My reasons not to buy a Honda Blackbird!

[Bikernereid]

Well there are about 53 ish of them.....

It all started off with OWNER wanting to take this bike out for a ride...

We pooteled to the local Honda garage to take said bike out for a ride. It started off with the nice man taking OWNERS licence etc and then we proceeded to the bike. Yes it looks very nice and sparkly but wouldn't start!! Flat battery. Nice man from the garage gave a push start after it has been briefly charged and OWNER proceeded to stall it (very 'soft' clutch or something like that :lol:).

We took it out on the highway and yes it goes like the preverbeal but there is no sensation of speed and it is sooooo bloody quiet. It felt like riding in a windy car not on the back of a bike.

It was a pleasant and not too boring a ride through the windy roads to the cafe but when I got there I knew that I didn't like this bike at all and wanted to be back on our Fazer. I was hoping that on this bike I wouldn't be blown around but alas no and I also developed a very cold region and cold top of legs to boot.

Now for the main 53 reasons I wouldn't buy this bike. Being about 53 kilos I do not appreciate or enjoy having to push 224 kilos of bike and about 75 kilos of rider to get the bloody thing going!!

The ride back to the garage did nothing to give this bike a reprieve and nothing to warrant me parting with my hard cold cash to buy half of one.

[Gremlin]

Stock exhausts are heavy and quiet. A change to an akrapovic full system works, and drops a vast amount of weight, as the entire system weighs as much as one stock can (and the akrapovic is a single can, not the stock set up of two). Just watch the headers protruding from the fairing... not a good look when you put some scrape marks on them (especially when its your bosses bike)

Be aware that sometimes the blackbirds do have issues with the battery, or something related to it (one of the bb owners should be able to say more), but otherwise, it is a fantastic mile muncher, but not much fun around town.

Rode one for 8 odd days straight, some days involving more than 750km, and I gained quite a respect for them, and their strengths.

[Trudes]

Get owner to push it and all you have to is sit there and get ready to pull the clutch in once it starts, so that's 53 reasons solved.:)

[Toaster]

reading that makes me feel very fat at 96kgs.

[R6_kid]

reading that makes me feel very fat at 96kgs.

pfft, i'm 108kg, quit your moaning

[yod]

yep, mine has a 4-1 micron and it sounds fookin mint, i also have the factory system in the garage and sheeeit those stock cans are heavy!

carts me and the wife around very nicely

never had trouble starting it

[martybabe]

Nice to have an opinion from a back seat rider for a change, pillion accommodation is very important if yer gonna taxi someone around regularly.

I've read of battery probs before but it's a very good bike, mind you, I'd be a bit pissed if I had to push it.

8 and a bit stone eh, excellent weight for a pillion. :niceone:

[Blackbird]

'birds are at the sporting end of sports tourer (Cue Hitcher's comment: Fat Sprotsbike:whistle:) and Mrs B grizzled until I got a Rider brand seat fitted to help with the ergonomics.

The issue with pre-2003 'birds was the rec/reg and alternator stator but fitting later upgrades fixed that.

I think Bikern1mpho hit the nail on the head in that it's very quiet and you can hit indecent speeds without any real indication, other than constantly fixing your eyes on the speedo. However, when you hit 7000 rpm, you'd better hang on and know what you're doing and that wail from the airbox.... :2thumbsup. Ooooerrr...pass me the tissues:Oops:

[Morcs]

quite nieve to be put of buying a bike because it had a flat battery.

First two bikes I bought in NZ both had farked batteries (one suzi, one honda).
An intelligent person knows its an easy and cheap fix and by no means has any reflection on the bike itself.

[Jerry74]

Don't buy a honda... problem sorted lol

[Ixion]

I reckon, don't buy a bike with a battery. Never have seen the need for the damn things. Waste of money space and weight I reckon. Proper bikes don't have them .

[MVnut]

So what sort of bike you thinking of then?? Hopefully a Kawasaki:woohoo:

[owner]

Arrr cheeky bitch, Take her out for a ride on a fantastic bike and shes bad mouthing it all over the world!. And to the dealer.

