My New Bike

**Blackbird** · 9th February 2015, 12:09

Originally Posted by TheDemonLord

What the Hell?
Actually - it does look quite nice, I would prefer it with a Fairing though

With a fairing, it's called a Blackbird (well, with a few differences)

. The X11 is far more comfortable on the wrists on a long haul though.

**TheDemonLord** · 9th February 2015, 12:58

Originally Posted by Blackbird

With a fairing, it's called a Blackbird (well, with a few differences)

. The X11 is far more comfortable on the wrists on a long haul though.

Thats what I meant - some of those few difference (as in Wrist comfort, De-tuned motor) would be nice on a faired version - as in a sport tourer

**Blackbird** · 9th February 2015, 13:29

Originally Posted by TheDemonLord

Thats what I meant - some of those few difference (as in Wrist comfort, De-tuned motor) would be nice on a faired version - as in a sport tourer

Couldn't agree more..... and it would have been at least a decade ahead of that God-awful VFR 1200 which replaced the Blackbird and flopped world-wide. However, MIXONE has got himself one heck of a tourer which is capable of around 250 + km/hr! The engines are totally bullet proof too.

**ducatilover** · 9th February 2015, 15:13

I've always loved the skanky blackbird. Looks so much cooler with its skirt off

Bloody good score

**James Deuce** · 9th February 2015, 16:04

Originally Posted by Blackbird

Couldn't agree more..... and it would have been at least a decade ahead of that God-awful VFR 1200 which replaced the Blackbird and flopped world-wide. However, MIXONE has got himself one heck of a tourer which is capable of around 250 + km/hr! The engines are totally bullet proof too.

I started to get excited about the VFR1200 recently because I'm about to buy a new bike and was looking forward to the idea of not having to maintain a chain cos I'm old. I have a mate at work who has one.

Asked if I could have a look and a sit.

He loves it.

All I could think was how worn it looked at 38,000kms. Most Hondas look new at 38,000kms. The stupid plastic insert on the tank was scratched to buggery. The paint on the tank was worn where his knees touch it. The centre stand is VERY poorly designed. The right foot of the stand is about the size of my thumb. This example had a bit of a scratch on the fairing because the centre stand had sunk into the road in a park and the bike had fallen over. The VFR1200 is quite un-Honda. Poorly finished, badly thought out detail and some Buck Rogers styling and lighting combined with a Blackbird riding position mean it's not the Sports Tourer I'm looking for.

**Blackbird** · 9th February 2015, 16:13

Originally Posted by James Deuce

I started to get excited about the VFR1200 recently because I'm about to buy a new bike and was looking forward to the idea of not having to maintain a chain cos I'm old. I have a mate at work who has one.

Hi Jim,

Does your mate have the version with the semi-automatic transmission? I think only a handful were ever imported into NZ. We've just had an IAM membership enquiry from someone with one who lives out your way. One of our Auckland members had one and whilst he loved the smoothness, the killer for him was range. As always though, beauty is in the eye of the beholder