Whats a blackbird? - Discuss Whats a blackbird? on CBRXX, the ultimate on-line community for Honda motorcyclists. Read it in General CBR XX Discussion. (General Discussion of the Honda CBR 1100 XX Super Blackbird that does not fit into the other specific forums.)

zwhits9 · 06-27-2009, 12:48 AM

Hey just thought I'd share a chuckle with you all. I went to the local bike dealer (Honda, Suz, Kawi, Yama) and some hot shot sales kid jumped me right in the door, like salesman do. So he asked what kind of bike I had and I said I had a Blackbird........Blank face.... So..... are you looking to get a sport bike?

I just walked away.

But in reallity I like the anonymity of the BB. When you say I have a Hayabusa everyone goes OOhhhhh. So normal/boring/cult. I enjoy the puzzling looks and faces I get touting the BB around. Makes me feel fortunate/special/unique. Like I have a conceled weapon. Just waiting to devour those little "R" bikes at any given moment.

Why just the other day I ripped a standup wheelie through 3rd gear with full luggage in tow! Oh yeah, past the oncoming herd of 600's.

Blackbird, traveling in style!

lois · 06-27-2009, 12:52 AM

Yup.......I gave up explaining to folks, a long, long time ago.

but your right, they are not a "" cookie cutter " bike by any means.

Lois

Nutter67 · 06-27-2009, 1:05 AM

Just wait and see what happens when you tell them it is a "Super Blackbird".........

WOL · 06-27-2009, 2:07 AM

I can't talk for the rest of the country but here in Sydney Australia Birds seem to be everywhere, infact I know of seven Birds just in my town in the Upper Blue Mountains one hour west of Sydney and if you look and see how many Sydney Forum members there are and I'm sure there's lots more that don't belong to this site.

Poundstretcher · 06-27-2009, 2:12 AM

Honda CBR1100xx Super Blackbird, I think it is the longest motorcycle name. Perhaps thats why they cannot remember it

and I am always traveling too fast for them to get a good look

thechamp55 · 06-27-2009, 2:42 AM

I tell people Honda 1100, and they usually get the jist; Honda==sporty jap bike 1100== big motor, fast and scary

thechamp55 · 06-27-2009, 2:43 AM

Ive also encountered dealership types who didnt know what it was too

lois · 06-27-2009, 2:46 AM

I just say

I ride a CBR 1100, and that seems to satisfy most of them.

CBR = sportbike
1100 = fast

same idea as thechamp55.

lois

Poundstretcher · 06-27-2009, 4:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lois

I just say

I ride a CBR 1100, and that seems to satisfy most of them.

CBR = sportbike
1100 = fast

same idea as thechamp55.

lois

Just keep the red bit quiet

WOL · 06-27-2009, 5:10 AM

Hey thechamp55, love the avatar

mrcbr · 06-27-2009, 6:00 AM

When I was looking for a new bike the insurance on a busa was going to be $2000 per year. When I asked about the bird it was $700. I think the insurance company didn't know what the bird was either.

Poundstretcher · 06-27-2009, 6:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrcbr

When I was looking for a new bike the insurance on a busa was going to be $2000 per year. When I asked about the bird it was $700. I think the insurance company didn't know what the bird was either.

Every cloud has a silver lining

X1rider · 06-27-2009, 6:12 AM

Same thing happened to me at the local big box store with the parts kids and 3 "sales" disposable employees. When they saw the Super Blackbird on the factory panniers, they all commented, "Never seen one of these." I said of course, they stopped importing them to the US in 2003 when you were in 9th grade! LOL!

jclaude · 06-27-2009, 11:18 AM

When people ask me i say honda cbr 1100 xx
honda-that's fine they know
cbr-that's fine it's commun
1100-i get a wooow

but when i come to the XX i've got a

don't you mean RR,no i really mean XX,so i get a

if you ever see a 1100 RR take a pic 'cos i want to see it then i get a

berwick · 06-27-2009, 11:25 AM

I get blank looks when I say "Blackbird". If they see it, they have to ask how big the engine is. I quickly got used to both...

smr96 · 06-27-2009, 12:26 PM

The best is when they think it's a NEW model they haven't heard of YET, instead of an OLDER model they've NEVER heard of!

shewie · 06-27-2009, 12:50 PM

Parts guy at my local stealer told me he didn't have the fiche for that one yet.

Lamby · 06-27-2009, 6:54 PM

We could just tell people that ask that we have "The Bird".

Some people might think we are riding big bird or something then...giving them a lasting mental picture. LOL

Styles · 06-27-2009, 7:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lamby

We could just tell people that ask that we have "The Bird".

Some people might think we are riding big bird or something then...giving them a lasting mental picture. LOL

We could give them "The Bird" for yet another lasting mental picture.

Styles

CBR1000F · 06-27-2009, 9:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WOL

Hey thechamp55, love the avatar

Uh.. yeah. Danny! Did you get a new girlfriend?

XX-XR · 06-27-2009, 10:04 PM

If they don't know what it is just tell them Honda only made a few of them.

mrcbr · 06-28-2009, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jclaude

When people ask me i say honda cbr 1100 xx
honda-that's fine they know
cbr-that's fine it's commun
1100-i get a wooow

but when i come to the XX i've got a

don't you mean RR,no i really mean XX,so i get a

if you ever see a 1100 RR take a pic 'cos i want to see it then i get a

And as XX comes after RR in the alphabet XX has to be better.

thechamp55 · 06-28-2009, 5:52 PM

"Hey thechamp55, love the avatar"

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBR1000F

Uh.. yeah. Danny! Did you get a new girlfriend?

'They' made me dump her

thechamp55 · 06-28-2009, 5:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X1rider

Same thing happened to me at the local big box store with the parts kids and 3 "sales" disposable employees. When they saw the Super Blackbird on the factory panniers, they all commented, "Never seen one of these." I said of course, they stopped importing them to the US in 2003 when you were in 9th grade! LOL!

I was in 9th grade in 2003. Seriously.

GhostRider · 06-28-2009, 6:24 PM

When I tell people the real designation I too get the it's a what. Considering the XX hasn't come into the country for 6 years when I show it or have it out on the Saturday cruise night I get the what kind of Honda is it questions. To me the Blackbird was never really popular with the public yet those that have rode one or those that ride one know full well what this bike is and why it's so special. I have however encountered some veteran riders (read as older and experienced) that know exactly what it is.

Yesterday at the show I had a guy with his young son of maybe 12-14 come over and the dad was really looking at the bike. The son sad to the dad, what kind of bike is it dad. The dad replied, son, this is a Blackbird and you won't see many of these. All of a sudden the son started looking as hard as the dad was. I believe there is one down south of me in the Clarksville area but this is the only other Blackbird I am aware of within a 60 mile radius. Kinda nice having something different.

This picture is from the show.

heisti · 06-29-2009, 12:31 PM

when i tell them "double-eggs" they have faces like i would have said "XXXL" and most of them start to stare at the fairings like they would have a chance to see the engine via x-ray-googles :-)

swazijmw · 06-29-2009, 3:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heisti

when i tell them "double-eggs" they have faces like i would have said "XXXL" and most of them start to stare at the fairings like they would have a chance to see the engine via x-ray-googles :-)

Well, those x-ray-googles would work fine, if it were XXX

smurf211 · 06-29-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GhostRider

When I tell people the real designation I too get the it's a what. Considering the XX hasn't come into the country for 6 years when I show it or have it out on the Saturday cruise night I get the what kind of Honda is it questions. To me the Blackbird was never really popular with the public yet those that have rode one or those that ride one know full well what this bike is and why it's so special. I have however encountered some veteran riders (read as older and experienced) that know exactly what it is.

Yesterday at the show I had a guy with his young son of maybe 12-14 come over and the dad was really looking at the bike. The son sad to the dad, what kind of bike is it dad. The dad replied, son, this is a Blackbird and you won't see many of these. All of a sudden the son started looking as hard as the dad was. I believe there is one down south of me in the Clarksville area but this is the only other Blackbird I am aware of within a 60 mile radius. Kinda nice having something different.

This picture is from the show.

GR, clean, looks good. // sm

06-27-2009, 12:52 AM	#2
lois Join Date: Nov 06 2006 Location: Red Deer Age: 46 Posts: 4,591	Re: Whats a blackbird? Yup.......I gave up explaining to folks, a long, long time ago. but your right, they are not a "" cookie cutter " bike by any means. Lois __________________ Call me "Captain Mudbucket".

06-27-2009, 1:05 AM	#3
Nutter67 Administrator Join Date: Aug 31 2007 Location: Seaford, Victoria, Australia Age: 42 Posts: 5,436	Re: Whats a blackbird? Just wait and see what happens when you tell them it is a "Super Blackbird"......... __________________ *Paul* *Never let a motorcycle take you somewhere your brain didn't get to three seconds earlier*

06-27-2009, 2:07 AM	#4
WOL Join Date: Feb 10 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 165	Re: Whats a blackbird? I can't talk for the rest of the country but here in Sydney Australia Birds seem to be everywhere, infact I know of seven Birds just in my town in the Upper Blue Mountains one hour west of Sydney and if you look and see how many Sydney Forum members there are and I'm sure there's lots more that don't belong to this site. __________________ Time is irrelevent when cruising the back roads

06-27-2009, 2:12 AM	#5
Poundstretcher A Rainbird Warrior Join Date: Oct 15 2008 Location: Tasmania Posts: 4,131	Re: Whats a blackbird? Honda CBR1100xx Super Blackbird, I think it is the longest motorcycle name. Perhaps thats why they cannot remember it and I am always traveling too fast for them to get a good look

06-27-2009, 2:42 AM	#6
thechamp55 Join Date: Mar 19 2009 Location: Texas Age: 21 Posts: 555	Re: Whats a blackbird? I tell people Honda 1100, and they usually get the jist; Honda==sporty jap bike 1100== big motor, fast and scary __________________ Everyone Dies. Not Everyone Lives.

06-27-2009, 2:43 AM	#7
thechamp55 Join Date: Mar 19 2009 Location: Texas Age: 21 Posts: 555	Re: Whats a blackbird? Ive also encountered dealership types who didnt know what it was too __________________ Everyone Dies. Not Everyone Lives.

06-27-2009, 2:46 AM	#8
lois Join Date: Nov 06 2006 Location: Red Deer Age: 46 Posts: 4,591	Re: Whats a blackbird? I just say I ride a CBR 1100, and that seems to satisfy most of them. CBR = sportbike 1100 = fast same idea as thechamp55. lois __________________ Call me "Captain Mudbucket".

06-27-2009, 5:10 AM	#10
WOL Join Date: Feb 10 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 165	Re: Whats a blackbird? Hey thechamp55, love the avatar __________________ Time is irrelevent when cruising the back roads

06-27-2009, 6:00 AM	#11
mrcbr Join Date: Sep 21 2007 Location: south australia Posts: 392	Re: Whats a blackbird? When I was looking for a new bike the insurance on a busa was going to be $2000 per year. When I asked about the bird it was $700. I think the insurance company didn't know what the bird was either.

06-27-2009, 6:12 AM	#13
X1rider Carbon spewing infidel Join Date: Nov 24 2006 Location: Metro Atlanta GA. Age: 52 Posts: 1,883	Re: Whats a blackbird? Same thing happened to me at the local big box store with the parts kids and 3 "sales" disposable employees. When they saw the Super Blackbird on the factory panniers, they all commented, "Never seen one of these." I said of course, they stopped importing them to the US in 2003 when you were in 9th grade! LOL!

06-27-2009, 11:18 AM	#14
jclaude Rules are meant to be broken Join Date: Oct 27 2008 Location: Sydney, The land down under Age: 33 Posts: 2,761	Re: Whats a blackbird? When people ask me i say honda cbr 1100 xx honda-that's fine they know cbr-that's fine it's commun 1100-i get a wooow but when i come to the XX i've got a don't you mean RR,no i really mean XX,so i get a if you ever see a 1100 RR take a pic 'cos i want to see it then i get a __________________ (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(") It takes more love to share the saddle that it takes to share the bed http://www.sydneyriders.com/forum/index.php

06-27-2009, 11:25 AM	#15
berwick Join Date: Mar 07 2008 Location: Nova Scotia Age: 49 Posts: 91	Re: Whats a blackbird? I get blank looks when I say "Blackbird". If they see it, they have to ask how big the engine is. I quickly got used to both...

06-27-2009, 12:26 PM	#16
smr96 Join Date: Apr 08 2009 Location: So. CA. Posts: 49	Re: Whats a blackbird? The best is when they think it's a NEW model they haven't heard of YET, instead of an OLDER model they've NEVER heard of!

06-27-2009, 12:50 PM	#17
shewie Resident Eh?hole. Join Date: Oct 26 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 43 Posts: 5,684	Re: Whats a blackbird? Parts guy at my local stealer told me he didn't have the fiche for that one yet. __________________ If you don't like the way I ride then stay off the sidewalk.

06-27-2009, 6:54 PM	#18
Lamby Join Date: Jun 22 2009 Location: Helena, Montana Posts: 26	Re: Whats a blackbird? We could just tell people that ask that we have "The Bird". Some people might think we are riding big bird or something then...giving them a lasting mental picture. LOL

06-27-2009, 10:04 PM	#21
XX-XR Join Date: Jan 03 2007 Location: 98 XX 87 VFR700 America's Autobahn Arizona Desert Posts: 72	Re: Whats a blackbird? If they don't know what it is just tell them Honda only made a few of them. __________________ Gettin old aint for sissy's!

06-29-2009, 12:31 PM	#26
heisti (_)O==*==O(_) Join Date: Feb 22 2008 Location: Enns, Austria Age: 39 Posts: 4,805	Re: Whats a blackbird? when i tell them "double-eggs" they have faces like i would have said "XXXL" and most of them start to stare at the fairings like they would have a chance to see the engine via x-ray-googles :-) __________________ have a nice trip video: youtube \| project: carbon \| chat: here hero-video

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
FS: 1997 Blackbird CBR1100xx	mosgef	For Sale / Wanted	23	10-08-2009 4:54 PM
VFR vs. Blackbird	rlew	General CBR XX Discussion	45	08-06-2009 8:22 AM
Blackbird, 2nd time around	addman	Introductions	19	06-01-2009 2:49 AM
Blackbird song	Birdmanxx	General CBR XX Discussion	6	12-01-2008 6:44 AM
Just read this in MCN- bye bye blackbird	rivabill	General CBR XX Discussion	33	11-30-2008 6:49 AM