100,000", and that the carb bird has 138bhp?

Interesting that it says the Injected bikes have 142bhp v 138 bhp for carb, and then goes on to say the less powerful bike is faster. WTF?

These numbers seem way off the mark from what I've heard previously.

With my bike being on 68,000 miles already, the idea of 100,000 mile life rather than 200,000 is a hell of a difference!

What have owners actually achieved with good maintenance, but without major work such as rebores and rebuilds?

 

[Boggymarsh]

Whilst it may no longer top the league for top end, bhp and all the other crap that people want on a bike, it is without question one of the best out there. John has regularly commented on here that he knows of 'birds with over a million miles on the same engine so 100k or 200k is easily achievable. As far as bhp is concerned it all depends on whether the figures quoted are taken at the crank or at the rear wheel but let's face it even 130bhp is more than enough to bring a smile to your face :bow:

 

[Sled-driver]

Yes, I had heard the million mile remark too, but wonder why John wasn't prepared to state at least the 200,000mile figure in the article.

And yes, I understand about the crank re rear wheel figures, but it is unusual to state rear wheel figures and not qualify it. Rather understates the vehicle.

And it still doesn't explain why the carb is shown as lower bhp than the carb. It is usually the other way around...

Oh and I agree full heartedly that it is among the best bikes ever. I can't imagine ever wanting anything else for road use.

 

[Jaws]

Quite simply, I have been mis-quoted.
In the interview I told them I know of and have worked on a great swathe of Birds with over a million miles on.

And 138 is wrong too..
At the rear wheel of a standard bird you will not get 138bh.. You will get 133.5 and 134.5 ( yes, they are really all that close )
The only time tghat figure varies is when you put your bike on a rolling road that is set up to flatter rather than accuracy ..
The 168bh figure is at the crank.

 

[Sled-driver]

(Bleedin' journos...)

Cool. Thanks for that John.

Do you know if these hyper mileage bikes had had serious surgery during their time, such as rebores, or engine bearings?

Just trying to get a grip on what I might expect in the next 5 years, assuming regular servicing, by when mine will have around 130,000 miles.

At which point does the engine start being dissected for deeper work?

 

[Boggymarsh]

In all honesty, I would say that very few bikes actually get anywhere near the 100k mark in their lifetime. I'm running a 98 'bird which has only just gone over 42k and even if I keep her for my daily commute until I retire in four years time I doubt very much that I'll see it go over 100k. The engines are and often quoted as "bullet proof" - how many threads can you find in the "help" section that discuss engine rebuilds?

If the bike is serviced when required and given a little bit of TLC every now and again it will do you proud. All you need to do now is get out there and ride and enjoy it, don't worry about what's very unlikely to happen... @tu*

 

[ianrobbo1]

I know a couple of couriers that use birds for their work, both say that it isn't the cheapest bike for the job, but, both say it's up there with the most reliable, as long as it gets oil and filters changed, both have had electrical issues, and both have more than one bike, they choose the birds if they know they have long runs to do, and smaller bikes for the towns, i think one is over 150 thousand miles on it now, the other just under a hundred thou!! :dunno:

 

[russ_fae_fyvie]

My clock has just gone over 76,000 this morning (98 Bird) and (heres tempting fate time!) other than the Rec/Reg going last year (first time) and the usual CCT and consumables its been as reliable as John says and shows no sign of slowing down (or is that me?!).

We had a Dyno Run on the McBASH in 2012 when we all had out Blackbirds Dyno'd and I'm sure there will be a few more on soon to shout how much BHP they had (except for one!! 8rfl@)

This was mine from 5 years ago, max 150BHP on the old girl at the back wheel !!

@tu*

 

[Jaws]

(Bleedin' journos...)

Cool. Thanks for that John.

Do you know if these hyper mileage bikes had had serious surgery during their time, such as rebores, or engine bearings?

Just trying to get a grip on what I might expect in the next 5 years, assuming regular servicing, by when mine will have around 130,000 miles.

At which point does the engine start being dissected for deeper work?

