Why buy a Blackbird?

2000CBRXXrider

This is my 1st post on this site. I am a member over at VFR World as well. This winter i was looking for a new bike (something other than a Harley) and found a heck of a deal on a brand new 06 VFR. I purchased it, added hard bags, and generally really like the bike. Im not a racer. I use it to commute and do some sport touring. Over the past few months and after I purchased my VFR I have discovered the Blackbird. What a gorgeous bike and I am guessing it rides just as well. This week I started tinkering with the idea of just going ahead and selling the VFR as I could make some $ on it since i got it for a steal and looking for a Blackbird. I found several on EBay but they are all very far away and Im not going to have one shipped and I dont have the time to go pick it up. Then yesterday it happend, I found one. Close enough to get. I had to double check what I was reading. Was this really a 2000, which is my favorite as far as colors go, with just over 4000 miles? Surely not! Well it is and its prestine. For sale for $5K. Wife won it in a divorce settlement and she gave it to her dad. Dad thought he would like it but said its just way too much bike for him. Right now I have a Harley Road Glide that I have had since 02 and mama says that one has to stay as she loves to ride on the back. I have the 06 VFR which i really havent established a relationship with yet but its a great bike. If I add the Blackbird that will make 3 and I really cant see the use of having the VFR and the Blackbird. Can anybody convince me the right thing to do is sell the VFR and get the Bird? I know people on this site will be biased just like the would be on VFR World. Many over there would be saying dont bother. They would say the Birds bigger, heavier, not as responsive, etc. What reasons would you use to back your opinion up? I really know nothing about the Blackbirds as I had never really looked at anything on them but I am mechanically inclined and just feel I will be happier on the bigger bike. Anything I need to look at closely before making the purchase? Thoughts?

dunedain

I think you'll find a many converts from the VFR on here. I'm one.

I reluctantly sold a 97 VFR a couple of years ago and had both the VFR and XX for years. I loved the v-4 sound. both awesome bikes both from a time when Honda ruled all. Heck man my email have been XXVFR7@#####.net since 98.

I miss the sigle sided swing arm and the v-4 but the more ponies I get witht eh 1100 and the over all badazz look of the XX just does it for me.

xx'er for life!

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Sua Sponte!

1100xxben

Sacrifice the Harley!!!

I can already tell you that some people are going to tell you to get rid of the VFR because of the V-Tec. Personally, I don't know that it would bother me. I think the biggest difference is that the VFR will be more comfortable stock for those long rides and the XX is going to be a lot more powerful. Also, the blackbird is only 30 lbs heavier than the VFR, so that argument really doesn't do anything for me. It sounds like you found one heck of a deal... IMHO, I'd prob go with the XX. But again, we're probably all a little biased on here

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Who says money doesn't buy happiness?!?! Have you ever seen a sad person on a Blackbird?

jcrich

I think you will find as far as weight and size, the VFR is not that much lighter and not that much smaller than the XX.

DragonXX

SPEED !!!!!
There are not many things that can outrun a 'Bird ................................ The space shuttle comes to mind and maybe a Patriot missile

Seriously.
I bought mine for it's quality, ride, performance and comfort for commuting ! ......... The FJR1300 was close !

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" 'Birds of a feather, flock together "

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Hog-Sniper

If you want more power than the Viffer or the "air cooled dinosaur", then the Bird will satisfy. But proceed with caution while "twisting the wick". I used to think that my 90" stroker shovelhead was fast. After riding my XX, I got a reality check and a shit stain in my fruit of the looms.

SilverBrd

What more can be said??? The Birds are everything the VFR's are and more. The horsepower difference alone should convince you to the Blackbird.

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02 Silver Bird, Scorpion Carbon Fiber Exhaust, Zero Gravity Double Bubble, Power Commander, & more Mods to come!!!

Strek

I had a VFR as well. I liked it but... The BB is superior. Handles better. Looks better. Faster. The VFR had a higher center of gravity and it has that suck a$$ shaft drive. Still all in all the VFR a great bike with a great engine and I just don't like shaft drive myself. The BB is a better bike. I would buy the BB. take the clipons off of the VFR. Put them on the BB and then I'd get another set of clip ons for the VFR. I would do that so that you have them on the BB quickly and won't lose any riding time with the BB. When you get another set of clip ons for the VFR you could mount them back on the VFR and by then you will know that you now have two superior bikes and you can then sell the Harley.

youfly2

ONCE YOU GO BLACK YOU NEVER GO BACK!

TheG.O.A.T.

Smooth Sooooo Smooooooooooth and MOTHER F%$KIN FAST.
I just took a 06 busa for a ride and can happily say that it is not nearly as refined as a xx. Take the xx, You Will Not Be Disappointed

PJNXX

Others have touched on it pretty well already. I am a former owner of a 96 VFR that I had for 3 years and put on 36,000 miles. In a nutshell, the Blackbird is a VFR on steroids. The first thing you will notice is that your riding position is a little more extreme than a VFR, i.e. bars are lower and pegs are higher, but it is not uncomfortable. Also, the VFR is narrower between your legs than a BB. Once underway on the BB you quickly forget all that because the engine is the star of the show. With 40 more horsepower than a VFR you will be grinning from ear to ear. I say get rid of both bikes and get a BB. It is a bike that can truly do it all; solo sport ride, 2-up tour, and commute.

The VFR never had a shaft drive. What are you talking about?