I thought it was a bloody fantastic bike.It was like a big missile on wheels. So quiet and effortless and we did redline it thru 1-4 which had us traveling quite fast.
But the speil from the dealer about all bikes being completly checked over was a bit weak. The battery was fucked!
It was a 2005 and had fancy datatool alarm which I suspect had something to do with the flat battery.Awesome handling and a great HONDA to boot.

[Bikernereid]

Ok. So I don't belive in blowing smoke up a dealers arse, oh dear.

And I do not think that it is naive to judge a bike on its battery. If I go to buy a car or bike and have to push the bloody thing twice to get it going that is not a good sign. Why would I want to invest thousands of £/$ in a product which may have a recurring problem like this?

If I am going to go travelling on such a bike I do not want to have the potential of getting stranded in the arse end of nowhere cos the battery is fooked. It is one thing to be able to carry jump leads in the back of a car so you can jumped started (as I did for someone only last weekend) but it is another thing to be with a bike with a flat battery.

Another thing that annoyed me was the alarm beeping all the time whilst you are riding it.

At the end of the day money is hard come by and I would rather invest in a bike that I like, enjoy being on, is comfortable than one that just goes fast- when the battery is working.

[The Stranger]

Ok. So I don't belive in blowing smoke up a dealers arse, oh dear.

And I do not think that it is naive to judge a bike on its battery. If I go to buy a car or bike and have to push the bloody thing twice to get it going that is not a good sign. Why would I want to invest thousands of £/$ in a product which may have a recurring problem like this?

If I am going to go travelling on such a bike I do not want to have the potential of getting stranded in the arse end of nowhere cos the battery is fooked. It is one thing to be able to carry jump leads in the back of a car so you can jumped started (as I did for someone only last weekend) but it is another thing to be with a bike with a flat battery.

Another thing that annoyed me was the alarm beeping all the time whilst you are riding it.

At the end of the day money is hard come by and I would rather invest in a bike that I like, enjoy being on, is comfortable than one that just goes fast- when the battery is working.

Owner, get your woman under control will you.
IF she does need an opinion, for christs sake give it to her well in advance.

[yod]

And I do not think that it is naive to judge a bike on its battery.

any vehicle will have a focked battery if it's left sitting around without use for long enough

it's a relatively common occurence at vehicle dealers, i looked at an ST4 several months ago...woudlnt start due to a semi-old battery...still a sweet bike though

[Gremlin]

any vehicle will have a focked battery if it's left sitting around without use for long enough
Tell me about it... my 10's battery isn't holding charge overnight now.

First start each day has to be a bump one, getting better at doing it by myself :yes:

[Str8 Jacket]

I thought you rode nimpho? I wouldve made my man push while sat on the bike and started it. Just like I had to do at 6am this morning, on a Honda.... :whistle:

[Morcs]

If I am going to go travelling on such a bike I do not want to have the potential of getting stranded in the arse end of nowhere cos the battery is fooked. It is one thing to be able to carry jump leads in the back of a car so you can jumped started (as I did for someone only last weekend) but it is another thing to be with a bike with a flat battery.

it really isnt that hard to bump start.. so theres no getting stranded in the middle of nowhere...
Im 69kgs and can bump start my 210kg thou easily enough...


Simply put - its a honda, so the battery is the weaker link, not the bike :D

[zeocen]

I can't believe what I am reading! My bird was the epitome of pristine mechanical and electrical brilliance! I only traded down due to starting to work 7 days and could not warrant the bike that would mostly be used for commuting.

I loved every minute, nay! second! on the 'bird. When I get some freedom back, and a bird replacement hasn't come out I may well go back to one!

Sexy fat minxes that they are.

[yod]

I can't believe what I am reading! My bird was the epitome of pristine mechanical and electrical brilliance! I only traded down due to starting to work 7 days and could not warrant the bike that would mostly be used for commuting.

