text from Motor Review No. 3 2006: Dmitry Safonov (Dimych)

Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird: 1997 - present temp. $7200–12500

The “arms race” in the field of building the “most powerful and fastest” motorcycle sometimes gives not only poorly controlled monsters, but also amazing motorcycles that quite successfully combine power, comfort in all its senses, good handling and reliability. This is Super Blackbird. Or colloquially "thrush", "woodpecker".

Engine
The motor was developed directly under this motorcycle. There are no sick spots. True, you should not rely on its reliability and disregard the maintenance of the motor. The systematic replacement of the oil and the timing chain tensioner will allow you to resell the motorcycle with a minimum loss in price, and not look for a sucker who can be sold to a tortured "bird". The roar in the motor will not let you forget about it, but, believe me, you should not bring it to this - it will cost a lot.

Transmission
It's a Honda!!! For the uninitiated, this is the highest praise for any bike's drivetrain you can think of. However, it is worth looking closely at the state of the main gear chain damper and the tension of the chain itself - if it is cut off, the chain will very quickly gobble up the aluminum pendulum.

Frame and body kit
The frame could be stiffer. But, in principle, everything is at a decent level, and this only manifests itself with a rather hard ride, which the bike was not designed for. His element is high-speed tourism. And here he is on top. A comfortable loose fit, good wind protection, a powerful rear yoke that allows you to “stuff” weighty panniers onto a motorcycle without any problems, an elastic powerful motor is a tourist’s dream. Installing sliders is definitely useful, only the sliders must be correct. Otherwise, either a fragment of the slider will grind the plastic, or the “stone” slider will tear the frame ear, preserving the plastic. It happens that the “spider” of the nasal lining suffers. It's easier to buy than fix.

pendants
In general, they correspond to the title of "sport tourer". The hinges of the lever system can still wear out. A set of all the dust for replacement costs a little more than $ 100, however, if not the beginning there are the levers themselves. When driving very hard with a heavy load on badly broken roads, it can break the “triangle” in the suspension linkage system. The part is simple and very easy to make to order.

brakes
Brakes with CBS are just great. Only when pumping, you need to be more careful so that the system does not take a sip of air, otherwise a very big fuss is provided for pumping all circuits. It should be noted that the huge energy and speed capabilities of the motorcycle impose very stringent requirements on the state of the brake systems. So, installing “organic” pads instead of “synthetics” can lead to the fact that on hard braking from 200 km / h you will simply be left without brakes.

Comfort
"Tourist sports tourer", you can't say otherwise. Everything is convenient.

Modifications
Exists in successive three modifications. Carburetor, injection and injection with a catalyst and a lambda probe.

Based on materials from www.blackbird.ru

options

Engine: 1137 cm3, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, in-line, DOHC, 4 valves, liquid cooling
Max power: 164 hp at 10000 rpm
Max Torque: 124 Nm at 7250 rpm
Length: 2160 mm
Base: 1490 mm
Dry weight: 223 kg
Front tire: 120/70–17
rear tire: 180/55–17

Low but fast flying "thrush"

text from Motor Review No. 2 2003: Artmachine

Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird: 1137 cm3, 223 kg, 164 (152) hp, 290 km/h, $6500-8000

Since its debut in 1996, the Super Thrush has quickly and unequivocally become the most popular bike in the sport touring class. For many years, its 164 hp. and "maximum speed" under 300 km / h drove many motorcyclists crazy. The designers managed to create a surprisingly balanced and compact circuit - in fact, they connected the unconnectable. As befits a “tourist”, the model was endowed with excellent wind protection and a comfortable fit for the pilot and passenger, but at the same time, the bike received both explosive dynamics and excellent handling - a match for the “sport”. Now this is not particularly surprising, but for those years when the “thrush” debuted, it was a rare combination of qualities. The motorcycle cheerfully "pushed" into the background the main competitor - Kawasaki ZZ-R1100. The car received the entire sportbike set, starting with a high-tech four-cylinder 16-valve "row" with 1137 "cubes", a six-speed "box" and ending with an aluminum alloy diagonal frame, a combined brake system and a short-stroke rigid suspension. The model has long reigned among sports tourists almost as a monopoly. Thousands of sales volumes, solid turnover in the category of used equipment. Success accompanies the car today. Only by the end of the 90s did the Kawasaki ZX-12R and Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa breathe into the back of the head.

