| There is something just so utterly | | | | |
| intoxicating about the way Honda's Super | | | | While it's not quite as strong as the 'Bus or |
| Blackbird blends such enormous raw power with | | | | Kawasaki's ZX-14 or even ZX-12R, there's |
| such velvety-smooth refinement. | | | | still plenty here to keep you entertained, |
| | | | and you'll need to watch that right wrist |
| By rights, 152 claimed horses - which still | | | | like a hawk if you want any chance of |
| equates with over 130bhp at the rear wheel - | | | | retaining your license... |
| should make the 223kg Blackbird a big | | | | |
| handful, yet somehow Honda's wizards have | | | | Stopping is a particularly important issue on |
| managed to break those horses, and train them | | | | a bike like this, and the twin-disc, |
| to perform a synchronized ballet that would | | | | three-piston Nissins are right on the money. |
| be the envy of Spain's famed dancing | | | | Honda's Dual Combined Brake System (DCBS) is |
| stallions... | | | | employed, which won't please everyone but |
| | | | will be appreciated by others. If you're not |
| Then there's the fact that some 10 years | | | | looking to break lap records at Phillip |
| after its introduction, the Blackbird is | | | | Island, it shouldn't be an issue - and if you |
| still on the pace despite receiving very | | | | are you should really be looking for |
| little in the way of modifications or | | | | something lighter anyway, like a Fireblade. |
| upgrades. | | | | |
| | | | The suspension, though relatively low-tech, |
| Released late in 1996, the CBR1100XX went | | | | does a beautiful job, but tends towards the |
| from carburettors to electronic fuel | | | | plusher end of the spectrum, at least in |
| injection in 1999, and then received a | | | | terms of sportier hardware. |
| catalytic converter and updated headlights, | | | | |
| instruments and screen in 2001 - throw in the | | | | The 'Bird's on the money in the comfort |
| odd change in colour scheme here and there, | | | | stakes too, with a firm but supportive seat, |
| and the Blackbird has really undergone very | | | | a good screen and slippery bodywork to allow |
| little in the way of tinkering. | | | | you to scythe through the air. Those on the |
| | | | tall side may find legroom a bit wanting, but |
| And really, why would it? Pointing the bike | | | | there's still enough there to ensure |
| down Victoria's Great Ocean Road recently, it | | | | multi-day tours will still be on the agenda, |
| showed it can still hold its head high, with | | | | aided further by the 'Bird's optional factory |
| a formula that really hasn't dated since its | | | | panniers ($1750). So what exactly is the |
| inception. | | | | Blackbird's focus? At 223kg (dry) it's too |
| | | | heavy to be a pure sportsbike, yet it's too |
| The Blackbird's turbine-like four-cylinder | | | | fast and has too sporty a ride position to be |
| engine develops big torque and big power, | | | | a true tourer. |
| with crisp fuel injection that places both at | | | | |
| your beck and call. There are no flat spots | | | | Really, it's a power-packed all-rounder and a |
| to speak of, in fact there's nothing but bulk | | | | hyper-tourer on the open road - provided you |
| oomph pretty much throughout its entire rev | | | | can find roads on which you can actually |
| range, from just off idle to its indicated | | | | explore its potential (try Germany). |
| 10,750rpm redline. | | | | |
| | | | But even at legal speeds, that engine will |
| On the road this translates to a pure | | | | always see you coming back for more. Happy |
| delight, although it's perhaps not as | | | | birthday Blackbird - may your reign in the |
| involving as other less-powerful machines, as | | | | Honda stable continue for many years more. |
| even on a road with quite a variation of | | | | |
| turns you can simply pick a gear and stick | | | | SPECS: Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird |
| with it. | | | | |
| | | | Engine: 1137cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, |
| The Blackbird was the world's fastest | | | | DOHC, 16-valve, inline four-cylinder |
| production bike when it first hit the | | | | |
| streets, a mantle it retained for over two | | | | Bore and stroke: 79 x 58mm |
| years until Suzuki introduced the GSX1300R | | | | |
| Hayabusa in May of 1999. | | | | Compression: 11. |