I loved every minute, nay! second! on the 'bird. When I get some freedom back, and a bird replacement hasn't come out I may well go back to one!

Sexy fat minxes that they are.

indeed...never a truer word spoken

am keen to see what honda bring out as a replacement...a blackbird/vfr V5 hybrid would be just the excuse for that 'necessary' upgrade

ssshhh....don't tell the wife

[xwhatsit]

I reckon, don't buy a bike with a battery. Never have seen the need for the damn things. Waste of money space and weight I reckon. Proper bikes don't have them .

Hooray!

If you must have a battery and electric starter, at least fit a kick-start as well to the machine so you can start it without pushing a 200kg+ lump around the car park. When did Honda start dropping the kickstarts off their fours? Silly. It's not like the gears and lever weigh very much.

[Bikernereid]

I thought you rode nimpho? I wouldve made my man push while sat on the bike and started it. Just like I had to do at 6am this morning, on a Honda.... :whistle:

We know who wears the trousers in my and OWNERS relationship and obviously as you can see it AINT me:weep:

Seems to be a bit of a HONDA theme going on here.

I can't afford to ride at the mo. We are a one bike, one cage couple.

[Scouse]

Battery doctor is the answer to all your troubles I have one conected to the s3 permenantly as the small light weight gell batterys dont hold that many amps

[AllanB]

Hmmm so wants your point???????

Rode a bike that you did not enjoy - so what?

There's dozens of bikes I would not purchase, this does not mean there is anything wrong with them, just not my "thing" or suitable for my requirements.

Or darn ugly :eek5:

As to the battery - shit half of the used bikes sitting in dealers are likely to have the same battery issue - and a 'quick charge' will not start a engine on the electric - it takes a fair bit to turn over a big-bore engine.

Most modern bikes are quiet - and the big mile eaters are usually such - there is little comfort in riding 4-7 hours with a rowdy pipe roaring in your ears, its just tires you out. If you like the bike and want more noise you can then use that as a deal maker.

If you find a bike you are interested in and planning on test riding in the weekend book in the ride with the dealer, tell them to ensure its charged up and tyre pressures are correct. I've been pissed off before on test rides with a bike running 20psi in the tyres and having to pump them up myself. If you turn up and it will not start, well that's a reason to complain about the shop.

The main thing you forgot to mention was - how did you bum look on the Blackbird? :2thumbsup:2thumbsup:2thumbsup:2thumbsup

[Bikernereid]

Hmmm so wants your point???????

Rode a bike that you did not enjoy - so what?

There's dozens of bikes I would not purchase, this does not mean there is anything wrong with them, just not my "thing" or suitable for my requirements.

Or darn ugly :eek5:

As to the battery - shit half of the used bikes sitting in dealers are likely to have the same battery issue - and a 'quick charge' will not start a engine on the electric - it takes a fair bit to turn over a big-bore engine.

Most modern bikes are quiet - and the big mile eaters are usually such - there is little comfort in riding 4-7 hours with a rowdy pipe roaring in your ears, its just tires you out. If you like the bike and want more noise you can then use that as a deal maker.

If you find a bike you are interested in and planning on test riding in the weekend book in the ride with the dealer, tell them to ensure its charged up and tyre pressures are correct. I've been pissed off before on test rides with a bike running 20psi in the tyres and having to pump them up myself. If you turn up and it will not start, well that's a reason to complain about the shop.

The main thing you forgot to mention was - how did you bum look on the Blackbird? :2thumbsup:2thumbsup:2thumbsup:2thumbsup

We did let the dealer know the day before that we were going in to take the bike out the next day!!

I would have thought that the battery should have been ok after we took it out and shouldn't have had to be push started before trying to get back to the garage. But I am not a mechanic.


I have done rides of nearly 1000k in a day and didn't mind the noise. I guess one mans meat is another mans poison. I just prefer the bike I am on to be like a bike and not a car. I have a car for that.