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-Paul

2000CBRXXrider

I have never seen a VFR that had a shaft drive either. Must be confused with something else.

Im waiting on the guy to call me now so i can go get it. With any luck it will be in the garage tonight. It is raining here though so it may have to wait until this weekend. When I am able I will shoot some photos and post. I am hoping my wife warms up to it a little more than the VFR. She has yet to ride on the back and told me the other night she never would. Yeah she is a Harley girl through and through. She has just gotten to used to riding back there in ultimate comfort. I geuss if she doesnt like the BB, I can always get her on and with a quick hit of the gas she would be gone. Only kidding. Been married for 19 years and she lets me do what i want. I made the mistake of riding a sport bike last year for a while and found they can be so much more fun to ride and are truly better performers

magley64

If you get a corbin gfl, with backrest, and take her for a ride on the bird, she might forget all about the dinosaur, then you can sell it, get a 'wing, and you'll have a bike to retire on, LOL

I'm getting a wing when I get to be old....

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Ðuane
"Harley's don't have a "throttle" in the typical use of the word, think of it more as a "volume knob" on the right handle bar, the more you twist it, the more windows you rattle"

Strek

Yes I confused this with another bike that I had owned. A V65 sabre.
If she is a harley girl through and through but you still like her then you could always look for someone else to join you on the BB and leave the wife at home or just ride it by yourself. Selling the Harley might force the issue.

2000CBRXXrider

Harley was posted on Ebay yesterday and I informed her of it last night. If it sells great, I will buy something nice she will want to ride on the back of. Probably another HD. If it doesnt sell, so be it. It will be around all summer to ride on (when Im not out on the BB or the VFR). The VFR will be posted on Ebay this weekend as well more than likely. I got a very good deal on the VFR and also got a deal on the hardbags for it. If anybody knows somebody looking for a nice VFR please send them my way. I will save them some $ for sure.

Nobody else is allowed to ride behind me, thats one of mamas rules.

magley64

where are u at in ohio?

maybe you can get in on the group ride with myself, big arn and youfly?

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Ðuane
"Harley's don't have a "throttle" in the typical use of the word, think of it more as a "volume knob" on the right handle bar, the more you twist it, the more windows you rattle"

Strek

Cool. I was just kidding about finding someone else to ride with. I don't think my wife would like it either. Is it a harley thing with your wife or the fact that she is more comfy on the Harley?

2000CBRXXrider

Magley- Im down in the other corner. Southwest.

With the wife its a little of both i think. Shes pretty comfy back there. She can take anything she wants to in the saddlebags. We can listen to tunes and just enjoy the open road. We dont usually ride with others, do poker runs, or any of that other crap. She has also grown up a Harley girl as she has rode behind me for almost 20 years and she grew up riding behind her dad. We had a pretty interesting discussion about the HD thing the other night. Dont get me wrong, I like em, but the other day we went to local dealer just to see what they had and it seemed like every goofball in the world was in there looking to buy something that they know nothing about and should not be messing with, but they have the $ and they want to be cool. I dont want this to turn into a HD bashing thread but the whole scene kind of made me ill. I started riding Harleys back in the 80s cause not many others did and it made me different. Now Im bucking the system again by riding something different than the rest. Friends that have seen the VFR say "What the He** is that"? The BB will surely get even more ?s Im guessing.

Grrrr

maybe try getting her on the back of the bird. my wife says its the most comfy bike shes ever been on and thats with the stock seat. ive had them all and will never ride anything but a bird from now on. they are truely the best all around bike. good luck with it man

jjmcjames

The Interceptor is a fine bike. I found an '03 for a good friend of mine several months ago for a steal-he bought it and loved it-until he rode my '98 'Bird. I rode it also-rides fine, very comfortable and has the Honda reliability, but the XX blows it away on all counts. FWIW, I have a Harley too and my wife won't ride any of them...

CanadianBird

Ahhhhh, the perfect topic for my 1000th post. After I sold my tractor I test road a Viffer. I enjoyed it but realized immediately that I would out grow it. This was during my "market research" for a new ride. I spied the Bird at my local dealer and fell in love. It was the same price in '02 as the VFR and was, in my opinion, twice the bike. And it is, again, my opinion. I never even test road the Bird, just bought it, ordered Heli Bars, 3 Givi bags, a Corbin GFL, Two Bro Tit slip ons, a PC iii, and two months later, rode from Vancouver to Toronto, through the States, and home. In four months I rode 15,000 kms. I now have 120,500 kms and she rides BETTER, than new. Many upgrades and a few farkles and a bit of bling later, she looks better than new. Buy a Bird, there is no better cycle, again, my opinion and of course shared by members of this board and every other Bird board. Cheers

ArmyStrong

I'm in agreeance w/everyone else. During my "research" I narrowed it down to a VFR or a Bird. To be perfectly honest, I said which ever one I found a deal on first, i'd get. I happened to get to test ride a vfr that wasn't a good deal, but I got to see how she fealt. It made me lean toward the BB cause I felt I wanted something bigger. A few weeks later I sat on a BB for the first time and it was a wrap.

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Leftlaner

So.. Can we congratulate you as a new XX owner yet..?

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docsevicz

I bought mine 4 years ago this spring on my bro's researched recommendation (he has one). That season I rode over 9000 miles. Best bike I have ever been on and in the offseason its nice to just look at.