Newbie - should I get this Blackbird?

[ScottyUK]

Hi guys,

Just a little background on me: I'm currently on the CBRer's forum with my CBR600F6 but I'm being lured away by Blackbirds. I'm 40 and have been riding for 2.5 years. I live in Essex and commute into London daily. I've done around 25k miles and am preparing for my IAM test.

I'm looking to change for more torque and a little more space....and coz it's a Blackbird! I'm 6ft tall and sometimes I feel a little squashed on my current ride....maybe it's just by belly fluctuating in size!

I've yet to ride or evej sit on a Blackbird but I'm planning to check out a couple this weekend (one on Saturday and one on Sunday).

This is Saturdays's one : http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikesforsale/searchresults/detail/?R=NXGN-1973276&mfy=

Any thoughts, comments, advice would be appreciated. :bow:

p.s. Sundays one is metalic grey. I've a blue car so I don't want a blue bike and i've just had 8.5 years of red cars so no redbird for me either.

p.p.s. Whilst searching I also found this one which has got to be a scam !!
http://motoring.friday-ad.co.uk/AdR...18/Page/418/SArea/Local/Web/FullAdDetails.asp

 

[Desperado]

Hi Scotty,

I've just swapped my VFR800 for a Bird, loverly bike very similar feel to the VFR except the reach is a little bit longer than I would like.

I have yet to fully explore the power as the roads are just to poor at the moment.

The Black one you are looking at looks a nice bike similar age and mileage to the one I have except mine the grey/silver finish.

Do you still use your bike for commuting London as I might not be as nible through those gaps as your CBR?

I meet you at the 2008 Anni bash at Mark Teys we ended up sitting on the same table as Floss.

I remember your passion was driving the "Ring" in your Audi. It would be intersting taking a Bird around there.

Hope to see you around

Desperado

 

[Artemis]

Hi guys,

Just a little background on me: I'm currently on the CBRer's forum with my CBR600F6 but I'm being lured away by Blackbirds. I'm 40 and have been riding for 2.5 years. I live in Essex and commute into London daily. I've done around 25k miles and am preparing for my IAM test.

I'm looking to change for more torque and a little more space....and coz it's a Blackbird! I'm 6ft tall and sometimes I feel a little squashed on my current ride....maybe it's just by belly fluctuating in size!

I've yet to ride or evej sit on a Blackbird but I'm planning to check out a couple this weekend (one on Saturday and one on Sunday).

This is Saturdays's one : http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/bikesforsale/searchresults/detail/?R=NXGN-1973276&mfy=

Any thoughts, comments, advice would be appreciated. :bow:

http://motoring.friday-ad.co.uk/AdR...18/Page/418/SArea/Local/Web/FullAdDetails.asp

Of course you should, it's BLACK!

You're really only here for this, aren't you, they told you on the 6ers

Want a sweetie little boy? Hmm? Do you?

 

[ScottyUK]

Hi Scotty,

I've just swapped my VFR800 for a Bird, loverly bike very similar feel to the VFR except the reach is a little bit longer than I would like.

I have yet to fully explore the power as the roads are just to poor at the moment.

The Black one you are looking at looks a nice bike similar age and mileage to the one I have except mine the grey/silver finish.

Do you still use your bike for commuting London as I might not be as nible through those gaps as your CBR?

I meet you at the 2008 Anni bash at Mark Teys we ended up sitting on the same table as Floss.

I remember your passion was driving the "Ring" in your Audi. It would be intersting taking a Bird around there.

Hope to see you around

Desperado

I do indeed remember

I had a brand new 2008 VFR for 35 days whilst my CBR was being fettled. I was surprised to see a Blackbird is only a fraction heavier. You may recognise the VFR bars on the black bike I'm looking at.

I'm currently still split on black or grey/silver. This weekend should swing me one way or the other.

I'm a bit wary about the bigger bike implications on the commute but perhaps it's a good thing as currently I do occaisionally squeeze through gaps I shouldn't. At the same time I only do rush hour one week in three. The other weeks are 06:30 to 15:00 and 10:30 to 19:00 and it's into the City so nothing like the nightmare of commuting in rush hour everyday through the West End.

With regards exploring the power....I'm sure i'll be the same although I've got three days booked at Park Algar, Portugal so I need to decide whether to hire a bike or give the Blackbird her head on the long straight.

Until I've had a go I don't even know if the bike suits me.

Is jumping on one of the ICBM's after riding for just a couple of years a crazy thing to do? I'm 40 and have a young family so my mindset is a long way from an undestructable 20 year old but I'm wondering if more experience is needed first? Then again loads of people said my 600 was too much for a newbie!

Anyway I hope to see you around one way or another

 

[ScottyUK]

Of course you should, it's BLACK!

You're really only here for this, aren't you, they told you on the 6ers

Want a sweetie little boy? Hmm? Do you?

hehehe why have I got the feeling that I'm fresh meat in here?

I'll decide soon enough whether the best policy is b0x1 or fl4g71

I'm thinking the former :-0)

 

[hmplant60]

Blackbird

Hi ,Scotty, Buy it had a Blade up until christmas no comparision full stop better comfort and all the power you need on the road by far.w;;v

 

[Artemis]

hehehe why have I got the feeling that I'm fresh meat in here?