As for my butt it looks awesome on any and every bike :innocent:

[Swoop]

If I am going to go travelling on such a bike I do not want to have the potential of getting stranded in the arse end of nowhere cos the battery is fooked.
Where's the problem?
Owner has a backup starting system, located on the pillion seat...:dodge:

As stated by another. The stock pipes are disgustingly efficient and waaaaay too quiet - on all Honda bikes. Easily fixed though!

It sounds like a good situation. Nice quiet, pleasant, pillion riding position without any disturbance. Most pillions would be appreciative of this.


...a replacement...a blackbird/vfr V5 hybrid...
Can we use a different word to "hybrid" please?
I always think "prius" when that word is mentioned and the coupling of that word with bikes isn't good!

[yod]

Can we use a different word to "hybrid" please?
I always think "prius" when that word is mentioned and the coupling of that word with bikes isn't good!

"a subtle yet awe-inspiring blend of two of the finest machines known to man"

that do?

[NZsarge]

"a subtle yet awe-inspiring blend of two of the finest machines known to man"

that do?

:rolleyes: Good lord! :lol:
That's trowling it on a bit thick is'nt it?!

[Blackbird]

"a subtle yet awe-inspiring blend of two of the finest machines known to man"

that do?

Jonno is trying out for Blue Wing Honda's Marketing Manager:clap::clap:

[yod]

Jonno is trying out for Blue Wing Honda's Marketing Manager:clap::clap:

"sleek and refined, with the power of a stampeding rhino at its heart"

i can go on all day lol

[Marmoot]

Now for the main 53 reasons I wouldn't buy this bike. Being about 53 kilos I do not appreciate or enjoy having to push 224 kilos of bike and about 75 kilos of rider to get the bloody thing going!!

If you find Blackbird is too intimidating/heavy/large, I'd seriously recommend trying a Hayabusa.

It may sound counterintuitive, but believe me Hayabusa felt smaller, lighter, more nimble and easier to handle compared to Blackbird. I've tried both and settled on the Hayabusa before.

In fact, larger riders sometimes complained about Hayabusa's "lack of long distance ergonomics" since it has a relatively 'more compact' riding position and higher centre of gravity.

[Swoop]

"a subtle yet awe-inspiring blend of two of the finest machines known to man"
:rolleyes:
Why did I first read that as "a subtle yet yawn-inspiring blend of two of the finest machines known to man"???:scratch:

Jonno is trying out for Blue Wing Honda's Marketing Manager:clap::clap:
Well, let's hope they have some idea what is being released soon. The Honda marketing silence, is deafening.

[NZsarge]

"sleek and refined, with the power of a stampeding rhino at its heart"

i can go on all day lol

Umm.....please don't..:laugh:

[yod]

We did let the dealer know the day before that we were going in to take the bike out the next day!!

I would have thought that the battery should have been ok after we took it out and shouldn't have had to be push started before trying to get back to the garage. But I am not a mechanic.


crikey, that's pretty poor service on the dealer's part, if he knew someone was going to test ride and didn't check whether it would even start!!

and if it still wouldnt start after a bit of a ride, the battery must've been well-shagged!!

[Skinny_Birdman]

Simply put - its a honda, so the battery is the weaker link, not the bike :D

Unless of course it's one of a number of 90's Hondas (including pre '03 Blackbirds) with chocolate reg/rec's which fry at the drop of a hat (And yes, I realise that doesn't apply to the one under discussion). That said, I agree with all but the most hyperbolically positive comments being dished on said beastie. I've just sold mine :weep: after two happy years of acquaintance.

[kiwi cowboy]

As for my butt it looks awesome on any and every bike :innocent:[/QUOTE]

proof of said comment's must always be accompanied by pictures:devil2:
:wait::wait::wait::wait:

[Number One]

Now for the main 53 reasons I wouldn't buy this bike. Being about 53 kilos I do not appreciate or enjoy having to push 224 kilos of bike and about 75 kilos of rider to get the bloody thing going!! .

