CBR1100XX Super Blackbird By Jase
The first impression of the 'bird by a rider of a 'gutless' SP1.
On a HUKRC egroup outing at the wheelie school in Wiltshire, Paul Rolfe and I decided to swap bikes for the ride back up the hill to the airfield. Paul was considering getting a smaller bike for tazzing around the country roads.
Being 6 feet 3 inches and *cough* stone, the blackbird fitted me far better than the little SP-1. I eagerly hit the starter and gave a twist of the throttle expecting to hear the engine bark into life instead I had to look at the (off centre) rev counter to see that the engine was running. Perhaps it was the fact that everyone else was firing up (blades, firestorms, sp-1 and a sadly out of place R1) but I couldn't hear the engine. It was so smooth that it couldn't be felt through the frame either although I may have been desensitised by riding V-twins for 3 years).
I followed Paul out of the car park wondering whether I was brave, stupid or a bit of both, there were some rather nice though tight corners on the way back.
The 'bird was obviously designed with touring very much in mind everything is so smooth. The throttle turns a lot further than most sports bikes I have ridden (but then it has more power) the linked brakes are very progressive although the even sinking instead of diving under breaking is very disconcerting. Not sure if it was because the BT56 on the front had done 9000 miles or it is a 'feature' of linked brakes but when I tried some very heavy but progressive breaking the front end locked and gave me one of those moments that are bad enough on your own bike but are really bad on a friends!
To be fair the road back up the hill couldn't do justice to the bike as it was rather twisty and hits right at the 'birds weak spot, it turns like a bus (although watching Paul nearly scrape his exhaust around roundabouts you wouldn't believe it). Although it has a claimed 165BHP, at the speeds we travelled (and my lack of familiarity) it did not feel it, in fact it felt like it had less power than even my old firestorm. Just goes to show that the boys riding them in Wales were really giving it some!
Basically if you want a tourer that can (almost) mix it with the sports bikes but provides comfort that allows you to walk after 500 miles even if you weigh *ahem* stone then I reckon this is the bike for you. Unfortunately it is not the bike for me I will be sticking with the SP-1.