• Welcome to the new B.I.R.D. Forum. Please be sure to read the "New Member / New Registered ? Please Read" thread in the Coffee Shop. This contains some important information. To become a full member ( £5.90 a year ) simply click on your user name near the top on the right I hope you enjoy the new site ................ Jaws ( John )

New 'Bird owner's first impressions......

B

Badseeds

Registered User
Didn't sleep a wink last night for thinking about my new bike. I had to be in Ipswich (about 40 miles) for 9am and the missus was not happy about having to forgo her lay-in to drive me there.

I checked it over, paid the man and rode away. The missus was planning to do some Christmas shopping so I thought I'd go and play for a while.......

108 miles later I've just got home.

I wobbled away from the vendors house thinking, "this feels all weird". I've ridden upright, shaft-driven tourers for the last 10 years and the 'Bird felt completely alien. There was some aching between my shoulder blades, in my neck and my left wrist.

I took the bike out onto the A14 and accelerated..... before I could say, "I'm doing 130mph!", I was in fact doing 130mph! What an engine!

I always used to think that nobody really needs more than 100bhp, but fuck me, it's bloody nice to have! Overtaking is mind-bendingly easy. Yet the bike proves another view I've always had: big engines are safer. I was very happy cruising along within the speed limit with the knowledge that, should I need to, I could dispense with ANY vehicle in front of me in the blink of an eye.

I think what I'm trying to say is, when you've got all that power you don't need to display it to everyone. I don't think I'm explaining myself very well! It's like, you see these blokes on their silly little 600's that have to have their necks wrung to extract any power and they encourage dickhead riding. I think the Blackbird, being so capable (and everyone knows it) makes for a much more relaxed ride.

I'm not worried about the aches as I know I'll meld to the bike pretty quickly on my 40-mile-a-day commute. I'll DEFINITELY need to get some mirror extensions though....... I'm a broad-shouldered geezer with a 50" chest - the mirrors give a lovely view of my elbows.

The bike needs a good clean. There's some corrosion on the subframe, under the seat and the calipers, although working fine with no binding, could do with a clean up. The heated grips, Oxford Hot Grips,

581977.jpg


are marvellous.

In all, I'm very happy with the bike and I feel as if I've been missing out. Why didn't anyone tell me about the Blackbird before?
 
R

Red Mick

Guest
The aches, shoulders in particular, are usually fixed by fitting bar risers. When I first test rode the bird back in '97 was it? I rejected it for the long stretch to the bars, although I'm 6'2" I think my gut got in the way a bitfl4g71.

When I eventually bought one, nine years later, i fitted risers straight away. No problems now. Lower pegs helped the old knee stiffness too.
 
S

stormer

Registered User
Magic......we all know exactly what you mean...:yo: You have yet to enjoy the flip side of the Bird's joy when you have to negotiate heavy traffic and filtering and the bike just becomes a big pussycat with very soft engine.
The aches may simply be nervous tension especially on a cold day. Now you have ridden the Bird you realise there is nothing else.....:bow::bow:mad:tu*
I have the bar risers and peg lowers as well....
 
B

Badseeds

Registered User
stormer said:
Magic......we all know exactly what you mean...:yo: You have yet to enjoy the flip side of the Bird's joy when you have to negotiate heavy traffic and filtering and the bike just becomes a big pussycat with very soft engine.
The aches may simply be nervous tension especially on a cold day. Now you have ridden the Bird you realise there is nothing else.....:bow::bow:mad:tu*
I have the bar risers and peg lowers as well....
Click to expand...

I visited a mate in Norwich on the way home and had to filter through heavy Christmas shopper traffic. That exacerbated the aches a bit, but in retrospect, I think you're probably right in saying that it could've been nervous tension. I was a courier in that London for years and I could throw my previous bike, an ST1100, through traffic like a moped - I enjoy traffic!

But yes. I was a bit apprehensive about riding such a powerful bike on shitty slimey roads and as I said earlier, it all felt wrong!

Ha ha!

I'm glad you understood what I was trying to say.
 
B

Badseeds

Registered User
lumpy said:
aches and pains are remedied through getting fitter and riding more relaxed instead of fucking about with the bike.

It depends on the raods whether it will beat a silly little 600 to :lol:
Click to expand...

Yes, true on both counts. I didn't mean to offend anyone who rides a 600 @tu*
 
ScottyUK

ScottyUK

Filtering Through
Read Only
You got that post in just in time! I was just about to use some of the following :

bl4hbl4h :wank: b0x2 :rant:

:-0)

I've a CBR600F and a Blackbird (although admittedly I'm now selling the 600) and you simpy can't say the 600 is silly in comparison. I certainly don't feel I could throw my 'bird around on track like I do the 600 and not as easily on the twisty roads ....but the bird certainly whips it on power and I do like the extra space.

Welcome to 'bird ownership. ;-0))
 
R

robsbird

red ones are faster
lumpy said:
I am contemplating banning you for an infraction like this. Don't do it again, even my monitor has started corroding with just the pic up.
Click to expand...


were you been hiding you silly old bugger..........

not long now and you should have your heating grant in the post





F1sh1ing
 
R

robsbird

red ones are faster
lumpy said:
50 yr old, 20 stone, but still fit and with standard bars and rearsets so younger than the bar riser and lowered footrest brigade. :lol:
Click to expand...


good on you ......so its true what they say then

there is life in the old dog yet......


p0pc0rn41
 
A

Andy flynn

Registered User
Just wait till summer one st your acquainted with the bird and y
our throwing it into bends like a 600 ,its amazing how well the big bus handles @tu*
 
silverfox.xx

silverfox.xx

quocunque jeceris stabit
Also try tucking your elbows in, I know its a bird but wings aren't necessary.

If you want to sit on a bird with bar raisers pop over and try mine.. wheels are out at the moment though.
 
B

Badseeds

Registered User
silverfox.xx said:
Also try tucking your elbows in, I know its a bird but wings aren't necessary.

If you want to sit on a bird with bar raisers pop over and try mine.. wheels are out at the moment though.
Click to expand...

Cheers mate @tu* Just let me know when you're ready.
 
C

Cant Find A User Name

Guest
lumpy said:
a wannabe maybe.

137 posts = fair game. Anone that admits they have one of them on here is open to mickey taking surely. :lol:
Click to expand...

wannabe what Lumpy ?

Take the mickey all ya want - got the best of both as far as I'm concerned, having a Bird as well - bite as much as you like F1sh1ing:neenaw:

Very tidy bike btw rob @tu*
 
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