I'll decide soon enough whether the best policy is b0x1 or fl4g71

I'm thinking the former :-0)

Oooh, FIGHT boys! Tickets anyone?

 

[stormer]

hehehe why have I got the feeling that I'm fresh meat in here?

I'll decide soon enough whether the best policy is b0x1 or fl4g71

I'm thinking the former :-0)

:yo: It is a lot like that.......full of misfits.....not that I'm one....w4lc0m3...just all of the others.....:-0)....Silver is best!:yo:

 

[Desperado]

Hi Scotty,

I must admit I find the Blackbird a lot easier to ride at slow speed than the VFR due to the smoother fueling and as you say it isn't that much heavier than the VFR.

When I bought mine I was torn between a black one and the silver/grey as I was looking for the newest and lowest mileage I could get my hands on.

I think 2 years experience is plenty for moving onto a Bird, I have only come back to biking (following a 27 year break) 2 years ago and I haven't had any problems.

Good luck the weekend with you Bird hunting, I'm down Dorset with my eldest Son FireBlade hunting (for him not me) so should be fun.

Desperado

 

[stormer]

I ride a 2002 silver Bird and it is the perfect machine. The wife rides a VFR VTec and I have to agree with Desperado the Bird will pootle along in traffic making squeeze filtering easy. I find the VFR a bit snatchy at low speed work compared with mine. At 6 foot tall so long as you get used to the weight...no problems. She used to ride a CBR600F and other than the lower rev range you will feel as though the Bird is just a bigger CBR.......until you twist your right wrist!:yo:

 

[gusthemus]

Is jumping on one of the ICBM's after riding for just a couple of years a crazy thing to do? I'm 40 and have a young family so my mindset is a long way from an undestructable 20 year old but I'm wondering if more experience is needed first? Then again loads of people said my 600 was too much for a newbie!

Hey there Scotty, I've been riding for just under 18 months & I've just graduated from a 250 to a Bird and within a week of getting it, I feel quite used to the power. I'm 33 & also have a young family so I'm very aware of my mortality & I ride appropriately. No unnecessary risks. A few people I work with that ride said that I was crazy & should go to a 600 or something first but it's really down to your level of maturity I think.

 

[silverfox.xx]

it's really down to your level of maturity I think.

w;;v Age has nothing to do with it... self control's the answer.

 

[ScottyUK]

I didn't make Saturday's test ride due to work but I did get out on one today.

Wow! It felt more planted than my CBR600F and a lot less skitish at the front end. The suspension seems much more compliant without being wallowey. The position was spot on without any risers or peg lowering kits. The brakes seemed absolutely fine. You can tell the rears being activated as the bike stays so flat and neutral.

I felt very at home and the whole bike was very confidence inspiring. I always felt I was a long way inside what it was capable of. I tried some fast stuff and some really fast stuff and was amazed how I could still change direction. I was expecting to have to put in a huge amount of effort.

The slow speed stuff was also fine. The steering lock is not as good and an attempted U-turn turned into a 3 point turn. That doesn't bother me. What did was whether the weight would get me. It was fine.

You noticed I haven't mentioned the engine.... that's coz it's everything I've read - turbine like, smooth, etc etc. I'd say the power was "adequate"

I will have to get a 'bird but I've now a dilema between the private sale bike which was immaculate and the dealer one I've yet to see. If it's the dealer one then I may even have some VFR bars to sell at some point!

What a dilema .... but what a nice problem to have to choose. You'll definately be seeing more of me on here R#? :yo:

 

[Jaws]

Given the fact the average ( note average ! ) dealer seems to be completely incapable of doing ANY worthwhile work on a Bird, and given the fact that apart from a few odd foibles they more or less last for ever, You really can let your heart rule on this one rather than your head

What I am saying is there is absolutely no advantage buying from a dealer..

 

[ScottyUK]

What I am saying is there is absolutely no advantage buying from a dealer..

Thanks - that's good to hear .... as I'm probably gonna make a move on the silver/grey one this afternoon. :lick:

 

[ScottyUK]

p.s. I know this bike has R&G's and I know it was dropped (reversed into by a car). The damaged panels look superficial so the impact looks low and they've all been changed under insurance with new ones....and the nose cone

Do I need to be concerned about a cracked frame? Surely that would have been noticable on my test ride?

 

[Desperado]

Thanks - that's good to hear .... as I'm probably gonna make a move on the silver/grey one this afternoon. :lick:

That sounds like a good choice of colour, will make a change to the fixation a lot of people have on this site about the colour RED!!

Desperado

 

[ScottyUK]

I certainly don't want to attract attention on to silver/grey and off those getting the flack for choosing red !!

Offer made and accepted. Should collect on Saturday. :-0)

 

[stormer]

+1 more sensible SILVER bird rider...that may make some see red!!!!!!w;;v

 

[Jaws]

p.s. I know this bike has R&G's and I know it was dropped (reversed into by a car). The damaged panels look superficial so the impact looks low and they've all been changed under insurance with new ones....and the nose cone

Do I need to be concerned about a cracked frame? Surely that would have been noticable on my test ride?

Just one of the problems with that type of bung is that an off can damage the engine mounting point
In all honesty, however, in a nothing knock over like that I REALLY doubt any ooh nasties have taken place, plus, if the panels were replaced by an insurance approved place they would certainly have spotted an issue !