If looked after ( regular 8000 mile oil changes etc ) it will almost certainly out live you.

I know of a few gear box failures over the years but all the massive mileage ones I know of have had absolutely NOTHING done apart from CCT's and cam chains at around the 250 to 350,000 mile range.

 

[McMuckles]

All very informative, but still not sure if I will be able to sleep at night worrying about engine failure before the 1 million miles mark or the that I maybe a couple of BHP higher or lower than all the other red birds.

Is this just me?

 

[Tinytim]

.......I know of and have worked on a great swathe of Birds with over a million miles on.

That many? Not doubting you but I find it impossible to comprehend anyone let alone swathes doing that mileage over a 10 to 15 year period. That's between 1200 and about 2,000 miles per week, every week constantly for 10 or 15 years. Nah, not unless he's an Ironbutt like Warchild and there aint swathes of him about.

Are the swathes you have worked on all sort of local i.e. British/UK or do they come to you from farther afield as I can't see a Brit doing a million miles, not while I've got a hole in my arse. ? ( I stand corrected though with cork in hand to bung said arse up)

p0pc0rn41

 

[KevXXW]

Mine has now done 165k miles, and the only engine work so far has been valve shim checks!. I have replaced items like the radiator, brake disks, downpipes, rear shock, and I have changed other things, like de-linked brakes, seat re-upholstered etc, but it still has most of the parts that Honda bolted to it in the factory @tu*, and those parts are all still working as intended.

Currently I have a problem with selecting 4th/5th gears, and I am currently sorting the fixing of this, as I believe that it's no more than a bent/damaged gear selector fork.

I will have no qualms about running this engine once fixed for another 100k or so before I feel the need to do anything other than maintenance/oil changes, though I may just change the clutch plates/springs at 200k for peace of mind.

 

[Barrie]

1,000,000 miles at say, 5,000 miles a year is 200 years of riding.
Good luck with that.

 

[McMuckles]

1,000,000 miles at say, 5,000 miles a year is 200 years of riding.
Good luck with that.

But possibility of only having 200,000 mile lifespan equating to 40 years of riding at 5000 miles a year is worrying - I feel an ulcer growing

 

[Minkey]

I'm not an expert, but I would have thought that like with cars if you look after them and service them on a regular basis you should be able to get a high mileage out of them:dunno:

 

[McMuckles]

I am now getting really worried, I have a few items that only have a lifetime guarantee -does that mean when I die that these items will cease to function and that my family will not have the use of them or is the lifetime of the actual item, can some one please clarify

If it is the item, does any know the life expectancy of a cake tin?

 

[Minkey]

I am now getting really worried, I have a few items that only have a lifetime guarantee -does that mean when I die that these items will cease to function and that my family will not have the use of them or is the lifetime of the actual item, can some one please clarify

If it is the item, does any know the life expectancy of a cake tin?

It could be that when the item goes wrong it kills you, so both your lifes end at the same time8rfl@

 

[KevXXW]

In my case, it may well be the wife that kills me, if she finds out what has been spent on my XX over the years 8rfl@

 

[Barrie]

I'm not an expert, but I would have thought that like with cars if you look after them and service them on a regular basis you should be able to get a high mileage out of them:dunno:

Also applies to women. h1d1ng2

 

[Sled-driver]

That many? Not doubting you but I find it impossible to comprehend anyone let alone swathes doing that mileage over a 10 to 15 year period. That's between 1200 and about 2,000 miles per week, every week constantly for 10 or 15 years. Nah, not unless he's an Ironbutt like Warchild and there aint swathes of him about.

Are the swathes you have worked on all sort of local i.e. British/UK or do they come to you from farther afield as I can't see a Brit doing a million miles, not while I've got a hole in my arse. ? ( I stand corrected though with cork in hand to bung said arse up)

p0pc0rn41

JAWS, can you please qualify what you are saying here. Are you saying that individual birds have done 1,000,000 miles, or that collectively, all the birds you have worked on have done millions of miles.

If the former, what was the profile of the users? Just how come they did such massive mileage?