OMG what kind of biker chick are ya?!!! The golden rule is that the fatter person always pushes and the littler one always does the clutch slipping/throttle actions :rolleyes:

Oh yeah AND eat a couple of pies FFS :rofl: or is that being too insensitive to skinny people :lol:

BTW - couldn't be arsed reading all the responses...SURELY someone else has said the above already...well at least the first bit anyway :laugh:

[Bikernereid]

OMG what kind of biker chick are ya?!!! The golden rule is that the fatter person always pushes and the littler one always does the clutch slipping/throttle actions :rolleyes:

Oh yeah AND eat a couple of pies FFS :rofl: or is that being too insensitive to skinny people :lol:

BTW - couldn't be arsed reading all the responses...SURELY someone else has said the above already...well at least the first bit anyway :laugh:

I have been eating two cooked meals a day since Owner got here and THE BUTT HAS DEFINITELY GOT BIGGER!! And I ate a pie only yesterday afternoon!!

And I guess when it comes to OWNER I am old fashioned, the oldies have to give the young ones a helping hand on thier way!! Hence me pushing;)

[Bikernereid]

As for my butt it looks awesome on any and every bike :innocent:

proof of said comment's must always be accompanied by pictures:devil2:
:wait::wait::wait::wait:[/QUOTE]


Proof is out there you just have to know where to look!

[Bikernereid]

crikey, that's pretty poor service on the dealer's part, if he knew someone was going to test ride and didn't check whether it would even start!!

and if it still wouldnt start after a bit of a ride, the battery must've been well-shagged!!

Yep. Blowing bike sales hot air up your arse before taking the bike out is one thing but trying to do the same after the rider and pillion having to push start the thing three times is a bit lame by my standards at least.

I think that an apology and some honesty would have gone a lot further in convinving me of the merits of the bike than BS. IMHO

I must admit I am not a Honda fan and the whole experience just reiterated the fact that I do not like them.

[yod]

whoever they are, they sound like a right blowhard but dont judge the bike by the dealer, seriously

i've had three hondas, two were/are magnificent and the other was pretty bloody good considering it was 22 years old

[owner]

proof of said comment's must always be accompanied by pictures:devil2:
:wait::wait::wait::wait:


Proof is out there you just have to know where to look!

HA Not anymore, its not:clap:.It gets far to much attention as it is :dodge:

[HenryDorsetCase]

Another thing that annoyed me was the alarm beeping all the time whilst you are riding it.


Uh, that was the "you have exceeded 180kph you might want to watch your speed" audible warning system. The YHEOYMWTWYS was standard on them from the 2003 model on, I believe.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Seriously, if the bloody thing won't start and you had to push it, I wouldnt be buying it either. That would truly piss me off.

[Bikernereid]

Seriously, if the bloody thing won't start and you had to push it, I wouldnt be buying it either. That would truly piss me off.

Thanks nice to see someone else that appreciates bikes that actually start and don't require manual (pushing) assistance!!

[ital916]

Sorry to dredge, but can anyone from an owners point of view be able to do a little spool on the blackbird, i.e a bit of a ride report on how it is, pros and cons. I think they are magnificent bikes :love:...one of two of my dream bikes. *the other being a zzr1100 haha*. People think it crazy, wanting an 1100, as it will "kill you", but that all depends on the rider.

How do you reckon a zzr1100 would compare to the ol blackbird as they were around at roughly the same time intially. Any know major faults of the early blackbirds?

[PirateJafa]

People think it crazy, wanting an 1100, as it will "kill you", but that all depends on the rider.

My bad run of luck (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=60568)

Crashed! I hate my luck (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=61947)

The worst start to Motorcycling (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=62630)

For Fucks Sake! Fourth fucking bin! Give me a break! (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=63255)

Please mate, you're a nice guy, but wait a gooooood while until you feel you're ready to move to a litre. And then sit back and wait a bit longer.

I want to see you at plenty more Chillers yet to come.

