Blackbird reliability

[SpanishJohn]

I am fortunate enough to own three bikes:

1. 2006 R1 -

20,000 high RPM miles on the clock and they are all mine.
Problems - Not one. Superb :bow:

2. 2002 bandit

33,000 miles on the clock, 24000 of which are mine
Problems - Not one. Superb :bow:

3. 2000 Efi Blackbird

23,000 on the clock, 11000 of which are mine
Problems: -(

1. ECU replaced
2. CCT replaced
3. 2 reg/recs replaced
4. 1 stator replaced
5. Loom fix done.

5. Broken down on 2 occasions, one needed RAC to be called out

Blackbird reliablity rating so far is appalling.

Spanish

 

[Jaws]

Interesting

Number one son R6, ends went at 9000 miles ( yamaha said dont be stupid.. Yamaha fitter took it out, ragged it and they ended up having to fit a new engine free
a year later ends went again

My R1 I sold after 2 months cos I had so many issues with it I did not have time to repair it !!

My Bird... 1998 carb one.. 23k on the clock.. Fitted a CCT at 18k miles as previous owner had not had one fitted..
Thats it so far

 

[Saffie]

24k on the clock 2000 efi stand outside in the weather used 365 days a year.
Problems:

Bike cut out after changing tyres_ turns out the bike shop damaged the ignition wires.
Headlight bulbs replaced twice - blame the roads and lack of pothole riding surface.

Went away for 3 weeks with bike covered in snow came back turned the key pushed the button and went for a ride.....cant remember any of my suzukis doing that!

 

[mickeystitch]

2003 - 27500 miles 10k by me changed cam chain tensioner when i got it ( Jaws :bow

Never had a blip until I looked at the wire loom connector, it never got chance to fail as i then did mod and so far so good, am hoping it stays that way.

Been to switzerland on it and would not think twice about going there again tommorow if the chance arose.

 

[CBR77]

Mine got a puncture (two actually), which caused the tyres to go flat, and ruined the handling of the bike, even more so after the nail in the front tyre was pulled out.
I feel this is a testament to the terrible build quality of these bikes.


Seriously though - 1997 bike, 21k miles, including being stood for 3 years (before being bought by me), no problems at all, except a slightly blowy exhaust which no amount of gun gum and new gaskets wants to fix... Appears to have decent reg/rec with cooling fins fitted mind.

Isn't this thread tempting fate a little?:xmBet the swine won't start now.

 

[Saffie]

F1sh1ing Bored at work :-0)

 

[Wolfie]

I am fortunate enough to own three bikes:

1. 2006 R1 -

20,000 high RPM miles on the clock and they are all mine.
Problems - Not one. Superb :bow:

2. 2002 bandit

33,000 miles on the clock, 24000 of which are mine
Problems - Not one. Superb :bow:

3. 2000 Efi Blackbird

23,000 on the clock, 11000 of which are mine
Problems: -(

1. ECU replaced
2. CCT replaced
3. 2 reg/recs replaced
4. 1 stator replaced
5. Loom fix done.

5. Broken down on 2 occasions, one needed RAC to be called out

Blackbird reliablity rating so far is appalling.

Spanish

1999/2000 efi, do seem to be the worst. honda made a crap job of bring it in and seem to of rushed the whole thing.

 

[TANK0700]

Black Carb one W Reg
39800,
36300 by me
2 x Headlight bulb
1 x head stock bearing
1 x fork seals
1 x fork spring upgrade because i wanted to
1 x rear shock refurbishment
Exhaust down pipes replaced
CCT replaced, precautionary well i think i did , i can’t remember
Alarm wound not deactivate in France lucky i was at my dads
Reg Rec replaced as precautionary

All in all I can’t complain

[FONT=&quot]Sits there for 4 months under a cover, 3 pushes of the button and off she goes. [/FONT]

 

[Fireblade92]

2000 (XXY) with 40k on the clock (32K down to me) and the only failure:

? Headlight dip bean lamp at about 25K
? Rec/Reg at about 36K

I think it is also important to realise what I have NOT had to do:

? Replace the chain and sprockets (I?ve only adjusted the chain three or four times)
? Cush drive
? Fork seals
? Wheel bearings
? Or any of the other consumables you normally have to sort out on a bike you ride all year round

I know it?s little consolation when you feel the bike has not lived up to its reputation, but I honestly find it the most reliable bike I?ve had. The only other bike that is on a par is my Y2K fireblade (also an XXY) I wonder if 2000 was a particularly good year for Honda???

 

[robsbird]

i think all your problems are down to the low miles on it you need to get out more......................


48000 on my w reg and when i got it ......it was a mess and been used
and its still that way and going strong....

and off to Frances on it first two weeks of July its had new boots and it will have an oil change but that's about it..........


