What next?

[Ryan381]

I'm looking at getting a sport touring bike. Been riding for 3 years averaging about 7,000miles a year. I currently ride a cruiser and I'm kinda tired of the little cornering clearance that it gives. I had a GS500 before that, it was a hoot.

Anyway on topic I'm looking at getting a sport touring type of bike. I'm interested in the CBR1100XX blackbird, what I'm afraid of is it will be to much bike, just from what people say anyway. The reason I like it is, it a very nice looking bike to me, has a good sized gas tank and everyone says it comfy for a sport bike and very stable at highway speeds. I've also ready it has good power in just about every RPM so there is no need to rev it high, so it smoother and no buzzy.

Any suggestions, anyone rode one? what did ya think?

[Scratch33]

I'd recommend a 1st generation Yamaha FZ1.  There's one for sale in Maryland on here, so I've heard.  

[Justin]

Anyway on topic I'm looking at getting a sport touring type of bike. I'm interested in the CBR1100XX blackbird, what I'm afraid of is it will be to much bike, just from what people say anyway. The reason I like it is, it a very nice looking bike to me, has a good sized gas tank and everyone says it comfy for a sport bike and very stable at highway speeds. I've also ready it has good power in just about every RPM so there is no need to rev it high, so it smoother and no buzzy.

Any suggestions, anyone rode one? what did ya think?

I had a CBR1100xx prior to my current Busa, and everything you mentioned about it is true. It was very comfy with a handful of mods (heli-bars, new seat, higher screen etc). It is great at highway speeds, super stable, and the wind protection is just right, kinda houses you in a nice pocket of protection.

As far as too much power? Nah, the XX is pretty sedate until you get the RPM's up. The power is better described as a top end rush - it is not a torque monster by any means, and the power it has is very controllable. So yeah, super smooth and comfy long range sport tourer, with an emphasis on sport. I give two thumbs up, easily one of my favorite bikes I've ever owned. I miss mine, we had a lot of happy miles together.

[DaisyCutter]

"Power" is regulated by your mind and wrist.


My first ever desert race was on a new 2001 CR500R.

I graduated to a KX250.


My worst ever wreck was when I was a kid, on a CR125, which I bought after selling my YZ490.




My very first streetbike was a 2002 ZRX1200R.

Later I tried KLR650.

Then a Triumph Sprint 1050.




I'm 6'01" and 180lbs, so I'm big enough to fit most bikes.  The Blackbird might be a bit much to handle on foot for a new rider if your like 5'07".



Be smart with your wrist, pick your places carefully.

[Ryan381]

I'm 5'9.5" the XX will be a taller seat than I have now, but it is almost 100lbs lighter than what I have.

[scottzilla]

I had a CBR1100xx prior to my current Busa, and everything you mentioned about it is true. It was very comfy with a handful of mods (heli-bars, new seat, higher screen etc). It is great at highway speeds, super stable, and the wind protection is just right, kinda houses you in a nice pocket of protection.

As far as too much power? Nah, the XX is pretty sedate until you get the RPM's up. The power is better described as a top end rush - it is not a torque monster by any means, and the power it has is very controllable. So yeah, super smooth and comfy long range sport tourer, with an emphasis on sport. I give two thumbs up, easily one of my favorite bikes I've ever owned. I miss mine, we had a lot of happy miles together.

Plus one on all this. The xx is a pussy cat if you ride it as such.
I say follow your heart.

[Rogue]

If you are coming from a cruiser, the CBR1100XX will feel like a rack.  Same with the Hayabusa, ZZR1400, and bikes in this genre.  It will take you a while to develop the muscles and stamina to ride those bikes.  Ride one first before you decide.  Bikes like the Bandit 1200/1250 or the FZ1 would probably feel much more comfortable.

Nevertheless, was considered one of the best ST bikes out there before all these dedicated ST bikes came along.  

[Need For Speed]

As far as too much power? Nah, the XX is pretty sedate until you get the RPM's up. The power is better described as a top end rush - it is not a torque monster by any means, and the power it has is very controllable. So yeah, super smooth and comfy long range sport tourer, with an emphasis on sport. I give two thumbs up, easily one of my favorite bikes I've ever owned. I miss mine, we had a lot of happy miles together.

What he said  

Favorite bike I have ever owned. Don't plan to part with it anytime soon either............

[banderso]

VFR, any 6th gen will do all you want.