[Kinje]

The not starting thing could be a regulator/rectifier issue. I had mine go on the CBR600 (06 model). Sometimes it would restart throughout the days riding but other times it wouldn't, and most times in the morning it needed a rolling start.

The cooked reg/rec also can mean the battery gets fried by overcharging. However, since getting them replaced (with aftermarket reg/rec NOT honda) its starting a treat.

[Blackbird]

People think it crazy, wanting an 1100, as it will "kill you", but that all depends on the rider.

How do you reckon a zzr1100 would compare to the ol blackbird as they were around at roughly the same time intially. Any know major faults of the early blackbirds?

Yep, the 'bird is very smooth in terms of power delivery but when you hit 7000 rpm, you'd better know what you're doing. They are also heavy mothers and if you're coming from a smaller bike, it can take you by surprise. As you rightly say, it depends on the rider but it builds power so smoothly, it can be deceptive. I did an advanced riding course soon after I bought mine 7 years ago and was pleased to have done so :laugh:

'97 & '98 'birds were carburetted and need a bit more maintenance than the fuel-injected ones. IMHO, go for an injected one. Pre-2003 'birds had a weakness with reg/recs and alternator stator but if they fry, it's not hideously expensive to upgrade. Cam chain tensioners need replacing at around 60000 km. Takes less than an hour to do and costs ~$100. Other than that, they're pretty much bullet-proof. Some owners in the UK have done over 200,000 miles with nothing other than routine servicing.

[ital916]

My bad run of luck (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=60568)

Crashed! I hate my luck (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=61947)

The worst start to Motorcycling (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=62630)

For Fucks Sake! Fourth fucking bin! Give me a break! (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=63255)

Please mate, you're a nice guy, but wait a gooooood while until you feel you're ready to move to a litre. And then sit back and wait a bit longer.

I want to see you at plenty more Chillers yet to come.
Jafa you twat *in the nicest way mate*..the reason I had a bad start to riding was I listened to too many other people and did what I though learners "had" to do, I tried too hard too early. Group riding too early, trying to emulate what I thought was cool. I'm not a nutter, and guess what, I figured that out myself. I don't want to get my knee down or ride the twisties like a nutter. I'll get whatever bike I bloody well please, with the only input from other being known problems and ride reports. My safety is my right wrist.

Now that I've said that jafa, your a fucking good mate and you will definately see me at more chillers, but I'm doing my own thing with motorcycling now, I enjoy riding with you guys more than ever but learning to solo it is fantastic. I'm standing on my own two motorcycling feet. Litre bikes won't kill you, being a dickhead rider on one and losing respect for it will.

In hindsight, I would never have posted those threads, once a reputation is gained on here it is never easily lost:buggerd:, I would give you green bling if I coulld jafa but it must be spread around. +1 though to you.

anyway I DIDNT SAY ANYTHING BOUT GETTING ONE, I JUST LUVS THEM THATS ALL. AS YOU WERE.

[ital916]

Yep, the 'bird is very smooth in terms of power delivery but when you hit 7000 rpm, you'd better know what you're doing. They are also heavy mothers and if you're coming from a smaller bike, it can take you by surprise. As you rightly say, it depends on the rider but it builds power so smoothly, it can be deceptive. I did an advanced riding course soon after I bought mine 7 years ago and was pleased to have done so :laugh:

'97 & '98 'birds were carburetted and need a bit more maintenance than the fuel-injected ones. IMHO, go for an injected one. Pre-2003 'birds had a weakness with reg/recs and alternator stator but if they fry, it's not hideously expensive to upgrade. Cam chain tensioners need replacing at around 60000 km. Takes less than an hour to do and costs ~$100. Other than that, they're pretty much bullet-proof. Some owners in the UK have done over 200,000 miles with nothing other than routine servicing.

Brilliant, I'll start wondering around and having a look for some. It will still be a while off but I want to start getting prepared. I've done two riding courses and am looking at a defensive driving one *for the formal reasons* and some more private tuition, specifically targeting when the bike does something unexpected i.e slides, and working handling a bit more. Again no guarantee I'll be getting one, probably just a wet dream for years to come haha.

