Old bird scrubbed up OK !

[laupd]

Spent a few hours cleaning the bird up now. Was covered in crap having been stood for a good few years.

I've decided she is going to stay laid up for the winter, roads round here are covered in leaves and crap, so not best intro to a new bike after long break. Took i round the block a few times and rides fine (read : wow !), so not worried.

I think the old girl has scrubbed up pretty well. So much so, my 13 year old daughter (who's definitely more Prada than Poundshop wanted to have her piccie taken on it !

Its standard other than a black rear hugger, Micron Cans (sound awesome) and a tank pad. Pro Respray last year after some muppet scraped a coin down the fairing and over the tank. The new stickers were added by the refinishers who've done a really pucker job...

I think they look good, what do you think ?

http://picasaweb.google.com/davisp.uk/Blackbird?authkey=Gv1sRgCJOG1KXClvHKvAE#

 

[Rick448]

Looks very good to me. Hope you enjoy it. When the weather is better if you fancy a ride out let me know!

 

[laupd]

Thanks Rick we'll get something sorted after the snow season !

Ps. Your old cans have scrubbed up great ta.

 

[TANK0700]

great looking bird @tu* well done

 

[Punchy]

great looking bird @tu* well done

The bike isnt bad either.

@tu*

Roy
TPOC
.

 

[gypsy]

The bike isnt bad either.

@tu*

Roy
TPOC
.

Gary Glitter alive and well and living in Anglesey

 

[Wolfie]

Was covered in crap having been stood for a good few years.

Pro Respray last year after some muppet scraped a coin down the fairing and over the tank. The new stickers were added by the refinishers who've done a really pucker job...

I think they look good, what do you think ?

confused i am.

it has sat there gathering crap for a good few years, yet most of it had a respray last year??

IMHO i think the stickers look shit, but i aint a sticker person.

 

[Cant Find A User Name]

Looks very good to me. Hope you enjoy it. When the weather is better if your daughter fancies a ride out let me know!

...........................h1d1ng2

 

[laupd]

Thanks for the comments chaps,

Daughter is firmly under lock and key thanks, hands off ! Anyway she's a declared lover of fast red cars, not greasy bikers.

The respray was done by the last owner. It stood in his garage virtually unused whilst he had it, but was damaged (vandalised) when he got it but previous owner hadn't sorted it. See the piccied he had of the damage and some would have just left it with a bit of touchup keeping the rust off.

Stickers : Its a personal thing I agree, but they work for me so... there staying. Besides, they've been professionally lacquered on so not an easy removal !

 

[karlos2000]

errrmmm, was there a bike in those pics? didn't notice :-0)

 

[Tinytim]

errrmmm, was there a bike in those pics? didn't notice :-0)

I know..I had a look at "the bike" again tonight. That is no 13 year old lass surely? She's absolutely stunning mate. @tu* Bet you're a very proud Dad...and also a very worried Dad. I am in the same position....:bang:

 

[silverfox.xx]

I've been trying all bleedin night, scrubbed and scrubbed till my fingers bleed and my ol'missus don't come up looking like your ol'gal.. should I use more muckoff.

 

[andyBeaker]

I know..I had a look at "the bike" again tonight. That is no 13 year old lass surely? She's absolutely stunning mate. @tu* Bet you're a very proud Dad...and also a very worried Dad. I am in the same position....:bang:

+1 your daughter is an absolute stunner and will be breaking a few hearts in years to come!!

Bike looks good too!

 

[jetski-willy]

Nice Job Paul ,and in the Best Colour as well

 

[Birdy_Blue]

Am sure dems is Hyabusa stripes. Great bird though. p0pc0rn41

 

[Centaur]

Bike is stunning.

Daughter is even more stunning!

She must take after her Mum!:-0)

 

[laupd]

Back on the road...

Ok, I took all of your advice before getting back on the road.

Tyres to 42 psi
Serviced (usual stuff) and checked out etc. All 'A' ok.

Then its on the road.

Thought it best to employ a simple rule... Dont go over 5 thousand revs until I am accustomed to the blackbird experience.

First day out was Friday.

Went to York, nice and steady. You've got to remember, although I've ridden a few bikes in the meantime (mainly trackdays and a few willing friends) its been nearly 10 years since I've owned and ridden seriously. Bit of a daunting experience if I'm honest.

Set off very steadily and basically followed the traffic. Bike felt heavy and quite docile in truth.

I saw 2 blackbirds enroute a silver one on I suspect going to the coast 2 up at Market Weighton and a red one on the York Ring road. Anyone on here ?

The York ring road was my first real open road experience... 4k in second, 5k in third and then 9k in forth..... the grin is still on my face and I moved into a strange place of understanding the power of the bird. Wow.

Took a steady tootle back to home with a few adventures but it was safe to say I was complete addicted !

My current view of the bird :

- Power is beyond question, to be treat with utmost respect
- Acceleration is annihilating... but to be used frugally
- Twisties are easily done once you've recalibrated for the weight of the bird
- Low speed handling takes some getting used to

One think I've noticed... As I think others have said, the bird does have a strange attraction to other road goers and pedestrians alike. People look on regularly as I've gone past with some kind of questioning respect. 'What is it ?' I was asked when I stopped in York !

Overall... a massive thumbs up from me. Havent felt so alive for years and really glad to be back in the saddle. This year the 5k rule will be my mantra, until I'm comfortable, but what a great way to live.

Paul.

 

[Rick448]

Glad you've got out on it mate. You'll soon be red lining it in every gear!!

 

[laupd]

Thanks Rick, hope you enjoyed Rome, its our favourite city !

Fourth day out today.... still holding to the 5k rev's rule most of the time, its working really well and make's the bird really easy company. Cant praise it enough for its smoothness. From a few thousand rev's to the point where I'm not looking at the rev's anymore.

I've had to adjust the gear lever up slightly to make the change more definite, other than that a perfect out of the box, finding it really comfortable (max in the saddle to date 2 hrs).

Speeding up slightly, but planning to stay within my capability for a good while and build up gradually.

 

[I Like BlackBirds]

I'm really liking the stickers. Did you get them made up or did the finishers do the whole job for you? My opinion might not be valid BTW as I have rim tape on my Bird which apparently is some sort of sacriledge!