In 1999, Honda restyled: the model received an electronically controlled injection system, which, on the one hand, had a detrimental effect on power (it dropped to 152 hp “thanks to” the catalyst), but on the other hand, it made the engine performance even more even . Everyone's favorite stealth appearance remained almost unchanged: there were other chrome grilles on the air intakes under the headlight and a modern dashboard. The choke lever that characterizes the carbureted version has disappeared.

If a couple of years ago Blackbird's position in the rankings was unequivocally high, now, in the light of new developments from competitors, the rating has slightly decreased. How are you, "thrush"? On the test - carbureted version.

Vitaly Karpov,
independent expert
Height - 175 cm, driving experience - 18 years, drives a Suzuki GSX-R600
I've always liked the look of the "thrush". Especially when it flaunts on an advertising booklet, against the background of a flattened "stealth". For a 1996 model car, the Blackbird looks very, very stylish. What are the turn signals, which have come into fashion only now, mounted on the mirror housing. And the “aquarium” of the headlights is not bad. But it's one thing to love with your eyes... I got to know the "thrush" closely only recently, after riding the Hayabusa. This is probably why Blackbird disappointed me.

It's all about the goals you set for yourself. As a "refined" sport biker, I love racing machines. "Busa" struck with its explosive power, which sometimes seems even too redundant, and exclusively road landing. On the "thrush" everything is different. This is pure water "straight traveler", "tourist" ... Such people are indifferent to me. Drive in a straight line, albeit at high speed? Dismiss! I love the turns with the knee and the ease of control. I sat on the “thrush” and immediately “unscrewed” out of habit - I appreciated the number of “horses” in the engine, but when the first turn loomed on the horizon, and I tried to enter it, I almost passed by. So hard and clumsily "falls" the car into a turn. Everything resists, tenses. Say, you need to make an effort and bend over ... But do I need it? According to my understanding, the car should obey the pilot, and not be forced to follow its design. Therefore, the motorcycle returned and said: remove this pile of "iron".

Don't judge me harshly. For those who do not know how a powerful vehicle should steer, the “thrush”, of course, will seem like perfection. But, believe me, the time of "flying sledgehammers" has passed. There are already cars no less powerful, comfortable and, what is important for me, sportbike driven. Of course, the convenience, wind protection, as well as the power of the motor with the energy intensity of the “thrush” suspensions, impressed me. But why all this, if there is no most important thing - controllability? The prospect of laying down all this economy somewhere at a speed of over 200 km / h in a turn is not to my liking. And I don’t want to get used to, or roll in, as many say. There is no time for this. By the way, during a test ride on the "thrush", when I almost drove past the turn, the brakes saved me. They are, indeed, superb. Such would give Hayabusa.
Of course, I rode it a little and did not fully imbue it. But this is how I am arranged: if “it didn’t work”, then I brush it aside once and for all. If anyone had said now that he would give a ride for a fee, he would have refused. And, of course, I wouldn’t buy it for my motorcycle fleet for any ridiculous money.

Leonid Yushkin,
Motor Review expert
Height–186 cm, driving experience - 20 years, drives a Suzuki DR-Z400
There are cars that, by their appearance, somehow endear themselves, inspire confidence and convince of their qualities. There were so many opportunities to ride the "thrush", but, probably, it was precisely because of its appearance that I did not dare. I thought: “Well, everything is clear with this - comfort, dynamics, controllability. Better on something more "dark" and unknown. You know, the inner voice did not deceive me. When I sat on the Super Blackbird for the first time and “unscrewed it”, the feeling of something familiar and homely took possession of me immediately. The machine does not require getting used to. The landing is comfortable and relaxed. Even with my long legs, it is comfortable to sit in the saddle. Although there are more sportbike features in the landing. Fingers immediately find the necessary switches on the steering wheel, and look - instruments and indicators on the panel. In general, ergonomics are great!

