Strek

Deadman and Nutter... WOW. I have to say that I have a hard time wrapping my head around how you guys came to know the bird. I mean it seems that you both followed motorcycles before you came to know the bird. I know that the bird is well known down under. I know that they have motorcycle magazines and the internet down under. You did have the internet down under back when you guys bought these bikes didn't you? Really though I guess I'm just a bit different in that I like to know a bit about a motorcycle model before deciding if I would pay for it. Call me silly but when you think about it you two were a step away from... insert your funny choice for a drunken pub crawl followed by a how the hell did I get that tatoo and in that private place type motorcycle purchase here. Thank the stars that there was a bird around when you needed one and that the salesman was smart enough to steer you towards it. Who knows what you two could have ended up on. In all seriousness though your method seems to have worked fine for you as you both seem very happy with the decision. I know that you had to know something about the bike or really really liked the ergos and feel when you sat on it. Maybe the killer looks. Perhaps like the love of your life it just felt right when you were on top. The ergo's and feel of a bike are very important in any motorcycle purchase. So I guess this helps to answer the question of whats so great about these bikes. You don't need to know shite about them before you find one to know that the buyer will still end up with a great bike. Bravo.

deadman

Strek, I have been riding all sizes of bikes, ( including Harleys ) since I was fifteen.
I know from experience what a bike should and can do, My XX, I did not even sit on it before I bought it.
Call that strange if you like, But I knew it was the bike for me, ESP maybe, But I dont regret one little bit that I bought it, unridden, My faith in my own ability has shown through for me once more.
I also had no intention at the time of actually buying another bike, But motor cycles are in my blood, My pocket had the cash, The Bird wanted some one to love, and I could not help myself, Must have been its appealing head light or some thing, Maybe the way it would not let go of my leg, With rego and paper work, two days later, I was riding the missile home. Totally unaware of what my Bird was actually capable off, But I knew within myself when I looked at it the first time, That thing is me.
My very own peice of Jap crap, Now I have modified it, it loves me even more, and I love it.
It knows it is all mine and no women will ever separate us, or come between us, like me and my Bonnie did.
I hope you get the picture, Hard to explain, but thats the way it is,
Cheers,
Brian.

__________________
If ya not boppin, Ya in ya coffin. Rock and roll will soothe your soul.
Mods, 6mm Shim, 12 inch risers, Double bubble Windsceen, Homemade Ventura type packrack, Expandable to 82 litre, Rjays rack bag, Lowered rear end frame by 3 inches. Suspension is still stock, home made Cans, awesome.

Nutter67

When I sat on the ZZR, if felt top heavy and "something" didnt feel right. Same goes with the Firestorm (altho I loved the exhaust note). While I was thinking about the two bikes, I went and sat on the bird. It "felt right". End of story - or should that be start of new story. I am an impulsive buyer a lot of the time, but will try to do some digging around. I joined the i30ownersclub forum before placing an order for a new car. I have spoken to others before placing orders for other items.. Jaws has fielded some stupid questions from me before buying some things from him. But it just felt right when I sat on the bird - I dont know how to explain it any better.

__________________
Paul

Never let a motorcycle take you somewhere your brain didn't get to three seconds earlier

Nutter67

Erm, would you like to re-phrase that???????

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Paul

Never let a motorcycle take you somewhere your brain didn't get to three seconds earlier

CanadianBird

My story is similar to all you peeps. I came off a Harley b/c it just didn't suit my needs and wasn't a big bagger. I did a lot of market research, rode a vfr but felt I would out grow it. The Bird was in the dealer, I sat on it, didn't ride it, bought it, bought the Givi set up, Corbin FG, Heli Bars, and had it delivered to my home. LOL. My first ride was on May 4th and on July 2nd I rode her to Toronto through the States from Vancouver, BC. I just put on the 8th set of tires. The add ons seem endless as well as the farkles. As you know, I've also spent a fortune on service, I don't mind as it's always done correctly. Latest, new P2s, Acumen GI, valves, plugs, oil, hydraulic fluids, hid high beam, fender extender and duck tail. Just ordered the lighting kit from Twisted Throttle. No more commuting, 138,500 kms of trouble free riding. Not to mention the Penske rear, RaceTec front, Goodridge lines, Givi smoked touring screen, Pazzo short levers, etc, etc. I sort of like the new "Bird"/"VFR" but I'll have to see it in person and sit on it. I"m 64 and don't see any new bikes on the horizon. I love the new Duc SteetFighter but I don't see it happening. I think the Bird, in spite of it's weeknesses, which I've tried to address and most here also, is one the the best bikes Honda has ever produced. I feel blessed to be able to own one and ride one. Cheers

Strek

Nutter ...
I was just thinking about what you wrote about how you came to know the bird. You know how "it felt so good. So good that you didn't even take if for a test ride". How you found a bike that suited your size and felt comfortable. I know from what you wrote that you still like to be on the bird. Hopefully the same is still true about the love of your life as well. Now you can be the one who asks deadman if he can remember that far back my friend. He did mention something about being away from bikes for like 12 years before he got the bird. I don't even want to know how long its been since he's been on... well you know. Really though and not to jack the thread you two have probably provided the best examples of what is so great about these bikes. Now if you really want me to rephrase it I think that I can come up with something.

DragonXX

BINGO

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" 'Birds of a feather, flock together "

Quote of the month: "Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler." - Albert Einstein

GhostRider

In the US it already is. Mine will be 7 years old in November and it looks new. Maybe not a classic but rare enough to get some attention for sure.

