Using blackbird for touring

[MiddleAgedBiker]

Hi everyone,
I'm a new member, and I'm thinking of buying a blackbird. I tried a used 02 model yesterday and discovered the following:

1) I wasn't wearing any gloves, and when I went for a test ride, I could feel a very strong buzzing on the handlebars at around 3-3.5k rpm. Is this normal? Is there a fix for this?

2) I'm about 1.78m, and when I rode the bike, I could feel a lot of my weight was resting on my palms. I do not think that I would be able to go for long distance trips like this, is there a fix for this, so that I can ride in a more upright position?

3) The little windscreen did not protect my helmet from windblast, I do not think it will be possible to go at speed comfortably this way. Again, will a taller shield solve this problem?

Pls let me know if there are know issues or problems with particular models of blackbirds, or with blackbirds in general. I heard of rectifiers or coils going bad regularly when travelling over long distances in warm weather, but I do not know if it is due to misuse or its a design/engineering problem.

Thank you very much!

 

[parttimepilot]

Welcome to the madhouse mate.

The first thing to check with the vibes is the Cam chain tensioner. Aparrently one of the few weak points on a 'Bird. Cheap to fix. About ?50 for an upgraded one.

Next check it's got Blackbird specific tyres on it, with correct pressures and balanced properly.

There have been a few reports of vibes on Birds, There was a long running thread on the subject on this site. Try running a search..

Bar riser kits and taller screens are available too.

Jaws is your man for detailed info and supplies worldwide:bow:

Give him a ring and/ or click on the BIRD XX Icon on the top of any page to go to his online shop..

Hope this helps

 

[parttimepilot]

Also.. try posting this on the Help forum.

You'll get more of a response on there.

Neil.

 

[Duck n Dive]

Hi and welcome to the madhouse w4lc0m3


I have a 2003 registered XX2 bird.

I thought that by the XX2 model the cam chain probs had been resolved - I've not had any (yet)......

Same for the other problems... they all seem to have been pre XX2.

Suspect the tingling might just be 'cause no gloves, I don't notice anything - but then I'm always wearing gloves....

Riding position - I found it a bit like you describe at first but it didn't take long for my body to "adjust". I've now done around 25,000 miles including some long days in the saddle.

Once you get "comfy" on the bike you should find that you're not really putting any/very little weight through your'e wrists anyway.

You can get bar risers and different seats to improve things if you want - plenty on here and in the links page about both.

There are also plenty of easy fit aftermarket screens you can fit and agian lots of comments on here about the different types. Most folks at least seem to use a "double bubble".

Hope that helps - I'm sure lots more folks will give advice once they read...

 

[richard]

Hi welcome to the asylum m8y ive got an 02 and she is as sweet as a nut and most of my milage is done in europe.

Best upgrades

1, Olins front and back

2,Bar risers


All the best

R

 

[Rods]

i found it took me a thousand miles or so before i found the bird comfy. i came from a bmw, so, as you seem to have done, found the weight on my wrists less than comfortable. however, i now love the riding position. i have done 3500miles in 9 days without any aches or pains whatsoever (and i'm 188). you could of course get bar risers.

it might be worthwhile testing the bike with gloves on - blackbirds are generally well known for being supersmooth - though some bikes do seem to have issues.

my bird has a double bubble screen which is ok - though i would like to try one with an original screen.

as regards the topic of this thread - it is what the bird was designed to do, and most of us on here seem to think it is a decent bit of kit for covering long distances on.

hope this helps.

 

[Greb]

I beg to differ,i don't think the bird is designed for touring,its designed to go FAST,fast is'nt touring,Pan-euro is touring,Most bm's touring,fjr and so on.The bird is all about get me there quick,that's not what touring is about.

 

[Greb]

I hear what your saying,but,in general a more upright position is suited for long distance touring,but am feeling more comfy on mine,as i'm getting use to it,it'll be good to have the best of both worlds.And of course, the bird is far sexier than any of the modern crop of tourers!!

 

[RHINO]

I had a 2001 '51' plate and for touring i couldn't fault it at all.