The “thrush” weighs a lot, but you only feel these 200-odd kg only in static or when the motorcycle is rolling while parking. It is worth starting a little, and all the weight seems to be concentrated somewhere under you in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe motor. On the other hand, at high speeds, which are a trifle for Honda, you realize that you don’t need less mass. It is thanks to this mass that the car “stands” on the track. The aerodynamics are excellent: even in the usual Endura "synthetics" I felt great at a speed of 240 km / h. The oncoming stream did not tear my clothes, but smoothly flowed around my silhouette, forcing me to slightly cling to the “body” of the motorcycle. I must say that due to comfort, real speed is not felt. If the bike rides up to 140 km / h, then it starts to simply “cut down”, enthralling the pilot with its handling. In these dangerous modes, the brakes attract attention. - magnificent. The dual combined system allows you to "grab" the lever in an amateurish way and effectively slow down on any surface.

Motor is good! Despite its sportbike roots, it already pulls on the bottoms. The first pick-up starts at 5000 rpm, and from 7000 rpm the device “vomits and flies”. The stock under the “gas” handle allows you to imagine yourself driving a sportbike for a while. One thing can be said from the box - Honda is Honda. Everything is clear and unambiguous, without noise and dust ... Even shifting in slalom and passes in a deep inclination of turns work out on the “thrush” much better than on classmates. The factory setting (moderately hard and comfortable) of the suspensions was a success. The car is stable at any speed and on asphalt conditions that are possible in our conditions. The only “but”: at high speeds, I didn’t like that it throws up the “ass”. However, perhaps this is a feature of the tested instance. And yet, the view in the mirrors is clearly insufficient. If on the track it still went all the way (you are a forward, and no one “sits you up”), then in the city the “dead zone” can bring considerable surprises.

So it's early for Blackbird to retire. It should be taken as a reference sports tourist and all modern developments should be compared with it. And it’s not a fact that they will surpass our “experimental”. I can also say that for the money you can’t buy anything more reliable, manageable and stylish. As they say, with all the wealth of choice, there is no other alternative.

Mikhail Lapshin,
deputy editor-in-chief of Motor Review
Height - 192 cm, driving experience - 10 years, drives a Honda CBR600F
I fell in love with the "thrush" for a long time and in absentia. Somehow, standing on the side of the road, I suddenly heard a juicy rumble from the mufflers. I love sports cars and whenever possible I catch them on the track with my eyes. So at that time I thought that some kind of MMC Evolution under 200 was “knocking down”. What was my surprise that this clearly automotive sound of the exhaust system came from a motorcycle with characteristic XX on board. That's how I fell in love with Stealth.

He is another dimension, another world. You look at it when this carcass stands on the central stand, and you think: how is it possible to manage such a hulk? But in the saddle there are already different sensations - just a buzz. How did they manage to create such an all-consuming comfort? The mass of the car is not felt, the dimensions, on the contrary, you begin to feel especially sharply. The handle of the "gas" should not be "torn" - it must be "touched". Carefully and knowledgeably. For such a number of “horses” is enough for an instant transfer from point A to point B. I still remember the first feeling: the brain was pulled to the back of the helmet, the light dimmed, and the world was smeared on the sides. I saw only a dot on the horizon. When I looked at the speedometer, everything went cold inside: 220 km/h, normal flight. Over time, comprehension came, but the first sensations are usually exactly the same for many.

Now about everything in order. Let's start with ergonomics. The driver's seat is comfortable, but the sportbike features are still more pronounced in it. At first, it may surprise you that there is no step-stop on the wide “cushion” of the seat. After all, with such accelerations - that and look - it will blow away. But in reality, everything is fine - you sit comfortably, like a glove. The designers did their best with the aerodynamics of the fairing. The wind does not bother even after 200 km/h. I traveled with a bag on the tank and discovered a cool feature - you can just put your head on it (like take a nap) and so "bludgeon" through Simferopol to Tula. I will say: well, very comfortable, and most importantly - dry. Even the rain doesn't really spoil the mood.

