Blackbird XX

[futfalc]

Anyone ever own one?
I just bought a clean low mileage 1999 FI Honda blackbird.I've only had a short spin home from the sellers house about 10 miles.

Yesterday I threw on a plate from another bike after checking the air in the tires.(20 psi front and back)

Over the winter the air got low so that was the reason for my less than enthusiastic 10 mile ride home.
With proper tire pressure it was a blast!I did a 50 mile ride and the bike handles great and is very fast.Today I was going to the DMV to make things legal but life got in the way.There's always Monday.
So have you owned one and what were your thoughts on the bike?Seems to be as thirsty as an RSV4.

[Micah / AF1 Racing]

It should get about 40 mpg in touring type riding or commuting as long as traffic is light. Does it have an ancient dynojet PC2 on it?

[nickc2s]

I have owned an '03 since new, great 2-up machine. Ohlins adjustable on the rear, VFR bars to raise an inch, Buell peg mounts to lower footpegs an inch and it is comfortable. Smooth as an electric motor, it is thirsty, about 33mpg. At 550 lbs it is too heavy to flick around and the stock suspension is adequate if that. Linked brakes are dangerous at slow speeds, the XX is a superb sport-tourer.
They are extremely reliable, 100,000 miles is not unusual for these. Stotz drag bike got to 500 horsepower before changing the stock lower end of the motor

[nickc2s]

Does it have an ancient dynojet PC2 on it?

Yes

[Micah / AF1 Racing]

Proper dyno tuning and appropriate gearing (tall with that much torque) can get much better than stock fuel economy. Those are fun bikes and so friggin stable!

[futfalc]

It should get about 40 mpg in touring type riding or commuting as long as traffic is light. Does it have an ancient dynojet PC2 on it?

Mine is completely stock but it may be a gauge deal where it goes down quickly at first and then sits.I just know I left with a full tank and went almost nowhere and it was just below 3/4.It does feel like a stable fun bike.I always wanted one and a guy threw his on Craigslist for short money and when I talked with him and he told me where he lived(nice area) I went right over with cash.

[futfalc]

I have owned an '03 since new, great 2-up machine. Ohlins adjustable on the rear, VFR bars to raise an inch, Buell peg mounts to lower footpegs an inch and it is comfortable. Smooth as an electric motor, it is thirsty, about 33mpg. At 550 lbs it is too heavy to flick around and the stock suspension is adequate if that. Linked brakes are dangerous at slow speeds, the XX is a superb sport-tourer.
They are extremely reliable, 100,000 miles is not unusual for these. Stotz drag bike got to 500 horsepower before changing the stock lower end of the motor

I've read about the VFR bars and the foot-pegs I need more time on it but it seems very comfortable as is for me.
Reach to the bars is fine,I guess my Falco got me use to that.
I like how long the bike feels.You get the feeling you could carry a third person on the back.
I see a lot of guys bypass the linked brakes.

[Micah / AF1 Racing]

Yeah I used to sell a LOT of stainless line kits made to eliminate the linked brakes in the olden days...had totally forgotten about that!

[futfalc]

Thursday I went to Albany NY for a 350 mile round trip ride.The bike ran smooth and fast.Speeds were mostly 85 mph with a couple of hits around 100.I was on the North-way RT 87.
It's a true interstate rocket,I just laid on the tank and twisted the throttle and it was like the bike was on auto-pilot.Milage was around 36/38 mpg.

[teacherboy]

I had an 03 before I bought the Tuono. Very fast and stable as can be. I had taller bars on it but the stretch over that huge tank was tiresome. If I remember correctly the one time I did check it was about 38 mpg.

[Judge Dredd]

I bought one in 2001 and still ride it. Changes were VFR bars, higher screen, de-linked brakes. I have travelled 2 up all over europe on it. Very fast, effortless power. I have no desire to change it as there is nothing else new that comes close without spending a lot of money.
The Tuono is for everything else.

[oldgeezer]

I've owned two, an '00 and an '02, best bikes I've ever owned. Bullet proof reliable, fast as hell but can be just as docile putting around town. They tend to run hot in slow heavy traffic, but get into clean air on the open road and the temps quickly drop back to normal. Have done many 900 mile days, averaging about 38 mpg. Some guys go up one tooth on the front sprocket which improves gas mileage without any noticeable sacrifice in performance. A Corbin / Sargent seat, heli or VFR bars, and Buell foot pegs (lowers the pegs slightly) make them more comfortable. Still pretty much sport bike ergos, however, which is the only reason I switched to the more comfy Futura. Very light neutral steering, extremely stable handling, especially in high speed sweepers, but their hefty weight (492 lbs dry) can work up a sweat when pushing hard in really tight twisties. The linked brakes are completely transparent and you'll never know they're there. I always just rode the same as with unlinked brakes. I disagree they are "dangerous". I've logged 60+k miles of hard riding on mine, in every condition imaginable, and never had a problem. BUT- you DO need to excercise some caution when braking on gravel, sandy, or slippery surfaces because you can't "feather" the rear brake to settle the bike in slow speed maneuvers without activating partial calipers on the front brakes. Remember that and you'll have zero problems. After awhile you forget they're even linked. These are NOT the same as ABS by the way. Except for the sport bike ergos (it's looong stretch to the stock bars - and I'm 6'-1) they are superb, extremely reliable road- burners that will gobble up miles in a day's ride. Would not hesitate to own another, but at 69, my old bones can't handle sport bike ergos any longer. Awesome silky smooth motor with a top end hit above 7000 to redline that'll pull your arms out of their sockets. More power than you'll ever want or need. Although eventually eclipsed by the Busa and later big-displacement super bikes, it's still a very very fast bike, even by today's standards. Cam chain tensioners are a common replacement item, and some models had wiring loom issues (very rare) but mine never gave any problems. The '97 and '98's had carbs, but from '99 to '03 (last year imported into the US) they were all fuel injected, which I prefered - easy to start, no choke or cold start routine necessary - hands off throttle, thumb the starter, and they fire right up, no fuss, no muss. Mine sometimes sat in an unheated garage without battery tender for as much as three or four weeks, and it NEVER failed to immediately fire right up and settle into a nice deep burbling idle. Those bikes never ceased to amaze me. If you want more info, go to http://www.cbr1100xx.org and sign up - great bunch of guys, hard-core riders, they'll welcome you with open arms. Been a member there since '05. I do miss mine, but I don't miss the aching back and arms at day's end. Getting old sucks.

[CAMOETO]

I have a 2002 Canadian (Red) Blackbird. It came from the previous owner with plenty of farkles, full color-matched Givi luggage and, Corbin seat and CF Yoshi cans. It also came with a set of Heli-bars that wasn't isntalled and I never felt the need to put on. I have added and color-matched a Corbin Smuggler seat to it as well as a Double Bubble screen, and it's a awesome freeway machine as well as the sweepers. The engine on it is a lot smoother and more linear than what I have owned from Kawi and Yamaha before. Great complement to the Tuono. I will put up some pictures when I get a chance. Very happy with this combination using the Tuono for around-town and weekend backroad jaunts and using the XX more for commuting to work and and longer trips that have extensive freeway time.

[feelergaugephil]

Gem of a thread, I too have owned 2 of these beauties, 98 (carb) and 02 (Injection) superfast and reliable, I traded up to a Concours 1400 for the comfort, but still the XX would outrun my 14 anyday.....

[Kramggah]

I miss the superchickens.

And the superchicken might outrun the connie 14, but thats cuz of shaft drive.