Going to look at a blackbird

[keithaba]

I'm going to see this bike today.

clicky

I feel like the price is a little high, but he spoke very highly of the bike, does routine maintanence, and I know the bags aren't cheap either. Interseting thing, he's selling it to buy a GENII FJR.

I'm not sure if this is the right stable mate for the FJR, but for some reason, I have always been intrigued with this bike, and I want to sit on it. (If he will let me test ride it that would be great but I don't expect that.)

I know Warchild has one, but if anyone else has ridden or has an opinion about how this bike matches up to the FJR please let me know.

Found this, but would still be interested in other's opinions.

Blackbird Posts

 

[wfooshee]

That does seem a bit pricey, but I admit ignorance about the bike. . . . How many miles?

I gave under 6K for my '03 FJR, almost 41,000 miles, not a ticker.

 

[keithaba]

That does seem a bit pricey, but I admit ignorance about the bike. . . . How many miles?
I gave under 6K for my '03 FJR, almost 41,000 miles, not a ticker.

Under 6k for an FJR, even an 03, is still a very good deal.

I really think the seat and the bags are pushing the price up. The thing is, this isn't going to be my touring bike, I'll leave that to the FJR.

It has 10,000 miles, but the blackbird like the FJR is notorious for reliability.

 

[FJReady]

That price does seem a bit inflated. Nonetheless it is a sweet bike. I rode one a few years ago and loved it. Buttery smooth greta power deleivery. Ergonomics not good for all day riding- for me. I loved the way it pulls- Hard- well into triple digits. Very intoxicating motor. I would make a great stable mate I think. Good luck.

 

[daviddowns2000]

I really think the seat and the bags are pushing the price up. The thing is, this isn't going to be my touring bike, I'll leave that to the FJR.

Then why pay pushed up price for touring accessories you don't need? Seems like a lot of overlap in purpose with the FJR.

 

[KSFJR]

The GIVI bags should not add very much. I have those bags on my KLR650 and I paid $220+ 2 years ago for both of them. They are a lesser quality than what we typically get for our FJR's. The mount would probably be an extra $200 or so. It looks great and if the price is right it would be fun.

 

[Orient_Express]

To heck with the price - see if the seller will come down at least a little. If it's been well taken car of, it could be worth every penny...

I like those motorcycles as well... I'm weak!!! :blink:

If you don't buy it - you'll always wish you would have...

 

[greg97224]

I have an 02 I bought new, I have 24,000 on the clock, and it has always run flawlessly. I did put a akrapovic exhaust system on it along with a PCIII, and got 14 more HP out of it. This bike isn't, at least for me, a long distance touring bike. It is very agile in the twisties and lots of fun.

I bought a 07 FJR to go along with the Bkackbird. I wish the FJR ran as good as the Blackbird. That price does seem a little high, but those are really low miles, just broke in.

Good Luck

 

[exskibum]

Great bike, but you've seen my comments in the other thread. I paid $7004 out the door from a dealer in Reno last February (2006) for my '03 with just under 3,000 miles, bone stock. I was living in Nevada at the time. I sold my '97 XX for $4000 a few months later, nearly bone stock and with under 30,000 miles on it, and proceeded to farkle the crap outta the '03 Bird.

IMO, the suspension, particularly the front, really needs upgrading -- it's the weakest part of the bike. I threw 8.5 lb lighter (total for both wheels) Carozzerria wheels on it, a Traxxion AK-20 front suspension upgrade and a Penski 8921 (?? - always forget its designation) rear shock on it, and lightened the bike further with a Micron 4-2-1 full exhaust system (w/PCIIIusb). NOW, it handles like it can and should, and does a pretty good job of getting out of its own way when you grab some throttle. Needless to say, I have a lot more than $7000 in it now. For me, it's the perfect companion to the FJR -- I've toured on it with Cortech Sport soft side bags and tail bag, but it's nowhere close to as good at that as the FJR (for me, anyway).

GF was on it for the first time on July 4 for a 135 mile ride in the mountains (she has plenty of experience on the FJR and is a really good pillion rider). Amazingly to me, in some regards she prefers the XX to the FJR! Her left knee doesn't give her trouble with the peg position on the XX, but does on the FJR, so I'm going to investigate how to create similar ergos for the pillion pegs on the FJR. The part she got intuitively, though, is how much more of a performance carver the XX is in twisties than the FJR. I really like what my FJR is in that regard with suspension upgrades, etc., so I was surprised she could tell as much a difference as she seemed to be impressed with on the XX. Still, she acknowledged that for a long ride, except for the knee and peg issue, the FJR is the more comfortable bike.

Conclusion? I think the price is high for what is on it, but it's an easy bike to love. The engine is really the high point, followed, IMO, by its wind tunnel styling.