Chassis at the highest level. The shock absorber setting is such that the car "stands" in the corners and gently "eats" bumps. True, the rear is sometimes moping, but I did not understand the reason for this. The rigidity of the frame is evidenced by the fact that you feel the whole car as a monolith, and not a collection of individual nodes. But "flying" over potholes is still not worth it. This is not an enduro. From the experience of advanced motorcyclists, it is known that sometimes the aluminum triangle of the rear suspension, to which the levers from the frame and swingarm and the shock absorber are attached, does not withstand - the lower rear ear breaks out.

Engine. Characteristics of both power and torque are very smooth, but with a characteristic pickup after 7000 rpm. It's nice that there is no sportbike failure on the “bottoms” and sharpness on the “tops”. But I did not like the failure at 6000-6500 rpm. At first I attributed this to the peculiarity of my apparatus, but then I learned that such a failure is a characteristic feature of the "thrush". Otherwise, there are no complaints about the power unit. The gearbox works clearly and unambiguously, like everything that comes out of the Honda assembly line. Not much power, but a lot. After the first trip, you must immediately decide whether you need it or not. Because as soon as you get used to the car, you start to rush like "bitten". The speed limit bar easily goes beyond 200 km / h. Moreover, the "thrush" easily raises the front wheel in first gear with a passenger.

The brake systems are the most affected. When some “teapot” suddenly decides to change lanes from the left lane to the side of the road at a speed of well over 200 km / h, and you grab the levers with a chill in your chest. You slow down and think: this can not be! I have time! Maybe, maybe, because the dual system is cooler than ABS. By the way, if not for her, then the newcomers would rather sadly finish their first "flight" on the "thrush". Due to the already mentioned comfort, the pilot is simply not able to feel the grip of the brake, especially the rear one. The predictability of deceleration fits in perfectly with the overall feeling of driving the car. Although at first a little surprised by the manner of cornering. At low speed, the fork seems to break a little. On the big one - another feature. The car slightly resists the slope (actually, all “tourists” are characterized by the straightforwardness of their desires), and then it collapses itself. You can also see a negative in this if you drive a nimble Erka, but I see a positive - the car gives the pilot time to think and does not allow you to accidentally turn the steering wheel.
The motorcycle was super, super and remained. Competitors, "beads" and "kavas" - and not competitors: they are for a different consumer. For those who dream about Blackbird, I want to say one thing: do not overestimate your capabilities. Let the car forgive some mistakes, but it transfers to a different speed mode, where experience and reaction play a big role. For beginners, I would not recommend "thrush".

Andrey Trifonov,
Reviewer for Motor Review
Height–191 cm, driving experience - 8 years, drives a Suzuki GSF1200S Bandit
Of the sports tourists, Blackbird is the most balanced system. The combination of power, chassis, weight and comfort is perfect. And, most importantly, excellent value for money. Is it possible to buy a device for $7000-8000 that will surprise and not get bored on the second day? Yes, if it's a "thrush". This is the best motorcycle in its class, no matter how competitors in the face of Hayabusa and ZX-12R do not try to surpass it.

This opinion was formed immediately after a trip to the test Blackbird. I used to ride a “thrush” for a relatively long time, and after that the impressions somehow faded, especially in the light of new developments of the same “beads” or FJR1300. If I had been asked yesterday about the "thrush", I would have answered that its time has passed. But now, when there are more than 500 km on the odometer, I believe in the opposite: competitors are resting. For all its outward old-fashionedness and massiveness of forms, it is still lively. "Bullets" and rolls great. Maybe there is no such characteristic sharpness and accuracy in turns as on the Hayabusa, but no one has made a sportbike out of the “thrush”. I can say the same about the ZX-12R - it seems to be more stable on straight lines, but only due to its specific fit. But try to "grab" to Peter? And on the "thrush" you can "fly" back and forth in one breath, because it is comfortable, dynamic, and manageable. When people ask me how much 22 liters of a gas tank is enough, I answer: just enough to stop, refuel and take a smoke break. The appetite of the motor depends on the driving style, but since active users prefer to “fry”, this pleasure pours out up to 11 liters per “hundred”. A lot of? What do you want from a car that easily keeps 270 km / h. By the way, about the "maximum speed". I managed to fire up the "bird" up to 300 km / h on the speedometer. Then it became scary: the landscape turned into some kind of light jelly. The manufacturer claims that the “thrush” does not “fly” more than 290 km / h. Inconsistency? By no means, do not forget about the errors of the devices.