I hear that they are heavy but once moving quite a lot of the weight disappears. I would prefer a bike i can sit "in", i don't quite like bikes that I'm perched on top off haha. Funnily enough I struggle to even reach the ground on a zx-6r. There is a vid on youtube of a blackbird owner winding her out on the autobahn....damn they fly....
:shit::love::laugh:

[zeocen]

ZZR1100 and CBR1100XX are completely different bikes.
The ZZR1100 will end you from the get go if you're not careful and I don't care how much restraint you have in your right wrist, if you're not prepared for a sudden twitch going around a corner you're going to end up having a bad time.

The CBR1100XX lures you in with a false sense of smooth delivery until 7,000rpm, as Blackbird said. You better know what you're doing and no amount of tuition and courses can compensate actual road time and hours put in on riding on the road on smaller bikes.

That aside, god they are lovely bikes.:love:

I had a 1992 ZZR1100, I hear they made them a little more timid after this year, the power was raw and real, it was smooth and was bullet proof. My old man had it from 60,000 up to about 90,000 and then bought a ZZR1200 and handing the reigns over to me, to which I had it tick over 110,000 with absolutely *NO* major work, just the regular services and that's it. It had so much more life in it, it was ridiculous. However, going around a corner and hitting unmarked road works, the back slides out from gravel and all of 240kg becomes VERY apparent and I am unable to control it - the bike is written off and I am hurting, bad.

I bought a ZZR600 after that which turned out to be a right lemon, poor thing had a hard life and was draining my wallet so I sold it and bought a 2004 CBR1100XX. This is hands down one of the best bikes ever made to date in my opinion, truely a dream bike and it was a dream to throw my leg over it every day, but you CAN still feel the weight, I'm afraid. You have to throw these beasts around corners. But I cannot fault either bike, they are just splendid to ride/tour on. The bird was slightly more comfortable than the ZZR, a lot had to do with the seat though, I had a Corbin seat on the ZZR which was very "sit in and stay", where as the 'bird I got a Rider seat and allowed much more room to move and was much more comfortable. Although I would say, lock to lock I think the ZZR had more of a tighter turn radius than the bird. I couldn't say which one I would get again, it would probably be the 'bird but my love for Kawasaki may sway me to the ZZR1200 if I ever go back to litre bikes. The ZZR1200's handling surpasses both of those bikes.

Unfortunately as stated in this thread I got more hours on work and no time to tour the 'bird was only used for commuting so it was guzzlin' mah gas and sadly, it had to go :( I decided to move down and do what I always said I was going to do, and that is work my way up the ladder, I don't see the point in skipping corners in a 'life hobby', I have all the time in the world to step back up to litre bikes HOWEVER, I am having so much fun on my ER6F, that, in this point in time, I just plain don't see myself ever going back to a litre bike because I am having so much fun touring/commuting/riding on this 'real world' bike!

Just some food for thought mate.

[skidMark]

quite nieve to be put of buying a bike because it had a flat battery.

First two bikes I bought in NZ both had farked batteries (one suzi, one honda).
An intelligent person knows its an easy and cheap fix and by no means has any reflection on the bike itself.


**but a good way to knock a couple hundy off ze price** ;)

[ital916]

ZZR1100 and CBR1100XX are completely different bikes.
The ZZR1100 will end you from the get go if you're not careful and I don't care how much restraint you have in your right wrist, if you're not prepared for a sudden twitch going around a corner you're going to end up having a bad time.

The CBR1100XX lures you in with a false sense of smooth delivery until 7,000rpm, as Blackbird said. You better know what you're doing and no amount of tuition and courses can compensate actual road time and hours put in on riding on the road on smaller bikes.

