Contemplating Changing

[bluemooner]

Am currently a member of the VFR forum and am thinking of changing my bike for Blackbird, just been on the club AGRO to Maccy and have been to talking with Keith (Wiz) can't now make my mind up about a bird or K1200S. :dunno:

Any opinions and experience on ownership would be appreciated!

Would want a fairly newish model say 2-3 years old if anyone has anything for sale or knows of a good one please advise.

 

[bmwdumptruck]

I had a ride on a K12S a while ago, and I will admit its a great bike. More like a big 600 though than the blackbird.

However, don't believe the reliablilty hype on BMW's. If you go for one make sure its got BMW warrenty, you'll probably need it far more than you will a blackbird.

The BMW luggage for the S is pretty poor by their standards, no where near as good as the old system panniers of the older models, or a full Givi set on a blackbird. Only an issue if you plan to tour at all.

Hugh

 

[bluemooner]

Thanks for the post Hugh, am a Honda fan really so am heavily in favour of the bird anyway. Being 6' 4" probably means the bird is a better option. Have not been on one yet so am going to arrange a test ride very shortly.

 

[dufus]

last october i got a zzr 1400 and I have to admit I absolutely loved it but luggage and in particular a lack of top box saw it go to another.

What suprised me was that I was silly enough to buy a new one, twatta.

I am on my bird number 6, yes 6 what normally happens is that the bird does absolutely everything so well I get bored of it, sell it then buy something else.
Then inevitably they arn't as good as the bird so I buy another, hence number 6.

After loosing so much money I applied man logic, bird number 6 is a 2001 bluebird with 14,000 miles with full luggage, a jaws full service, a set of new storms,hugger, double bubble and a hid has so far cost me ?3,700

Now using man logic is there a better bike out there that I can get for that money? I doubt it, Would it be worth me changing it for a k1200s? is it a
?4-5,000 better bike? definately not.

I think there is a few on the bottom forum BIRD BITZ REHOMING SCHEME

being 6ft 4 I would also consider from jaws a bar riser kit and a double bubble screen.

and use the difference enjoying it, you won't regret buying one

 

[bigdave1100]

Hi bluemooner i own a blackbird and have riden the k1200s and as i am also 6ft 4 i can tell you the bird fits better,the only problem i have is leg room,after a long ride(350 miles)i start to get knee cramps so plan to fit lower pegs(available on the forum)

i find the standard bars ok(longer arms meen you dont have to stretch as far)and i have returned to a standard screen as i havnt found a db or flip screen that dosnt make the air flow to turbulent around my head.
hope this helps and i must add that after 25years riding and more than 15 bikes the bird is by far the best.(so far!!!!)

 

[Smix]

http://www.bikersoracle.com/blackbird/forum/showthread.php?t=32505


don't know where you are, but is this one worth looking at?? :dunno:

 

[Artemis]

Yup, but you get sweeties on here.

Want a sweetie, bluemooner?

 

[bluemooner]

last october i got a zzr 1400 and I have to admit I absolutely loved it but luggage and in particular a lack of top box saw it go to another.

What suprised me was that I was silly enough to buy a new one, twatta.

I am on my bird number 6, yes 6 what normally happens is that the bird does absolutely everything so well I get bored of it, sell it then buy something else.
Then inevitably they arn't as good as the bird so I buy another, hence number 6.

After loosing so much money I applied man logic, bird number 6 is a 2001 bluebird with 14,000 miles with full luggage, a jaws full service, a set of new storms,hugger, double bubble and a hid has so far cost me ?3,700

Now using man logic is there a better bike out there that I can get for that money? I doubt it, Would it be worth me changing it for a k1200s? is it a
?4-5,000 better bike? definately not.

I think there is a few on the bottom forum BIRD BITZ REHOMING SCHEME

being 6ft 4 I would also consider from jaws a bar riser kit and a double bubble screen.

and use the difference enjoying it, you won't regret buying one

Dufus,

You seem to have the same man logic as me! :-:

thanks for your comments mate, appreciate them

 

[bluemooner]

Hi bluemooner i own a blackbird and have riden the k1200s and as i am also 6ft 4 i can tell you the bird fits better,the only problem i have is leg room,after a long ride(350 miles)i start to get knee cramps so plan to fit lower pegs(available on the forum)

i find the standard bars ok(longer arms meen you dont have to stretch as far)and i have returned to a standard screen as i havnt found a db or flip screen that dosnt make the air flow to turbulent around my head.
hope this helps and i must add that after 25years riding and more than 15 bikes the bird is by far the best.(so far!!!!)

Dave,

I have similar problems with leg cramps on my VFR, am hopng that the bird will be slightly bigger and alleviate the grief!

Thanks for your comments mate I appreciate your time

 

[bluemooner]

Thanks

http://www.bikersoracle.com/blackbird/forum/showthread.php?t=32505


don't know where you are, but is this one worth looking at?? :dunno:

Thanks a lot Smix

 

[bikesnoopy]

Im on my 3rd Bird. Its my 120th bike in over 40 years of riding & like Dufus says,it does everything so well,when you try something else,it isnt as good. Ive had VFR's & like the Bird,they do everything well too...but...the Blackbird just has MUCH MUCH MORE of everything.....
Get one.You'll not be dissapointed...

 

[bluemooner]

Im on my 3rd Bird. Its my 120th bike in over 40 years of riding & like Dufus says,it does everything so well,when you try something else,it isnt as good. Ive had VFR's & like the Bird,they do everything well too...but...the Blackbird just has MUCH MUCH MORE of everything.....
Get one.You'll not be dissapointed...