[Slartibartfast]

All those guys above are talking straight. I love mine, it does everything - tours with my wife on her Silverwing, tears it up with my buddy's Duc, eats miles like candy, and spanks the occasional snot-nosed 600 rider with equal aplomb. The hard bags seem to add insult to injury with regards to that latter, all part of the charm. It's also the smoothest-engined bike I have ever ridden.

If there's a downside, it's the ease with which it exceeds all posted limits without giving the impression of doing so.

[Squijummonkey]

I had a CBR1100xx prior to my current Busa, and everything you mentioned about it is true. It was very comfy with a handful of mods (heli-bars, new seat, higher screen etc). It is great at highway speeds, super stable, and the wind protection is just right, kinda houses you in a nice pocket of protection.

As far as too much power? Nah, the XX is pretty sedate until you get the RPM's up. The power is better described as a top end rush - it is not a torque monster by any means, and the power it has is very controllable. So yeah, super smooth and comfy long range sport tourer, with an emphasis on sport. I give two thumbs up, easily one of my favorite bikes I've ever owned. I miss mine, we had a lot of happy miles together.

+1 I currently ride a Blackbird, am 5'2" on a good day and in no way is this bike too much. I went from riding a ninja 500 for 2 riding seasons to the 1100, going on another 2 seasons; if you don't play dumb, you'll stay alive, but it's that way with any bike, 250 or 1400. If people are saying the bird has too much power, they have no right to be on a supersport bike in the first place, imo. If you're looking at the bird, go find one, sit on it, and I promise you'll fall in love with it. It has power, but a power that will grow on you. It won't surprise you and scare the living crap out of you, but after you've become comfortable with riding it, it will continue to give you more as you demand it. And best of all, it's great for touring!

[Krellian]

I'm interested in the CBR1100XX blackbird, what I'm afraid of is it will be to much bike, just from what people say anyway.
Any suggestions, anyone rode one? what did ya think?

it's a girls bike



seriously, throw a leg over one and you won't regret it
11 thousand miles 0 maintenance except tires, oil, ect.
good luck in finding one, blackbird owners don't sell them!

and when the "girl" gets ornery and gets "sporty"
she makes the zx-14 growl to keep up!



a word of advice,
Never, Never Ever, "snap" the throttle of a (supersport hyperbike) class bike
 

[OrangeSVS]

I'm a Blackbird owner from a different perspective I guess.

In motorcycle terms, I grew up "combat commuting", nearly tossing my bike down at intersections when cagers suddenly slammed on their brakes, weaving between cages when it suited me.

The Blackbird sucks balls at this kind of riding. It's a lousy supersport, a lousy commuter, and it sucks in parking lots.

HOWEVER, it's a great go-fast cruiser. If you want a cruiser with dramatically superior speed and handing, it can't be beat. The XX begs to be ridden on open roads and unrestricted freeways. It's in its element from 30mph up to 170mph and nothing feels better cruising in that range.

I don't mean to suggest the BB isn't sporty. It's plenty sporty for your typical jaunts on the road and handles just fine. It's a sportbike through and through, no question about it. But it's not a low speed dream machine and, in fact, its linked brakes kinda get in the way at low speed maneuvers. With the BB you pay a price for high speed brilliance, too high a price, IMHO.... but as a budget ST machine, it's a trade off that's easy to accept.

I can easily envision a plethora of better bikes for me.... but the BB holds a great niche that makes it perfect for a certain type of rider and a certain type of ride. If it suits you, there's no reason to hesitate. It's a freakin steal. And even if it's not perfect, it's still a damned admirable machine, no matter how you ride.    

Just earlier today, an old lady (like over 70) came up to me in a parking lots with a smile on her face and asked me about the bike. I had Corbin Beetlebags on and she said. "do you ride that thing long distances? It must be delightful!" Sure, 70 year old ladies isn't the demographic either of us want to appeal to, but I suspect she had no real clue about riding... it was just a friendly observation about what the bike looks like it can do. With a pair of side cases, it looks the bidness. It's a high-speed miles-eating monster. It looks it. It is it. 15 years later, a stranger looks at a Blackbird and they instinctively know what it is... and it's all that and a bag of chips. Not the perfect do-everything bike, but one aimed at a very specific purpose... and that does it in a very sinister and wicked way. Nobody's mistaking it for a Goldwing though, that's for sure!

[falconati]

Re: snapping the throttle on a supersport bike - that's the fun part!  You just don't want to do it while leaned over.

[wibornz]

The blackbird is an awesome bike and almost maintenance free.  Buy one and enjoy even if it is a girls bike.