@tu*@tu*

 

[ceoils]

1997 carb white one
melted rectifier on way to jaws with spare suspension for sorting, never did get there.
1997 carb red one
blew alternator within weeks of getting it, fitted upgrade and rectifier.
1998 carb 1200 PJs bike
blew alternator 2 weeks (leaving me stranded with a flat battery) after getting it already had upgraded rectifier fitted.
now spewing oil all over my boots so will strip body work off this weekend to find out wtf going on.

Love the bike but tbh am not impressed with honda electrics
so far 3 carb bikes have all failed me on alternator /rectifier.

 

[walesyg]

1998 efi. 1st alternator went 1 day before 3 month warranty from dealer ran out. 35k. new jaws fork springs and rebuilt shock. reg rec went at mc -bash. Repaired at bash by very helpful people. 45 k battery went had bike for about 4 years so can't complain. Last sosb 2nd alternator went had to be recovered. Did loom fix although plug and wiring were spotless. Ohlins shock as rebuilt shock on way out. New chain and sprockets at 50k as chain-lube only used and didn't know how many miles they had already done. New cush drive as well, steering head bearings replaced with jaws tapered ones. New front wheel bearings as a precaution. Three trips to europe with no problems 1 cct as a precaution. also got a carb alternator as a precaution for further problems. Thought about replacing it but can't think of anything that will tour in comfort, bimble into town and also go into warp speeds. Now at 59k.

 

[coleser]

crap. . . .your started to get me worried about the electrical problems on these now, should I change everything as a precaution or just wait for the hand of god to strike. :dunno:

 

[silverfox.xx]

crap. . . .your started to get me worried about the electrical problems on these now, should I change everything as a precaution or just wait for the hand of god to strike. :dunno:

Solder the wires from alternator to reg/rect, remove the connector. that's the first thing I'd do on a bird. The other elect gremlins are not as serious...
Loom fix is probably the next on my list.

 

[karlos2000]

it's good, but how good?

hhhmmmm, mines done 24k, 22k by me. Since early 1998, the headlight bulb blew (around 2000), microswitch on front brake lightswitch failed in 2005, CCT went in late 98 or early 99, even though out of warranty Honda replaced this as a good will gesture as it was one of the first to fail and they were interested to inspect the part.
I replaced the reg rec in 2008 as I figured I was living on borrowed time, the old reg / rec is on another bird working fine.

replaced the battery a couple of times, I blame a trickle charger as I now don't bother and it is better than it ever was for holding charge etc. (disconnecting the immobiliser / alarm is also an improvement)

Original chain & sprockets that are well within spec, with adjustment left, I lube chain every fill up.

Had a dynojet kit & K&N fitted in '99, total waste of money and pointless exercise. Removed a year later. Better as standard.

Front fender bolt corroded solid, damaged front fender removing, so had to replace this.

Downpipes (collector box) finally rotted through around 2005.

Tyres and servicing all as normal.

No idea if this is normal as I've never owned a bike for so long time wise. But my old CB900F never broke, my R100RS just asked for oil changes and fuel. The most reliable bike I ever hd was my CB100 in 1981, must have done 25,000 miles in 2 years over medium distances, no hiccups.

I would say the Blackbird is highly reliable, but only if you aware of the glitches that come as standard. Prevent those & you could tour the world on it. Most posts here on the subject of reiability focus mainly on:

• Efi Loom woes and subsequent fix needed to prevent all the electrical faults that pour out of this if unchecked.
• Genny failure, Efi
• Reg / Rec, Carb and some Efi
• CCT, all carb and most early efi.
• Head shake / wobble (99% top box / scaffolding related)
• Rear shocker tiredness over time (poor design; reliability issue? probs not)
• Front fork sag (design issue, will happen to any bike over time)

 

[Wolfie]

now spewing oil all over my boots so will strip body work off this weekend to find out wtf going on.

check oil cooler pipes, at front at bottom by the engine,

 

[walesyg]

the rarest of all bbs.

Oi! you've seen mine. you know its a bitsa.:violin:

 

[SpanishJohn]

Solder the wires from alternator to reg/rect, remove the connector. that's the first thing I'd do on a bird. The other elect gremlins are not as serious...

Problem with doing this Clive, is that if the reg/rect does go within its warranty period, you can't then send it back :xm. This is precisely what happened to me. Shan't be doing it again.

Barring my CCT issue, all my problems have been centered around the shit reg/rect. I suspect even the ECU, as it probably got a nice big spike when the RAC guy had to jump start me the one time -(. I took a look at the reg/rect on my R1 this morning - its massive, huge heatsink and located for good airflow. Compare this to the BB, located under the rear cowl, I can't see how it can get any air flow at all.

Spanish

 

[walesyg]

Depends if wolfies doing his cabaret act again?

 

[coleser]

Err, who does an upgraded reg/rect. as I think i`ll change that for a kick off, (just in case, borrowed time and all that.) and, derr, what`s the cct? The list goes on. :xm