Most expensive Bird in Britain?!

[haggetty]

Personal opinion if I wanted another bird I would keep looking as that's well overpriced and not 100% immaculate (which it should be at the miles & price)

Apart from that its an FI which in my experience are poor to say the least when compared to a carbie and the 05 is probably the worst of the lot

Lastly you would be better off looking for a private sale of a well looked after bike (on here) don't get hung up on the milage it really is a non issue even at quite high miles, FI birds boil your nuts, its not pleasant its not fun and it becomes wearing very quickly but it you really want one go for a later model where some of the small niggles have been ironed out (and pay less for the experience)

Thanks for the info. Is an 05 worse than an 04 or 06 and what niggles were ironed out after 05? To be honest, I’ve not ever sat on a Blackbird let alone ridden one. I’m sure there are differences between different age bikes but I’m looking for a taste of the Blackbird rather than the ultimate Blackbird experience. I may own one for six months or six years, or not at all if I don’t find it fits me in some way and will go and look at something else.
I’m a bit of a serial bike swapper anyway and will buy a bike, use it for 6 months and move it on to try something else. PS, That heat you mention might be a great bonus for this winter.
There is a slightly scruffy looking 07 nearby with 25k miles and some nice extras selling for £5k. I’ll have a close look at that one first. It’ll give me a good comparison.

Buying private is fine except there is no warranty and no p/ex facility. I can’t be bothered trying to sell my GSX1250 privately, especially at this time of year.
I’ll post my findings from this weekends digging. Knowing me, I may end up with a ‘Busa or ZZR14!

 

[haggetty]

Op... If you're happy with the price and condition, go for it. . Have fun, experience the beauty of the big Honda.... Health to enjoy your bike Sir.

Lovely sentiment Robbi, thanks. . Not every bike decision I make is based on economics, and not all bikes I’ve had have been brilliant but I’ve not regretted buying a single one! Before I hang my helmet up, I need to have owned an MT10, ‘busa or ZZR14, Tracer 9GT and Suzuki 800DE! The Blackbird is a current spur of the moment ‘why not’ choice! So, that’s the next 10 years sorted!

 

[Duck n Dive]

To the best of my knowledge there is no significant differences between any of the digi dash efi models.
All that changed was small superficial things like brake/clutch reservoirs being plain metal finish instead of painted black, slightly raised metallic lettering on the lower side fairings etc.

 

[Oldandbald]

I've got an 03 injected one. Yes it can run a bit hit in traffic and it might have 0.5bhp less than a carbie but its still the best bike I have ever ridden in over 40 years of riding. Just do it. It's only money.

 

[andyBeaker]

Thanks for the info. Is an 05 worse than an 04 or 06 and what niggles were ironed out after 05? To be honest, I’ve not ever sat on a Blackbird let alone ridden one. I’m sure there are differences between different age bikes but I’m looking for a taste of the Blackbird rather than the ultimate Blackbird experience. I may own one for six months or six years, or not at all if I don’t find it fits me in some way and will go and look at something else.
I’m a bit of a serial bike swapper anyway and will buy a bike, use it for 6 months and move it on to try something else. PS, That heat you mention might be a great bonus for this winter.
There is a slightly scruffy looking 07 nearby with 25k miles and some nice extras selling for £5k. I’ll have a close look at that one first. It’ll give me a good comparison.

Buying private is fine except there is no warranty and no p/ex facility. I can’t be bothered trying to sell my GSX1250 privately, especially at this time of year.
I’ll post my findings from this weekends digging. Knowing me, I may end up with a ‘Busa or ZZR14!

£5k is top, top money for a good condition Bird let alone a ‘scruffy’ one.

But as you say, heart rules head sometimes.

 

[Malone]

Lovely sentiment Robbi, thanks. . Not every bike decision I make is based on economics, and not all bikes I’ve had have been brilliant but I’ve not regretted buying a single one! Before I hang my helmet up, I need to have owned an MT10, ‘busa or ZZR14, Tracer 9GT and Suzuki 800DE! The Blackbird is a current spur of the moment ‘why not’ choice! So, that’s the next 10 years sorted!