You can talk about the merits of the machine endlessly. But most importantly - the brakes are awesome! They allow you to frankly impudent both on the track and in the city crowd. You see the “window”, once - and you are already there, a centimeter from the bumper. And you go at the speed of the flow. Importantly, the brakes are forgiving for inexperienced driving and slowing down on poor surfaces. There is one "but". Complex braking systems involve a significant number of brake hoses that bulge, resulting in reduced brake sharpness. Suspensions, for all their averageness in setting, are energy-intensive and tenacious. Users do not even think about tuning shock absorbers. One thing can be said about the "horse stock" in the motor - the optimum. For example, "bead", in my opinion, suffers from its overabundance.

The car is nice in every way. A clear gearbox, elastic characteristics of the motor, excellent wind protection. All this is complemented by the excellent quality of the fit of the nodes and plastic elements: nothing rattles. "Plumage" also has such an advantage that, when the motorcycle falls, it does not prick, does not crack, but simply erases, covering the motor components with itself. All in all, a luxury tourer.

Alexey Karklinsky,
Motor Review expert
Height - 182 cm, driving experience - 22 years, drives a Honda VFR800
I had to ride not only on this "thrush". Despite the fact that everyone's life stories are very different, cars very rarely (with the exception of frankly "mowing") give a spread in their characteristics. This copy, it seemed to me, sinned a little with the front suspension - a bit soft. Crushed a couple of times. Well, oh well, let's write off the nuance for cold weather ...
What to say? Smooth, balanced, surprisingly well adjusted, there is practically no difference with the injection. When you get behind the wheel, you immediately pay attention to the ridiculous steps of the pilot. With all the rest of the comfort, it is completely incomprehensible what style they are installed under. Not a tourist, not a sport… Too close and high to the seating point. It turns out that the legs are strongly bent. Therefore, the driver will not pass for a long time in this position - the knee joint becomes numb. Everything else (ergonomics, engine, chassis) is Honda. Everything is in its place, everything functions clearly and unambiguously. Worked out to the smallest detail.

But the character of the "thrush" - soft, comfortable and affectionate - is only at first glance. The wide seat cushion, smooth motor characteristic, comfortable ergonomics, excellent wind protection make you relax. You go and go, then you notice that the speed is nothing - 5000-6000 rpm - naturally, there is a desire to unscrew "to the fullest". That's when a beginner can have a serious problem. That buzz of dynamic movement, which advanced users of “thrushes” get, can go sideways for an inexperienced one. And all because the car during acceleration involuntarily supports (unloads, slightly raises) the front wheel, in three gears, at least. And if you don’t know and don’t expect this, then you can “catch treason” when the steering wheel for no reason begins to hang freely in your hands. Important: the rider does not feel the lift of the motorcycle. So it is worth handling this, one of the most powerful, devices during overclocking carefully. When you adapt, the "thrush" will give you a universe of pleasure.

A motorcycle can give the illusion of comfort and safety. Very soft suspension and seat, the complete absence of free flow due to excellent aerodynamics - all this turns off the pilot's objective receptors. You go on subjective, or, as they say, on instruments. And it happens like this: just thought - and already 200 km / h. What will it be like for a newbie? In general, you need to be able to switch to the Blackbird wave, then all sensations will be in resonance. So it is not worth recommending it to beginners, and even more so to people with a hot head. Again, it is very easy to be deceived by them.

Even now, eight years after the debut, "thrush" is difficult to compare with anything. Despite the power and speed performance that modern sports tourists operate, such as Hayabusa and ZX-12R, they "work" in a different plane. They emphasized certain qualities, but not the balance of them all put together, as in the case of Honda. But this balance is from the point of view of an advanced rider who wants to get comfort and adrenaline.

