Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird 1996. 

My latest purchase. A real thru and thru 1996 model, registered in autumn 1996. One of the very first. Exactly what i wanted. Carbs, analogic clocks, no cat, no fuel pump, no ABS, just a simple motorcycle that i can understand and repair if needed. I don't want them any more modern than this. I have owned four CBR1000F SC24-Hondas, and as much as i loved riding them on Blackbird basically every single detail is better designed. 

Blackbird is basically very well updated CBR1000F. Every CBR1000F type-problem is solved. Better saddlelock, generator chain gone, better and easy-to-change camchain on the side of the cylinder block, better clutch that does not slip, better centrestand geometry, etc, etc.

Those two separate balancer shafts produce lovely and noticable whine like cam gears on VFR800 or something. Engine is very quiet when cold. Now that's a biggie for ex-CBR1000f owner!:) No more that annoying cam chain rattle when cold, or that generator chain rattle when taking off. Engine is a powerful beast but performance difference to well-tuned CBR1000F is not that great really. It's like having one extra cylinder. 

 Gearbox ratios are clearly longer than on CBR1000F, expecially sixth gear feels like overdrive.  There is that well known quiet knocking sound that every Blackbird makes when hot, internet is full of threads about it, it is a type thing and you can hear it only with earplugs on. Very low frequency sound. My guess is that it comes from balancer shafts. Without earplugs you can't hear it.

Front fork angle was bit too steep for my taste so i raised the forks throught the clamps and raised the handlebars also, so the nose flies now bit higher. It worked. What i don't really like is that giant speedometer middle of the panel, and then small revcounter on the side. Clocks on CBR1000F were better in my opinion, both having a similar size. Cockpit as a whole also feels like 600cc-bike, its quite small. On CBR1000F it was wide and roomy shelter from the elements with a great big bike feel.

It's a great ride, engine is the best part of it. Almost too smooth and civilized for it's own good. It's a sport-touring bike, not a sport bike though it's fast and riding position is sporty as a standard. A gentleman's sport bike. After you fix that riding position more upright, it's like ST1100 Pan European with a turbo!:) As smooth, but more powerful. 

 Carbie model is economical if you don't trash it, it guzzles between 5,2 and 6,0 litres per 100km. Injected model is more thirsty. It also does not have intake noise like CBR1000F had, despite it's huge 42mm carbs, it is extremely silent ride with stock mufflers. Stealth. Noisy aftermarket cans are out of character on Blackbird, reveal your precense for the enemy.

If you trash it above 7000rpm with open throttle, it makes a great sports car scream suddenly out of nowhere. Good thing about carbie model's 164hp is, that even if the bike has very high mileage, there's still plenty of power. When well maintained, these things last pretty much forever. What a beautiful engine.