That aside, god they are lovely bikes.:love:

I had a 1992 ZZR1100, I hear they made them a little more timid after this year, the power was raw and real, it was smooth and was bullet proof. My old man had it from 60,000 up to about 90,000 and then bought a ZZR1200 and handing the reigns over to me, to which I had it tick over 110,000 with absolutely *NO* major work, just the regular services and that's it. It had so much more life in it, it was ridiculous. However, going around a corner and hitting unmarked road works, the back slides out from gravel and all of 240kg becomes VERY apparent and I am unable to control it - the bike is written off and I am hurting, bad.

I bought a ZZR600 after that which turned out to be a right lemon, poor thing had a hard life and was draining my wallet so I sold it and bought a 2004 CBR1100XX. This is hands down one of the best bikes ever made to date in my opinion, truely a dream bike and it was a dream to throw my leg over it every day, but you CAN still feel the weight, I'm afraid. You have to throw these beasts around corners. But I cannot fault either bike, they are just splendid to ride/tour on. The bird was slightly more comfortable than the ZZR, a lot had to do with the seat though, I had a Corbin seat on the ZZR which was very "sit in and stay", where as the 'bird I got a Rider seat and allowed much more room to move and was much more comfortable. Although I would say, lock to lock I think the ZZR had more of a tighter turn radius than the bird. I couldn't say which one I would get again, it would probably be the 'bird but my love for Kawasaki may sway me to the ZZR1200 if I ever go back to litre bikes. The ZZR1200's handling surpasses both of those bikes.

Unfortunately as stated in this thread I got more hours on work and no time to tour the 'bird was only used for commuting so it was guzzlin' mah gas and sadly, it had to go :( I decided to move down and do what I always said I was going to do, and that is work my way up the ladder, I don't see the point in skipping corners in a 'life hobby', I have all the time in the world to step back up to litre bikes HOWEVER, I am having so much fun on my ER6F, that, in this point in time, I just plain don't see myself ever going back to a litre bike because I am having so much fun touring/commuting/riding on this 'real world' bike!

Just some food for thought mate.

Hey zeo...thanks for the input, twas a good read. How does your 6f handle with all three bags on it (i.e panniers and box), looks like a beast of a touring machine, I've never seen one in touring kit before.

Yeah, I know, bad idea to jump big, or it could be THE BEST THING EVER :laugh:. I asked bout the zzr1000 because that was the first bike I ever really saw, that and a kwaka ninja, old school. Both those bikes made me like bikes haha.

[zeocen]

Handles like a dream mate, I have faux clipons so I'm slightly more forward and feels like a real sports tour (midi ZZR almost). I use the top box 90% of my rides and panniers about 20% of my rides, top box I don't notice any diffence, the ER6's centre of gravity is to thank for that I'm guessing, with panniers you can notice the weight (if full to the brim) but I don't notice any less power. It basically does everything my big sport tours did, with money to spare on petrol! :P

[gunrunner]

Well there are about 53 ish of them.....

It all started off with OWNER wanting to take this bike out for a ride...

We pooteled to the local Honda garage to take said bike out for a ride. It started off with the nice man taking OWNERS licence etc and then we proceeded to the bike. Yes it looks very nice and sparkly but wouldn't start!! Flat battery. Nice man from the garage gave a push start after it has been briefly charged and OWNER proceeded to stall it (very 'soft' clutch or something like that :lol:).

We took it out on the highway and yes it goes like the preverbeal but there is no sensation of speed and it is sooooo bloody quiet. It felt like riding in a windy car not on the back of a bike.

It was a pleasant and not too boring a ride through the windy roads to the cafe but when I got there I knew that I didn't like this bike at all and wanted to be back on our Fazer. I was hoping that on this bike I wouldn't be blown around but alas no and I also developed a very cold region and cold top of legs to boot.

Now for the main 53 reasons I wouldn't buy this bike. Being about 53 kilos I do not appreciate or enjoy having to push 224 kilos of bike and about 75 kilos of rider to get the bloody thing going!!

The ride back to the garage did nothing to give this bike a reprieve and nothing to warrant me parting with my hard cold cash to buy half of one.

And you are complaining about 224kgs ?:doh: