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

Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird: 1997 - present time. $ 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, which quite successfully combine power, comfort in all its senses, good handling and reliability. This is Super Blackbird. Or, in common parlance, "thrush", "woodpecker".

Engine
The motor was developed directly for this motorcycle. He has no sore spots. True, you should not rely on its reliability and do not care about the maintenance of the motor. A systematic change of oil and timing chain tensioner will allow you to resell the motorcycle with a minimum loss in price, and not look for a sucker to whom you can sell 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 be expensive.

Transmission
It's Honda !!! For the uninitiated, this is the highest praise for any motorcycle transmission you can think of. However, it is worth taking a closer look at the state of the main drive 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 manifests itself only with a rather hard ride, which the motorcycle was not designed for. Its element is high-speed tourism. And then he is on top. A comfortable loose fit, good wind protection, a powerful rear yoke that allows you to easily "hit" heavy trunks on a motorcycle, an elastic powerful motor is a tourist's dream. Setting up the sliders is definitely useful, only the sliders have to be correct. Otherwise, either the slider fragment 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 to straighten it.

Pendants
On the whole, they correspond to the title of “sports tourist”. The hinges of the linkage system can still wear out. A set of all the trash 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 heavily bumpy roads, it can break the "triangle" in the suspension linkage system. The part is simple and very easy to customize.

Brakes
The CBS brakes are great. Only when pumping it is necessary to be more careful so that the system does not sip the air, otherwise a very big fuss is provided for pumping all the circuits. It should be noted that the enormous energy and speed capabilities of a motorcycle impose very stringent requirements on the state of the braking systems. So, the installation of "organic" pads instead of "synthetics" can lead to the fact that on hard braking from 200 km / h, you simply remain without brakes.

Comfort
"Tourist sports tour", there is no other way to say. Everything is convenient.

Modifications
It exists in three consecutive modifications. Carburetor, injection and injection with a catalyst and lambda probe.

Prepared based on materials from www.blackbird.ru

options

Engine: 1137cc, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, in-line, DOHC, 4 valves, liquid cooled
Maximum power: 164 hp at 10,000 rpm
Maximum torque: 124 Nm @ 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 Blackbird has quickly and unconditionally become the most popular motorcycle 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 incompatible. As befits a "tourist", the model was endowed with excellent wind protection and a comfortable fit of the pilot and passenger, but at the same time the bike received explosive dynamics and excellent handling - match the "sport". Now you won't be particularly surprised by this, but for those years when the “thrush” debuted, it was a rare combination of qualities. The motorcycle has cheerfully "pushed" into the background the main competitor - Kawasaki ZZ-R1100. The car received the entire set of sportbikes, starting with a high-tech four-cylinder 16-valve "row" with 1137 "cubes", a six-speed "box" and ending with a diagonal frame made of aluminum alloy, a combined braking system and a short-travel rigid suspension. The model has long reigned among sports tourists almost as a monopolist. Thousands of sales volumes, solid turnover in the category of used equipment. Success accompanies the car today. Only by the end of the 90s, Kawasaki ZX-12R and Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa breathed in the back of the head.

In 1999, Honda carried out a restyling: 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 smoother ... Everyone's favorite stealth appearance remained almost unchanged: other chrome grilles appeared on the air intakes under the headlight and a modern dashboard. Gone is the choke lever that characterizes the carburetor version.

If a couple of years ago the position of Blackbird in the table of ranks was unambiguously high, now, in the light of new developments of competitors, the rating has slightly decreased. How are you, "thrush"? On the test - the carburetor version.

Vitaly Karpov,
independent expert
Height - 175 cm, driving experience - 18 years, drives a Suzuki GSX-R600
I've always liked the blackbird looks. Especially when it flaunts on an advertising brochure, against the background of a flattened "stealth". For a 1996 car, the Blackbird looks very, very stylish. What are the turn signals that have come into fashion only now, mounted on the mirrors. Yes, and the "aquarium" headlights are not bad. But it's one thing to love with a glance ... Closely acquainted with the "thrush" only recently, after riding the Hayabusa. This is probably why Blackbird disappointed me.

It's all about the goals that you set for yourself. As a refined sportbiker, I love racing machines. "Busa" amazed with its explosive power, which sometimes seems even too excessive, and exclusively by road landing. On a blackbird, everything is different. This is pure "upright", "tourist" ... These are indifferent to me. Drive in a straight line, albeit at high speed? Dismiss! I enjoy the bends and the ease of control. He sat on the blackbird and immediately out of habit “unscrewed” - 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 awkwardly the car "falls" into a turn. All resists, strains. Say, you have to make an effort and bend over ... Do I need this? In my opinion, the car should obey the pilot, and not force him to follow the lead of its design. Therefore, he returned the motorcycle and said: remove this heap of "iron".

Don't judge me harshly. For those who do not know how a powerful technique should steer, the blackbird, of course, will seem perfect. But, believe me, the time of "flying sledgehammers" is over. There are already cars that are no less powerful, comfortable and, which is important for me, sportbike-controlled. Undoubtedly, 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? I do not like the prospect of laying all this economy somewhere at a speed of 200 km / h in a corner. And I don't want to get used to it, 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 passed the turn, the brakes saved me. They are really super. Such would give Hayabusa.
Of course, I drove a little on it and was not completely imbued with it. But that's how I work: if it doesn't go well, then I sweep it aside once and for all. If anyone would say what he would give a ride for a fee, he would refuse. And, of course, I wouldn't buy it for any ridiculous money in my motorcycle park.

Leonid Yushkin,
expert "Motor Review"
Growth– 186 cm, driving experience - 20 years, drives Suzuki DR-Z400
There are such machines that, by their appearance, somehow have to themselves, inspire confidence and convince in their qualities. How many opportunities there were to ride the blackbird, but, probably, precisely because of its appearance, I did not dare. I thought: “Well, everything is clear with that - comfort, dynamics, controllability. Better on something "darker" and unknown. " You know, my inner voice did not deceive me. When I first sat on the Super Blackbird and "unscrewed", the feeling of something familiar and homely seized me immediately. The car does not require getting used to. The fit is comfortable and relaxed. Even with my long legs, the saddle is comfortable. Although there are more sportbike features in the landing. Fingers immediately find the necessary switches on the steering wheel, and the gaze - instruments and indicators on the panel. In general, the ergonomics are super!

The blackbird weighs a lot, but you can only feel these 200-plus kilograms in static conditions or when rolling the motorcycle while parking. As soon as you get under way, 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 less weight is not necessary. It is thanks to this mass that the car "stands" on the track. The aerodynamics are excellent: even in the usual Enduro synthetic, 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 press a little against the "body" of the motorcycle. I must say that due to comfort, the real speed is not felt. If the bike rides up to 140 km / h, then it starts to simply "fall" further, leading the pilot to delight in its handling. In these dangerous modes, the brakes attract attention - gorgeous. The dual combined system allows the amateur to “grab” the lever and effectively slow down on any surfaces.

The motor is good! Despite its sportbike roots, it is already pulling at the bottom. The first pick-up starts at 5000 rpm, and from 7000 rpm the device "tears and flies". The stock under the throttle allows you to imagine yourself at the wheel of a sport bike for a while. One thing can be said about the box - Honda is Honda. Everything is clear and unambiguous, without noise and dust ... Even shifting in slalom and passes in a deep slope of turns work out on the thrush much better than on tourists-classmates. The factory setting (moderately hard and comfortable) of the suspensions was a success. The machine is stable at any speed and on asphalt conditions possible under our conditions. The only "but": at high speeds I did not like what the "backside" throws up. However, perhaps this is a feature of the tested sample. And yet, the view in the mirrors is clearly insufficient. If on the track it still all right (you are a forward, and no one "pisses on you"), then in the city the "dead zone" can present considerable surprises.

So Blackbird is early to retire. It should be taken as a reference sports tourist and all modern developments should be compared with it. And it is not a fact that they will surpass our "experimental". I can also say that for that kind of 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. chief editor of "Motor Review"
Height - 192 cm, driving experience - 10 years, drives a Honda CBR600F
I fell in love with the blackbird long ago and in absentia. Once, standing on the side of the road, I suddenly heard a juicy rumble from the mufflers. I love sports cars and, whenever possible, catch them on the track with my eyes. So at that time I thought that some MMC Evolution under 200 was “knocking down”. Imagine my surprise that this clearly car exhaust system sound 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 will look at it when this carcass is on the central stand, and you think: how can you handle such a giant? But in the saddle there are already different sensations - just a thrill. How did they manage to create such overwhelming 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 competently. Because this number of "horses" is enough for an instant transfer from point A to point B. I still remember the first sensation: 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 point on the horizon. When I looked at the speedometer, everything inside went cold: 220 km / h, normal flight. Over time, comprehension came, but the first sensations usually for many are just like that.

Now about everything in order. Let's start with ergonomics. The driver's position is comfortable, but the sportbike features are still more pronounced in it. At first, the absence of a stop step on the wide "cushion" of the seat may surprise. After all, with such accelerations - that and look - it will blow away. But in reality, everything is fine - you sit comfortably, like a glove. With the aerodynamics of the fairing, the designers tried. The wind does not bother even after 200 km / h. I drove with a bag on the tank and discovered a cool feature - you can just put your head on it (like to take a nap) and so "bludgeon" along Simferopolka to Tula. I will say: well, very comfortable, and most importantly - dry. Even rain won't spoil the mood.

The chassis is at the highest level. The shock absorbers are adjusted so that the car “stands” in the corners and gently “eats” bumps. True, the back sometimes mopes, 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 units. But you shouldn't "fly" through potholes. 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 itself are attached, cannot withstand - the lower rear ear breaks out.

Engine. The characteristics of both power and torque are very flat, but with a characteristic pickup after 7000 rpm. It's nice that there is no sportbike failure at the "bottom" and sharpness at the "top". But I didn't like the failure at 6000-6500 rpm. At first, he attributed this to a peculiarity of his apparatus, but then he 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. There is not a lot of 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 running around like a bitten one. The speed limit bar easily goes beyond 200 km / h. Moreover, the "thrush" easily lifts the front wheel in first gears with a passenger.

Braking systems are the most striking. When some "kettle" suddenly decides to change from the left lane to the side of the road at a speed well over 200 km / h, and you grab the levers with a chill in your chest. You slow down and think: this cannot be! I'm in time! Maybe, maybe, because the dual system is cooler than the ABS. By the way, if not for her, the newcomers would rather sadly end their first "flight" on the "thrush". Due to the already mentioned comfort, the pilot simply cannot feel the gripping of the brake, especially the rear one. The predictability of deceleration fits perfectly with the overall driving experience. Although at first it will be a little surprising how to take turns. At low speeds, the fork breaks slightly. On the big one - another feature. The car slightly resists the tilt (in fact, all "tourists" are characterized by the straightforwardness of their desires), and then it collapses. You can see the negative in this if you drive a fast "Erke", but I see a positive - the car gives the pilot time to think and does not allow him to accidentally turn the wheel.
The motorcycle was super, super and stayed. Competitors, "beads" and "kawas" - and not competitors: they are for another consumer. For those who dream of 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 an important role. For beginners, I would not recommend the "thrush".

Andrey Trifonov,
columnist for "Motor Review"
Growth– 191 cm, driving experience - 8 years, drives Suzuki GSF1200S Bandit
Of the sports tourists, Blackbird is the most balanced system. The combination of power, suspension, weight and comfort is perfect. And last but not least, 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 blackbird. This is the best motorcycle in its class, no matter how competitors like Hayabusa and ZX-12R try to surpass it.

This opinion was formed immediately after the trip on the test Blackbird. Earlier, for a relatively long time, I rode a blackbird, 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 about the blackbird yesterday, I would have answered that his time has passed. But now, when the odometer is more than 500 km, I believe in the opposite: competitors are resting. For all its outwardly old-fashioned and massive forms, it is still lively. "Bullets" and rulits remarkably. Maybe there is no such characteristic sharpness and accuracy in turns, as on Hayabusa, but no one made a sport bike out of a "thrush". The same can be said about the ZX-12R - it seems to be more stable on the straight, but only due to its specific fit. But try to "snatch" up to Peter like that? And on the "thrush" you can "fly" back and forth in one breath, because it is comfortable, dynamic and controllable. When they 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 engine 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 can easily hold 270 km / h. By the way, about the "maximum speed". I was able to heat 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? Do not forget about instrument errors.

You can endlessly talk about the advantages of the machine. But the main thing is that the brakes are awesome! They allow you to be frankly impudent both on the highway and in the city traffic. You see the "window", once - and you are already there, a centimeter from the bumper. And you go with the speed of the stream. Importantly, the brakes forgive the mistakes of inexperienced driving and slowing down on poor surfaces. There is one "but". Complex braking systems require a significant number of brake hoses, which are inflated, as a result of which the sharpness of the brakes is reduced. Suspensions, for all their averaged settings, are energy-intensive and tenacious. Users do not even think about tuning shock absorbers. One thing can be said about the "horse population" in the motor - the optimum. For example, "busa", in my opinion, suffers from its overabundance.

The car is pleasant in everything. A clear gearbox, elastic characteristics of the motor, excellent wind protection. All this is complemented by the excellent fit of the knots and plastic elements: nothing rattles. The "plumage" also possesses such dignity that, when the motorcycle falls, it does not prick, does not crack, but is simply erased, covering the motor units. In general, a luxury "tourer".

