Hi everyone!

Thought I'd poke my head up...before I start asking questions about problems when I get the bike! Although I'm fairly sure I won't have any, from what I hear and read about Blackbirds!

I recently had a little bike accident (on a Blandit 1200) and as soon as I came out the ICU I thought that a Blackbird should be next! Mainly because I ride all year round and need something that'll survive the Winter...a quality only Honda's seem to have (without hourly cleaning). So despite not even riding one that's what I've decided, probably around a 2005 vintage - is that a good year? I dunno, already I'm asking questions!

I thought I'd introduce meself in this Europe area because the forum looks a little American bias and it's always nice to chat to people who suffer the British weather as I do!

Cheers and keep the rubber side down everyone!

Hi Chris, looking forwards to seeing the photos when you pick up a Bird. This is a great forum mainly because of the world wide experience ....... and the mickey taking over the Brit weather!
I've been commuting on a Bird now for 10 years (the same one!) with distances varyng between 24 and 186 miles a day and the old girl still comes up fine. Fork legs suffer the worst in the winter (I've polished 2 sets of forks and just swap them over!) but I've been using ACF50 for some years now and it does work.
2005 is a good year but to be honest there were so few changes finding the bike you fancy is far more important than the year.

Switched you to "introductions" Chris, so that even the Aussies can welcome you. I'll switch it back afterwhile if you want.

I recently had a little bike accident (on a Blandit 1200) and as soon as I came out the ICU I thought that a Blackbird should be next!

Nice!! Gotta love it!!

Oh yeah, and good luck on "the quest"!

Hi and from another mad brit ...

from the boring, mountainless and uncurvy continent :o)

Welcome from an equally inclement Ireland! Good luck with the search - great info here on what to look out for in prospective buys.
And plenty of advice if and when things go awry!

Hi Duck(ie!), thanks a bunch! Very reassuring to read you've commuted for so long, fork legs suffer no matter what the bike eh! Do you think ACF50 is as good as F365? I've used it on my now dead Bandit and it worked fairly well. I'm glad 2005 is a good year, it seems to be the one I can't afford, hehe!

Thanks for the switch ArmyStrong, a good move...especially if my sisters Australian husband ever got on here

Hey fellow brit (Scrappy) :-)

Thanks Heisti - does Austria have twisty roads out of interest?

Hehe, "Norfolkandway" - good one! So far I'm very interested in this one on autotrader (don't anyone dare buy it now!), I just hope it'll be available in two months time...it's already been 10 weeks since my royal stacking of the bandit!

Hello from Canada. Good luck with your search.

Greetings..

ohhh thats going to be a long couple of months wait.

Welcome from the windy city. We have a international community here on this forum and plenty of members from the UK. The bird seems to have a worldwide following. The one that you inlcuded in the link looks nice. I'm not sure about price because price is relative to the area. It looks nice in the pics. Good luck on your search. I believe that you will be very happy with an XX.

Originally Posted by bikerchris

Do you think ACF50 is as good as F365?

I prefer it for the simple reason that F365 tends to wash off more easily. I tend to do a 'panel off' clean before winter and then coat everything (OK not the brakes!). Then it is simply weekly washes and occasional top ups with ACF50. F365 I have used (and still have some) but I found I was using it at least twice a week when it was wet and salty ...... cost a fortune especially since so much seemed to drop/drip on to the garage floor!

Thanks Shewie

Yeah Uglystick, it's gonna be a boring few months, bones have nearly healed and all that!

Thanks Strek, yeah it does seem the 'bird has the same following as the Suzuki TL (my retired but hopefully coming back bike!).

You're not wrong Duck, it does drip quite a bit - I only used it because a friend had a bike shop and gave it to me for free! I'll have a go at ACF50 next winter, why not eh! It's not something sold down here in the south east - too many softies that wrap their bikes in cotton wool after the summer, ready for wobbling around next May!

Cheers deadman

It's not something sold down here in the south east

have a look at the JAWS website (all things Blackbird!) he sells it and he is in Thetford ....... which is for you 'up North'

Originally Posted by bikerchris

...does Austria have twisty roads out of interest?

we do have a couple of roads where you have no chance to go faster than 80km/h.
corner after corner.
30 minutes later you realize your tyres have a nice blue glint, are steaming hot and your face starts to hurt because of the stupid grinning you can´t get rid of.
my latest tour included four mountain passes and this uphill drive to 1650m loser - Google Maps