It is difficult to call a car a cult one - it is too expensive to become a bestseller. But none of the users of the “thrush” has any thoughts of changing the device to some other one. There is no alternative to it, which, in fact, is confirmed by various tests. Yes, maybe, in terms of dynamics, or in terms of controllability, someone is one iota ahead, but, I repeat, in terms of the totality of qualities, he has no equal. The injection version simply changed the engineering approach, made the car even friendlier, more predictable and even.

It turns out a bunch of exclamation marks, but there are also disadvantages. I did not like the mirrors - a huge area behind the back, in which not only a car, but also a minibus can hide, is practically not controlled. Glasses clearly lack panorama: it is not advisable to spread them wider. I would also change the graphics of the dashboard - make it more informative. This car cannot be controlled by your feelings - you are often deceived by the real speed, which is 20-30 km / h higher. In the meantime, looking at something on the tidy - you lose precious fractions of a second. It is difficult to roll into a car, and you have to control yourself using instruments that are not very readable. The rest of the "bird" is really Super Blackbird.

Alexander Dmitriev,
editor-in-chief of "Motorevue"
Height - 183 cm, driving experience - 14 years, drives Suzuki DR-Z400R, Yamaha FZR1000
Somehow it didn’t work out with the Blackbird: before the first acquaintance with it, in 1998, there was a crisis - there was no time for motorcycles. I rode a couple of years ago - I got a misaligned copy. Last year I went for a ride and caught a cold... Only this time we managed to evaluate the completely outdated device normally.

To get a feel for the car, I scheduled a long-planned trip to Vologda. And I arrived, I must say, in one breath, with the only intermediate refueling-stop, four and a half hours (440 km). I liked the non-dynamic characteristics - Hayabusa, which I tried a year earlier, was much more impressed. And not handling, which, by the way, is very adequate for the weight and size of the motorcycle. I liked the comfort behind the wheel and how the motorcycle feels on broken pavement - and there is enough of such goodness at the entrance to the old Russian city. Who traveled will understand. As far as Yaroslavl, the asphalt is well paved, and, except for the section of the narrow road from the border of the Moscow region to Rostov, the highway is very well maintained. Further, the coating seems to be in order, but with huge undulating irregularities. Let's say, in the same Africa Twin, I was driving only 120-130 km / h. On Blackbird, on the straights, he confidently kept cruising 170 km / h. When the asphalt became completely ugly broken, and I had to slow down to 60 km / h, I was amazed at the energy intensity of the suspensions and the thoroughness of the manufacture of the entire motorcycle: the same Africa (not new, of course) rattled like a good rattle. By the way, I returned after dark - in practice I was convinced that the headlight really works. I rode in overalls, so I could not fully experience the delights of high-quality wind protection, noting only that I did not freeze at a night air temperature of + 7 ° C. How many good things have been said about CBS - neither subtract nor add. Brakes are worthy of the highest praise, and why are combined systems so uncommon?

In general, the motorcycle does not stand out with anything bright - everything is in moderation on it, and everything is fine, at a high level. You understand its charm when you start looking for flaws and do not find them. Here is a week before Blackbird I tested Kawasaki. It handled better than the Honda, a little angrier, but it didn't exude that high quality aura. Contrasted not always with a good fit of the linings and a thoughtful gearbox. Here I did not understand what to complain about. Is it to a large weight that makes it difficult to maneuver? But this is also a matter of taste and physical capabilities. The Blackbird is not as nimble as the VFR, not as powerful as the ZX-12R, and lacks the Pan European comfort (unfortunately never had to drive a BMW). But in terms of balance, it approaches the ideal of a sports touring motorcycle. And not only. In capable hands, the Blackbird is good in the city - I myself observed this from the side, driving a loaded Firestorme passenger. The Blackbird pilot passed me with the ease of a scooter.

The CBR1100XX can be correctly compared with the Kawasaki ZZ-R1100, in which the "thrush" will surely win in all respects except for the price. There is nothing surprising here: just Honda is more modern.