For a bit of balance I’ve owned 2 Blackbirds, 3 ZZR14 gen2 and 5 Busas, and had at least one Busa for over 20 years, for a couple of years I ran 2 off them.

 

[haggetty]

I've got an 03 injected one. Yes it can run a bit hit in traffic and it might have 0.5bhp less than a carbie but its still the best bike I have ever ridden in over 40 years of riding. Just do it. It's only money.

That’s the spirit!

 

[haggetty]

For a bit of balance I’ve owned 2 Blackbirds, 3 ZZR14 gen2 and 5 Busas, and had at least one Busa for over 20 years, for a couple of years I ran 2 off them.

And you still have a licence! Well done. Whether they ‘sensible’ or not doesn’t matter. They’re bikes you must experience at least once in your life. I rode a busa gen3 demo for an hour recently. Mega machine.
Blackbird more than halfway there.

Which was your favourite riding experience?

 

[DEG5Y]

You sound like you like your bikes to be mint.
The pipes will niggle you until you find a replacement, which could take a long time.
That could be the niggle that turns the bike sour in your eyes and becomes the reason you sell.
That would be a shame as any Blackbird is a really good bike.
Yes there are differences between the models, mostly based around the fueling.
And obviously this has an effect but I would say it's only an effect noticed by people who have owned both,
There's not many owners have ridden them using all the performance that's available to see the difference.

Most people on here that have sold their BIRDs have done so because of age.
This forum is full of oldies that for personal reasons have had to give up riding.
Amongst these guys I still consider myself a noob as I've only had mine for 15yrs.

I would say to you, buy a BIRD, scratch that itch, but just make sure you can live with any imperfections, as
you never know, it could become your forever bike.

 

[haggetty]

You sound like you like your bikes to be mint.
The pipes will niggle you until you find a replacement, which could take a long time.
That could be the niggle that turns the bike sour in your eyes and becomes the reason you sell.
That would be a shame as any Blackbird is a really good bike.
Yes there are differences between the models, mostly based around the fueling.
And obviously this has an effect but I would say it's only an effect noticed by people who have owned both,
There's not many owners have ridden them using all the performance that's available to see the difference.

Most people on here that have sold their BIRDs have done so because of age.
This forum is full of oldies that for personal reasons have had to give up riding.
Amongst these guys I still consider myself a noob as I've only had mine for 15yrs.

I would say to you, buy a BIRD, scratch that itch, but just make sure you can live with any imperfections, as
you never know, it could become your forever bike.

A very considered answer there. Many thanks. Yes, if I’m buying secondhand I like to buy a good condition, late, well cared for, serviced and low mile example of whatever it is and I don’t mind paying a bit more for it. I am happy with higher miles if the history is there though, especially with a bike like the ‘bird.
This particular ‘bird appears mint in all respects apart from the drop damage to the exhaust and gen cover.
The drop will have been accidental and not due to lack of love or care for the bike. I’m sure that whomever dropped it would have been horrified!

I dropped my GSA1250 in the back garden last year. Never dropped one in 44 years and bang, down it went. It happens. No damage though.

There seem to be a number of silencers available that may be markedbut not dented. I’m sure with a bit of effort one could be brought up to snuff.

What is the view on aftermarket jobbies? Are they frowned upon by the afficionados?

I prefer stock pipes by the way.

Well, time to buff up the GSX before I toddle for a look! Wish me luck!

 

[Oldandbald]

I've had a pair of Remus silencers on mine from new. I just prefer the sound it makes. The originals are in the airing cupboard. Took a while to persuade the Mrs that this is the main purpose of an airing cupboard but we got there.

 

[Duck n Dive]

For what it's worth, if you can get a set of really good carb model cans they will fit with no problem.