 

[keithaba]

Thanks for all the info. I am going to see it and then let him know that I really like the bike (I already know I'm going to like it!) but that the price is a little out of line, particularly if he looks at all the other ones for sale on cycletrader.

I don't really like the bartering game, so I may just flat out offer him a little over NADA average, 7,000. I will precursor it with that's just what I'm willing to pay, so if your not going to let it go for that, don't counter offer, just find someone else who will pay what you want.

After all there are several other bike that have upgrades I would prefer, power commander and exhaust, that are listed for 6500-7200.

 

[Chips]

Thanks for all the info. I am going to see it and then let him know that I really like the bike (I already know I'm going to like it!) but that the price is a little out of line, particularly if he looks at all the other ones for sale on cycletrader.
I don't really like the bartering game, so I may just flat out offer him a little over NADA average, 7,000. I will precursor it with that's just what I'm willing to pay, so if your not going to let it go for that, don't counter offer, just find someone else who will pay what you want.

After all there are several other bike that have upgrades I would prefer, power commander and exhaust, that are listed for 6500-7200.

Peruse the classifieds on cbrxx.com to get a good idea of what your can get. This particular one is being sold by a guy that used to frequent Sport-touring.net: https://www.cbrxx.com/for-sale-wanted/2662-fs-2000-xx.html

 

[Cdogman]

Clicky

Found a better deal with VERY low miles

 

[Medium Al]

Clicky
Found a better deal with VERY low miles

Yeah that's more like it. Great bikes but no way could I tour long distances on mine. I have some spine issues and whereas I can ride hours on end on the FJR, about an hour is my limit on the Blackbird. It is much closer to a sportbike riding position than the FJR. I can comfortably sit straight up on the FJR, with no forward lean or hunch. On the Blackbird I am bent over with my knees in my armpits (or seems so). I am 5' 10", 32" inseam, 225 lbs. Bike has the lowering pegs and helibars. I almost feel as if leaning more would be better, I am at a lean angle where I need to support some weight with the low back at a bad angle for me (unfortunately have had some surgeries and fusions right there). You may have better luck.

I will second the Penske-Traxxion suspenion upgrade as making a big difference. Love the bike's smoothness, acceleration, poise at seriously scary speeds, and handling (with the rear Penske and Traxxion kit). I have done zero to the motor (yet). I use it as a canyon carver and scenery blurring device. I test rode a ZX14 and did not feel the additional performance was worth dumping the 98 'bird for. It has 30K miles on it.

Take a look at the two big Blackbird forums, lots of good info there:

www.cbr1100xx.org and www.cbrxx.com

 

[keithaba]

Clicky
Found a better deal with VERY low miles

Crap, that ends in 9 hours.

I hate buying a bike that I can't see or test ride. It's so hard to tell if it was ever wrecked and what types of scratches, imperfections, are present.

Hmmm... PA is only about 8 hours from me if I haul ***..

I found one on the blackbird forum that is in great condition and well taken care of.

It's a 2000 with 28,000 miles. I don't think the milage matters on this bike. $5300 with lots of farkles including full exhaust. I think I am going to buy that one.

 

[Toecutter]

$5300 with lots of farkles including full exhaust. I think I am going to buy that one.

You'll shoot yer eye out!

 

[Jaycen]

I was riding with a guy with one of these. We were doing a speed run up in Vermont and I was accelerating as hard as I could through the 130's and he went past me like I was standing still!!

I love honda's quality and I'd still be riding one if there was a better ST option than the ST1300

 

[exskibum]

I was riding with a guy with one of these. We were doing a speed run up in Vermont and I was accelerating as hard as I could through the 130's and he went past me like I was standing still!!

Yep, it's just about that speed range where the difference in acceleration really shows up between the XX and the FJR. We all know how you hit about 110 or 115 on the FJR and it is still pulling like a freight train -- with the speedo climbing like it has lots more. The XX is still doing that around 140 -- like it isn't close to topped out. Both my Feejer and XX have 4-2-1 pipes, but with the Bird wound up, it's like hitting a warp speed blur when you flog it in the triple digits. Almost scary how ferociously it pulls in its sweet spot. I can only imagine what MotoGP riders have in their right hands, and the kind of talent it takes to ride those bikes the way they do!

 

[keithaba]

Ugggg.... I really want it, but decided not to go for it yet as motorcycle loans suck right now.

They won't take the bike on a secure loan cause it's older than 2003.

Rates on the unsecured are 10.9% with a $99 closing fee.

Here's the link if anyone else is interested. I got lots of close up hi-rez pics, the bike is in great shape, comes with some nice extras. Great price for this bike.

my bird that won't be

btw, you have to be a member of the forum to view pics... Their forum sucks.

Ever wonder what a forum is like with our moderators, go look around at their topics! Sheesh...

Edit* Link with pics. 00 bb

Someone buy it so I can come stare at it and make pretend!