smr96

Okay after 2mos. and nearly 4k mi. I'm finally starting to fall for this bike. With over 60k trouble free miles on my last ride I guess I was hesitant! Anyway I'm familiar with the bikes history and that it was once considered the fastest production bike but it seems that now every liter bike makes more power and weighs far less. I'm amazed when I read articles about how modern 1000's are reaching nearly 100mph in 1st. While I haven't attempted the claimed 175mph top speed I have played around with redlining it in lower gears, 1st-70mph, 2nd-96mph, 3rd-127mph. The fastest I've gone is 146mph. The 'Busa was built to beat this bike and then the ZX12 and now the new-gen 'Busa and ZX14 are out but it seems that modern liter bikes are just as powerful or nearly while weighing far less. So if it's underpowered by todays standards not to mention heavy with poor suspension what's so great about them?

CanadianBird

Everything! Did you search, there is quite a bit of comments about the Bird. 138,500 kms/'02

shewie

You put 4k miles on and still have to ask? Seriously?

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

CBR1000F

Yesterday I saw a factory stock '07 GSXR1000 pull 161 hp on the Dyno. The only upgrade this bike has is a PCIII. With sub 400 lbs dry weight and a 14,000 rpm redline that makes for a very fast bike. It is also a bike that I am not comfortable riding. I like my '03 for the type riding that I do.

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TeXXan 1993-CBR1000F, 2003-CBR1100XX

Styles

The bird's appeal does take time to appreciate. You appear on your your way to recognizing the real difference between added proof and smooth performance. As with a fine sippin' whiskey, it's not the buzz you're after but the pleasure. Cheers.




Styles

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"STyle is the fashioning of power, the restraining of power." A. N. Whitehead

GhostRider

Weight has little or nothing to do with top end speed. Fact is, you would be much better off with the bike weighing more as opposed to less when you get up there. Now, if you are talking about acceleration, the opposite holds true. Go ride the Busa, the ZX-14, the R1, ZX-10 or Zuk and then you will know what makes the XX the better all around choice.

thechamp55

The XX is I think the smoothest bike out there,, but then there are many bikes Ive yet to ride so I could be wrong. Point is its refined, way more refined than a gen1 busa or ZX-12R or any of the sportier offerings. Then there is the value argument over the newer offerings, which mattered alot to me. And as far as the ZX-10 Gixxer thou, R1, RR et all they are a differnt sort of machine for a differnt purpose. Kinda like comparing a Ferrari Enzo to an older Aston Martin Virage Vantage. They may be lighter and more nimble, but the XX is waaaay more comfortable and much better for two upping and still very very fast. Bedides, compared with liter bikes the broader power band, longer wheel base and softer suspension all conspire to make it much easier to launch the XX for mere mortals. This mortal has shown other mortals on "faster" machines taillights.

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Everyone Dies. Not Everyone Lives.

Scrappy

Is this a contradiction? I'm confused

PJNXX

Me too.

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-Paul

lois

Me three

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Call me "Captain Mudbucket".

lois

I mean you ,get the bike for what it is, and what it does.....if it ain't doing for you....then get a different bike.



besides, that's why I have two bikes...a gixxer, and a real bike...


Lois

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Call me "Captain Mudbucket".

cbxjohn

The XX is a lot prettier and stylish than the newer bikes, running around with their butts up in the air - all looking exactly alike. I can't even tell them apart. When I am in with other bikes, the XX is the one that gets the looks. Styling and class are bikes like the XX, the line of CBR1000F's (real comfort) and the earlier CBX's. Styling now is ugly!!!

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CBXJohn
If I've Ridden it, Redline Ruled!!
"Lucky for 40+ Years on Two Wheels "

thechamp55

I think he feels the same sort of way as when you were in middle school and you felt a slight attraction to the ugly girl for whatever reason inspite of what the world told you to like. He thinks the Blackbird is the ugly girl because its not an advertised squid machine. and while she is a little heavy she no ugly girl after all the chicks with a little meat have the best&

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Everyone Dies. Not Everyone Lives.

docsevicz

I just got back from Bike Week Laconia and didn't see another BB (except my bro's) all weekend. That was great. A couple of guys on Harleys stopped at the hotel we were staying at to stare at our bikes becuz they had no idea what they were. That was great. On the way home a 77 year stopped at the rest area I was at on his 1980 something Gold Wing and admired my bike, (he thought it was new) been riding Hondas his whole life. That was great. I rode it 3 hours in the pouring rain to get home at a steady 75 MPH. That was great. And that was just last weekend!

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Speed ... Like the waves coming to the shore ... its in my blood and in my bones. Mark Knofler

WAMMYEYE

How many times do we have to discuss horsepower to weight and handling issues. The bottom line is the Blackbird is the best of both worlds. You can ride all day and get there pretty damn quick if you want to.

GhostRider

Agreed but I'll go ya one better, they haven't imported the XX into the US since 2003. The design is now 13 years old and yet folks will try and compare the XX to bikes that are current. This fact alone speaks volumes for the respect the XX has earned throughout the sport of motorcycling. I'm an owner and this bike flat rocks!!!

Poundstretcher

Try doing any distance on a sports bike and you will appreciate the Bird even more. How did they compare in the late 90's and how will they compare with Mr Honda's new bag of tricks?

thechamp55

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Everyone Dies. Not Everyone Lives.

dracki

i'm positive the bird is in a class of its own,in 20 years it'll still look absolutely fabulous were as all others;ie busa's,zx14's,fj's & even those hidious beemers which out date themselves before they hit our shores,i like the way Honda thinks when they design a bike,looks & performance for now & beyond,usually they get it rite,rarely wrong, so yeh these bikes are great,always were & allways will be.
they also go like the space shutle in a staight line & i keep up with all the modern bikes in the corners & half the time i show them just what experiance is & what my babys made of

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Attitude,Charisma,Mojo & Spunk. Thats what you have on a BLACK Blackbird & there the fastest.the rest of you just dream about that

annoying Shewie,Lois & Poundstrecher one post at a time

Strek

Was your bike given to you? I mean before I buy a motorcycle I do a great deal of research on the bike. I pick a bike that suits the type of riding I do. You know. One that I know that I will like. You point out that Race Rockets are lighter and faster. What a surprise to learn that piece of information. Yepper. Race Rockets sure are lighter and faster. Can't ride them for more then an hour at a time. Fun to ride. Yes. I've had the big touring rigs. Might as well be in a convertible. So its the sports touring bikes for me. The bird is the best performing best looking in that crowd. Best all around bike. ZX14 probably the closest. The zx14 ergos aren't as good for me. Busa is ugly IMO. Now if I was after more of a touring sports bike I would look at a concours or fjr. So how did you come to own an XX in the first place?