The only difference is the link pipe is narrower as they don't have cats.
Doesn't affect anything else.

 

[ogr1]

Pipewerx on mine.
Nice XX logo to match.

CBR1100 Blackbird 1996 - 2008 Pipe Werx Stainless Steel Round Street Legal Exhaust

What's Included:- Pair of Slip on Silencers, Pair of link pipes, Pair of Hanging Straps, any necessary fittings.

www.pipewerx.co.uk

 

[Malone]

And you still have a licence! Well done. Whether they ‘sensible’ or not doesn’t matter. They’re bikes you must experience at least once in your life. I rode a busa gen3 demo for an hour recently. Mega machine.
Blackbird more than halfway there.

Which was your favourite riding experience?

There was the day when I overtook a line of slower traffic, uphill, on my turbo, pinned it in 3rd, into 4th at around 150/160 and then eased off and at the lead I could now do 65 (in a 70) until I saw the blue lights behind me.

‘Do you like your licence” he asked me once I’d parked up, removed helmet and earplugs. He looked the bike over, and didn’t say a great deal more apart from “car drivers don’t appreciate just how fast a m/c can accelerate, I was at 150 before I saw you sauntering along”

at which point I realised he wasn’t going to ticket me as he just didn’t know how fast I’d actually been going. So I got a talking to and then he left.

Turbos are extremely easy to take for granted, and this was so, so easy to ride, as Performance Bikes found out when they did an article on mine at Bruntingthorpe.

 

[haggetty]

Well thank you all for your interest and taking the time to share your knowledge and experience of the Blackbird.
I went to see the higher mile 07 and while it was passable and looked decent for the year, it wasn’t for me.

Then went to look at the one I originally targeted, the 05 and it looked every inch worth the asking price, so I’ve bought it on sight.
The machine has been serviced and the book stamped most every year (16 stamps in total) and looks like it has never seen rain.
It will be dealer serviced and MOT’d, coolant and brake fluid changed and a new battery fitted. And as there was only one key, they will supply a new HISS coded one too.
Got a small discount too!

l’m going to keep the GSX1250 tucked up safe and sound in the shed while I use the ‘bird.
If the bird doesn’t suit for some reason then I still have the GSX to go back to. Or, I might chop them both in for a ZZR14!

 

[Robbi]

Congratulations. . Health to enjoy Sir.

 

[ogr1]

Well thank you all for your interest and taking the time to share your knowledge and experience of the Blackbird.
I went to see the higher mile 07 and while it was passable and looked decent for the year, it wasn’t for me.

Then went to look at the one I originally targeted, the 05 and it looked every inch worth the asking price, so I’ve bought it on sight.
The machine has been serviced and the book stamped most every year (16 stamps in total) and looks like it has never seen rain.
It will be dealer serviced and MOT’d, coolant and brake fluid changed and a new battery fitted. And as there was only one key, they will supply a new HISS coded one too.
Got a small discount too!

l’m going to keep the GSX1250 tucked up safe and sound in the shed while I use the ‘bird.
If the bird doesn’t suit for some reason then I still have the GSX to go back to. Or, I might chop them both in for a ZZR14!

Enjoy, you will not be disappointed.

 

[Cougar377]

Pipewerx on mine.
Nice XX logo to match.
View attachment 88596

CBR1100 Blackbird 1996 - 2008 Pipe Werx Stainless Steel Round Street Legal Exhaust

What's Included:- Pair of Slip on Silencers, Pair of link pipes, Pair of Hanging Straps, any necessary fittings.

www.pipewerx.co.uk

I had blue titanium ones on my (blue) Bird. Loved the x stamped baffles, which looked like they were made for the Bird. They had a nice sound, without being offensive.

 

[ogr1]

I had blue titanium ones on my (blue) Bird. Loved the x stamped baffles, which looked like they were made for the Bird. They had a nice sound, without being offensive.

Yarp, but they are a tad pricey now.

 

[Robbi]

Got ART end cans on mine