I'm 6'2", 19 stone and found it extremely comfy for me, much of my distance was 2 up and there were few moans from the back, mainly about stopping for a cig .

If i were to buy a bike today for doing 2 up touring it would be another BIRD g0551p

 

[Duck n Dive]

I call touring going where I want at whatever speed I want and enjoying it....

eg. UK/Paris/UK day trip to spend 6 hours at the Paris bike show.... no probs and great fun, stayed comfy and enjoyed it!!

I choose to have a givi wingrack and bits to hang off the side as I also class touring as heading off on camping trips with tent etc. (or sometimes I have to get the shopping on the way home from work - thats NOT touring).

The bird does all these things with/without the metal work on it ('cause sometimes I leave it off altogether - only takes 10 mins) and is fun.

We makes our choices......... mine's not to sit upright behind a vertical window looking for the wiper switch and wondering where I left the slippers!

Of course I could always get an imaginary BBird and keep that one without that scaffolding on it and perhaps hang some fluffy dice and a magic tree from it instead..................

 

[brisxx]

I've been riding now for 35 years and bought a Blackbird new in September 2003. I purchased it specifically for 2 up touring and have ridden many long days in the saddle. My most recent trip was 4 days touring down into New South Wales and back to Brisbane in Queensland with minimum 450 kilometres per day.
The Blackbird performed flawlessly with 2 up and luggage and it didn't seem to even notice the additional weight.
At the end of each day the only "issue" I had was a little saddle soreness as the Blackbird stock seat is a tad firm, both for rider and pillion.
The buzziness in the handlebars was there as it is in any in-line four but extremely faint and certainly unobtrusive.
I agree the seating position is a little forward, but isn't this the essence of sport touring? Compared to my old ZXR750 Kawasaki, the Blackbird feels like a Beemer.
I found the Blackbird is comfortable and predictable at Hyper speed on tour or is equally happy and lazy if your just wish to cruise and enjoy the sights and sounds and smells that exist only for motorcyclists.
I say, stick with the 'Bird and you will not be disappointed.

 

[Wolfie]

is touring going 300miles in 3hrs 15 mins, or it is going 115 miles in 55mins, or is it going 62 miles in 3 feckin hrs???


or is it as i happen to think it is a state of mind.

 

[Greb]

What a load of bollox....proper touring is about exploring towns,cities,local culture,historical happenings etc..taking your time,wat's so great about going direct to somewhere 1000 miles away,you might as well take the fukin planeh1d1ng2

 

[Wolfie]

What a load of bollox....proper touring is about exploring towns,cities,local culture,historical happenings etc..taking your time,wat's so great about going direct to somewhere 1000 miles away,you might as well take the fukin planeh1d1ng2

motorcyclist :neenaw: :neenaw: :neenaw:

 

[Greb]

Thas why i don't do itman8um

 

[Duck n Dive]

Touring - or as I prefer to call it "riding a bike" is whatever you want it to be.

One day it's going somewhere for a purpose, annother it's wandering around. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow........

See Wolfie, you're right - it's a state of mind........










































and on here are some minds in a right state d04l1ng

 

[Gerrard]

Touring.

To me it matters less what I ride.....If I wanted to go touring I would ride any (sensible) bike really as the will to tour is greater than being too precious about which bike I ride. My biggest headache is having versatile luggage which adapts from bike to bike (and with cunning mods for some bikes I have found Oxford sports the best), as for mileage I would always go for the highest mileage per day, weather permitting. If I had 800 miles to do I would rather do it in one hit in fine weather than doing 400 one day and 400 the next in rain.
Zippo

 

[D.S.]

No longer a Bargeist but

Oxford Sports for me too, although I also use a Bagster Whoppa bag with the base that fits under the seat. You then zip the Bag to the base; works well too.
FWIW, my deifinition of touring is more about how you get there than the getting there. I never get uncomfortable as I choose I route than ensures plenty of movement is required on the bike, thus no arse ache, wrist ache, etc. 550 miles on a Gixer 750 K5 in a few hours; plush as ya like.