Explore the world of bicycles


Honda Cbr1100xx - Super Blackbird

There is something just so utterly
intoxicating about the way Honda's SuperWhile it's not quite as strong as the 'Bus or
Blackbird blends such enormous raw power withKawasaki'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 stilllike 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 haveStopping is a particularly important issue on
managed to break those horses, and train thema bike like this, and the twin-disc,
to perform a synchronized ballet that wouldthree-piston Nissins are right on the money.
be the envy of Spain's famed dancingHonda'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 yearslooking to break lap records at Phillip
after its introduction, the Blackbird isIsland, it shouldn't be an issue - and if you
still on the pace despite receiving veryare you should really be looking for
little in the way of modifications orsomething  lighter  anyway, like a Fireblade.
upgrades.
The suspension, though relatively low-tech,
Released late in 1996, the CBR1100XX wentdoes a beautiful job, but tends towards the
from carburettors to electronic fuelplusher end of the spectrum, at least in
injection in 1999, and then received aterms  of  sportier  hardware.
catalytic converter and updated headlights,
instruments and screen in 2001 - throw in theThe '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 verya 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 bikethere's still enough there to ensure
down Victoria's Great Ocean Road recently, itmulti-day tours will still be on the agenda,
showed it can still hold its head high, withaided further by the 'Bird's optional factory
a formula that really hasn't dated since itspanniers ($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-cylinderfast 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 spotsReally, it's a power-packed all-rounder and a
to speak of, in fact there's nothing but bulkhyper-tourer on the open road - provided you
oomph pretty much throughout its entire revcan find roads on which you can actually
range, from just off idle to its indicatedexplore  its  potential  (try  Germany).
10,750rpm  redline.
But even at legal speeds, that engine will
On the road this translates to a purealways see you coming back for more. Happy
delight, although it's perhaps not asbirthday Blackbird - may your reign in the
involving as other less-powerful machines, asHonda  stable  continue  for many years more.
even on a road with quite a variation of
turns you can simply pick a gear and stickSPECS:  Honda  CBR1100XX  Super  Blackbird
with  it.
Engine: 1137cc, liquid-cooled, four-stroke,
The Blackbird was the world's fastestDOHC,  16-valve,  inline  four-cylinder
production bike when it first hit the
streets, a mantle it retained for over twoBore  and  stroke:  79  x  58mm
years until Suzuki introduced the GSX1300R
Hayabusa  in  May  of  1999.Compression: 11.



1 A B C D 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110