Poundstretcher

This bike still excites me more than any other I have owned. To say it is under powered and heavy is not looking at the complete package properly. Try as I might I am still unable to find the limits of the Bird, the straight line speed is as good as it get's. I have seen speedo reading of 310k on my 99 and think this is as much as I require, the handling is more than adequate. I was once in a situation that resulted in me rapidly taking a left hander that I had misjudged the exit on and required me to get the bike tighter into the bend. The result being the foot being raised off the rest for clearance, the loss of the peg and extensive fairing grinding, it almost felt like I was riding on the rims. The Bird stuck like s**t to a blanket and powered out like nothing had happened, I guess I will never know just how close to the limit I was but could I get a bigger bang for my buck or is she likely to be left flagging miles behind modern day sports bikes I don't think so.
Buying a Bird becomes a love affair, if you just want bragging rights and magazine road/track test numbers she probably is not for you or more to the point you are not for her. There are easier bikes to ride out there for the faint hearted.

deadman

Brian.

__________________
If ya not boppin, Ya in ya coffin. Rock and roll will soothe your soul.
Mods, 6mm Shim, 12 inch risers, Double bubble Windsceen, Homemade Ventura type packrack, Expandable to 82 litre, Rjays rack bag, Lowered rear end frame by 3 inches. Suspension is still stock, home made Cans, awesome.

thechamp55

[quote=deadman;113770]
I looked at this Honda XX on the showroom floor, I do not like cafe racers,
and to me the XX is a cafe racer. I am an old codger,
quote]



Cafe racer
Ive never heard anyone call an XX that before!

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Everyone Dies. Not Everyone Lives.

shewie

[quote=thechamp55;114005]You've probably never seen anyone chop one before, either.

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Where are we going and what am I doing in this handbasket?!

thechamp55

Ive seen the one Lois is selling

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Everyone Dies. Not Everyone Lives.

Strek

cafe racer, crotch rocket, race rocket, GP bike, touring bike, sport touring bike. I've heard them all. I guess that is another thing that makes the bike great. It does everything.

BackStreet

Just asking if you ever changed the clipons to VFR or Heli bars? 45 mins with Harley speed means your burned 1 gallon of gas and rode 35 miles? No way you should be numb (other then mind dumb and deaf ).

Ever thought about Pro Grips, ThrottleMeister, Peg Lowering Brackets, Corbin seat, Pazzo levers?

These things all add up. 2 weeks ago I went 400 miles in 5 hours including one health break and one splash & dash. I then stopped for breakfast (11am). The next 400 miles I could take it easy because I was half way home.

I guess that's what I like about my Blackbird. When I ride the Dragon, The Blue Ridge Parkway, or some nasty little road no one bothered to name I can do that. When I have to slab it and go 200 miles out of my way to outrun a rain storm I can do it. I can do it all in style too.

deadman

The one name I really like is, The Whispering Death.

Only the Blackbird is called this.

Cheers,
Brian.

__________________
If ya not boppin, Ya in ya coffin. Rock and roll will soothe your soul.
Mods, 6mm Shim, 12 inch risers, Double bubble Windsceen, Homemade Ventura type packrack, Expandable to 82 litre, Rjays rack bag, Lowered rear end frame by 3 inches. Suspension is still stock, home made Cans, awesome.

deadman

[quote=thechamp55;114005]When you have been riding as long as us old farts, Champ my grandson,
You will have a huge list of names for all sorts of bikes, Some complimentary, some derogatory, Harley are well known for their derogatory names and some good ones.

I now call my Bird a high speed cruiser, Keep up to me, ONLY if you can.

Dont kill your self trying.

Cheers,
Brian.

__________________
If ya not boppin, Ya in ya coffin. Rock and roll will soothe your soul.
Mods, 6mm Shim, 12 inch risers, Double bubble Windsceen, Homemade Ventura type packrack, Expandable to 82 litre, Rjays rack bag, Lowered rear end frame by 3 inches. Suspension is still stock, home made Cans, awesome.

Poundstretcher

What is it with you and all this Dead & Death stuff? We should change your SN to the Grimreaper, you will be asking Mike next, if you can join him in the slaughter of the Sunflowers

deadman

Hey Poundy, I have been called The Deadman since I was 18,
I tell every one to ride at their own pace, not try to keep up with others that can and do ride faster, I have seen too many make the mistake of trying to keep up and inevitably crash their bikes, which spoils their day,
and takes the fun out of their bikes.
I ride mainly with a quickish group, But we have 250 learners along with us sometimes, and they are told not to race us, we will wait for them at given points to regroup, we dont have bingles, because of our policy to ride within their own limits.
As for these gun maniacs. They are in a world of their own, And I was a crack shot in my younger days. and enjoyed hunting. I always used a long arm.
Cheers,
Brian.

__________________
If ya not boppin, Ya in ya coffin. Rock and roll will soothe your soul.
Mods, 6mm Shim, 12 inch risers, Double bubble Windsceen, Homemade Ventura type packrack, Expandable to 82 litre, Rjays rack bag, Lowered rear end frame by 3 inches. Suspension is still stock, home made Cans, awesome.

thechamp55

I like that. When I was in California there were four of us rode together all the time and likened ourselves to the 4 horsemen. I was death.

__________________
Everyone Dies. Not Everyone Lives.