120 bikes? christ! I thought I had had a few in my time but obviously not! :bow:

thanks for your time and comments mate, am going to book a test ride as soon as this bloody rain dissapears

cheers

Andy

 

[bikesnoopy]

Had my first one when i was 4 & have always owned 2 or 3 at a time ever since.
At the moment i have one & a half Blackbirds,a ZZR1100,a ZRX1100R & a FZR1000EXUP. . . + half a dozen CBX550F's in bits in boxes. . . but that line up will probably have changed by the end of summer...
Im still counting...!
Have a good test ride...

 

[speed_demon666]

Hello mate, I see you're thinking of jumping off the VFR bandwagon too?

I'm afraid i cant say much about the K1200 apart from that Wiz was trying to coax me to get one too at the AGRO. Thing is its well out of my budget.

Even though the missus doesnt like the pillion position of the bird i keep coming back to it as a big possibility to be my next bike.

Was hoping to get a full mornings test ride this coming saturday but it looks like the weathers gonna be bollox which is a right pain as I'm bikeless as of tomorrow (Hire bike goes back now that the accident claim is in the process of being tidied up).

To save creating another thread on this forum about which is better bird or "insert bike model here" i thought I'd add my question here.

I've been told the ZZR1200 is a very similar bike and worth considering (bit uglier if you ask me, but I could probably live with it). Have any of you Bird guys and (lovely) ladies ridden one of the more modern style (2002 onwards) ones??

What were your thoughts?? :dunno:

Ta,

Tom M

 

[bikesnoopy]

As mentioned aboue,i own a ZZR1100(like my Bird,its my 3rd)& in my opinion riding the ZZR1100 back to back with the Bird,they are two very similar bikes. The Bird is just that bit better in every department-and so it should be-its a much newer design. That said,the ZZR is still an absolute joy(and a hoot)to ride.
Last year,a friend of mine traded in his ZX12R for a ZZR1200 & i was fortunate enough to "test" it back to back with my1100...and i gotta say how dissapointed i was. Sure,like the Bird,its a better bike than the 1100-but-only just. The difference between the ZZR1200 & the ZZR1100 on a direct comparason was tiny in most areas & in others there was no improvement. The bike feels so similar in most ways,its hard to see why Kawasaki bothered with the 1200 & didnt move straight on to the ZZR1400,which was a REAL leap forward.No wonder the model only ran for a couple of years. The other thing big K did with the 1200 was to rob it of all of its "character". The ZZR1100 had this character...a certain edge & attitude,that will always make it be remembered as one of the biking greats. The ZZR1200 will be forgotten & only remembered for being a "nice bike but nothing special"...or just a 1200 version of the 1100,even though its the better bike. . .in the same way as Yamaha's Thunderace is when compared with the FZR1000EXUP-not so much a step forward,more of a little shuffle...
Dont get me wrong.Its by no means a bad bike...but when compared to a Blackbird,it makes less sense. The comfort & performance are similar,but the brakes & handling arent so good,the engine isnt so smooth & the build quality is crap when compared to the Honda and when you look at the fact that you'll be paying similar money for the same year Blackbird,its hard to see why anyone would choose the ZZR...:dunno:

IMHO of course...

 

[bluemooner]

Tom,

Thanks for the reply mate, so you too have the Wiz sales chat eh? R#? I love the look of the K1200 and have taken one for a ride since seeing Keith with his. (it goes like stink) and I have yet to get out on a Bird cos the weather has been crap at the weekends. I think the Bird would also suit me a little better size wise cos I am 6'4" but we will have to wait and see!

I hope that if I change there are still plenty of meet ups and rides out in this forum :yo:

Hello mate, I see you're thinking of jumping off the VFR bandwagon too?

I'm afraid i cant say much about the K1200 apart from that Wiz was trying to coax me to get one too at the AGRO. Thing is its well out of my budget.


Was hoping to get a full mornings test ride this coming saturday but it looks like the weathers gonna be bollox which is a right pain as I'm bikeless as of tomorrow (Hire bike goes back now that the accident claim is in the process of being tidied up).


Ta,

Tom M

 

[Red Mick]

I've looked at getting BMWs several times when I've been changing bikes. The last time I had the choice of a year old ST1100, or a brand new blackbird. Cost to change to the beemer, ?6,595, cost to get the 'bird, ?2,700. :dunno:
I know BMWs have a rep as being good bikes, but I couldn't see ?4,000 difference between the two options.

If you're ever near Doncaster, you're welcome to check out my 'bird, bar risers, pegs lowered, DB screen, custom seat. I'm 6'2" and it's all day comfy.

 

[tynewine]

Hi i used to have a k1200s and changed to a bird liked the bird better i have a 2005 for sale 4000 miles full luggage heated grips etc etc 07958314835 if interested

Tom,

Thanks for the reply mate, so you too have the Wiz sales chat eh? R#? I love the look of the K1200 and have taken one for a ride since seeing Keith with his. (it goes like stink) and I have yet to get out on a Bird cos the weather has been crap at the weekends. I think the Bird would also suit me a little better size wise cos I am 6'4" but we will have to wait and see!

I hope that if I change there are still plenty of meet ups and rides out in this forum :yo:

 

[willibet]

I'm tall too (6' 6") and find the 'bird fairly comfortable, although 200 miles is the longest run I've done so far in a one-er. I haven't raised the bars, the ones it came with seem fine, but I did add a DB, which I think was well worth it for the bigger chaps (and lasses of course, wouldn't want to leave any 6 foot plus girls out. Of anything.)Apart from that its a great bike, go for it...

 

[bluemooner]

Martin,

Thanks for the message mate and the chat on the phone. If you get some pitures sent of to me today or tomorrow we could have a deal :yo:
Although being 6'4" I don't think I will need the lowered seat!

Hi i used to have a k1200s and changed to a bird liked the bird better i have a 2005 for sale 4000 miles full luggage heated grips etc etc 07958314835 if interested