Alexey Karklinsky,
expert "Motor Review"
Height - 182 cm, driving experience - 22 years, drives a Honda VFR800
I had to ride not only on this "thrush". Despite the fact that the life stories of everyone are very different, cars very rarely (with the exception of frankly "kosyachny" ones) give a scatter of their characteristics. This instance, it seemed to me, is a little sinful with the front suspension - a bit soft. Crushed a couple of times. Well, okay, 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 notice the ridiculous pegs of the pilot. For all the rest of the comfort, it is completely unclear what style they are installed under. Not a tourist, and not a sport ... Too close and high to the seating point. It turns out that the legs are very bent. Therefore, the driver will not pass for a long time in this position - the knee joint becomes numb. In all other respects (ergonomics, engine, chassis) - this is Honda. Everything is in its place, everything functions clearly and unambiguously. Worked out to the smallest detail.

But the character of the “thrush” is soft, comfortable and affectionate - this is only at first glance. The wide seat cushion, smooth motor characteristic, comfortable ergonomics, excellent wind protection are relaxing. You go and go, then you notice that the revolutions are nothing at all - 5000-6000 rpm - naturally, there is a desire to unscrew "to the fullest." This is when the beginner may have a serious problem. The thrill of dynamic movement that advanced users of "thrush" get, can go sideways for the inexperienced. And all because the car, when accelerating, involuntarily supports (unloads, slightly raises) the front wheel, in three gears, at least. And if you do not know and do not expect it, then you can "catch treason" when the steering wheel for no reason at all begins to dangle freely in your hands. Important: the pilot does not feel the motorcycle being lifted. So you should be careful with this one of the most powerful devices during overclocking. When you adapt, the "thrush" will give you a universe of pleasure.

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

Even now, eight years after its debut, it is difficult to compare the blackbird with anything. Despite the power and speed indicators, which are used by modern sports tourists, such as Hayabusa and ZX-12R, they "work" in a different plane. They focused on certain qualities, but not on the balance of all of them combined, as is the case with Honda. But this balance is from the perspective of an advanced rider who wants comfort and adrenaline.

It is difficult to call the car a cult - it is too expensive to become a bestseller. But none of the users of the "thrush" in their thoughts has to change the device for some other. 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 variant 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 passenger car, but also a minibus can hide, is practically not controlled. Glasses clearly lack panorama: it is impractical 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, you are 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. Otherwise, the "bird" is really Super Blackbird.

Alexander Dmitriev,
chief editor of "Motor Review"
Height - 183 cm, driving experience - 14 years, drives Suzuki DR-Z400R, Yamaha FZR1000
Somehow it didn't work out with 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 rolled and caught a cold ... Only this time I was able to properly assess the already completely outdated apparatus.

To get a feel for the car, I planned a long-planned trip to Vologda. And I got there, I must say, in one breath, with the only intermediate refueling-stop, in four and a half hours (440 km). I liked not the dynamic characteristics - Hayabusa, which I tried a year earlier, impressed much more. And not handling, which, by the way, is quite adequate to the weight and size of the motorcycle. I liked the comfort behind the wheel and the way the motorcycle feels on the broken asphalt - and there is enough such goodness at the entrance to the old Russian city. Who went - will understand. Before Yaroslavl, the asphalt was laid very well and, apart from a section of a 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. For example, in the same place in Africa Twin I was driving only 120-130 km / h. On the Blackbird, on the straights, I confidently kept the cruising 170 km / h. When the asphalt became completely ugly broken, and 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 came back 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, noticing only that I was not frozen at a night air temperature of + 7 ° C. How many good things are said about CBS - neither subtract nor add. Brakes deserve top praise, and why are combination systems so rare?

In general, the motorcycle does not stand out for anything striking - everything is in moderation on it, and everything is good, at a high level. You understand its charm when you start looking for flaws and do not find them. I tested the Kawasaki a week before the Blackbird. It handled better than the Honda, was slightly meaner, but did not emit such a high quality aura. Contrasted not always with a good fit of the facings and a brooding gearbox. Here I did not understand what to find fault with. Is that the heavy 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 does not have the comfort of the Pan European (unfortunately, you never had to drive a BMW). But in terms of balance, it approaches the ideal of a sports-touring motorcycle. And not only. In the right hands, the Blackbird is good in the city - I myself saw it from the side, driving a loaded Firestorme passenger. The pilot on the Blackbird passed me around with the ease of a scooter.

CBR1100XX is correct to compare with Kawasaki ZZ-R1100, in which the blackbird will surely win in all respects except for the price. This is not surprising: the Honda is just more modern.