ZZR600 upgrade to Blackbird

Mrjoolz · Brolly Dolly Joined: 07 Jul 2011 Karma :

Hi there all,

I currently have a ZZR600 and am contemplating perhaps in a year or 18 months, whether to upgrade to a Honda Blackbird, for my commute to London and back each day. (80 miles total)

The zzr600 has been great, but just thought about whether to actually try one of these.

Does anyone have any thoughts, or pointers as to whether these are OK, and if they have any specific things to watch out for (i.e zzr600 2nd gear issues, not on mine though Surprised

)

etc...etc... etc.

many thanks

Joolz
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Previous Bikes: TZR125, KMX125, RGV250, RD350YPVS, GXSR750H, GSXR600SRAD, R1 (2000), GSXR1000 (K1), ZZR600, CBR1100XX Super Blackbird

Current Bike: Suzuki GSX1300R Hyabusa.....

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

DO IT!

I also have one that you can buy... Laughing

So you can have a sit on one and possibly test ride it. Thumbs Up

They have combined brakes, which I noticed, but doesn't really affect anything to be honest.

Comfy as hell especially for long distances, you might notice a bit more consumption on the fuel Laughing

But yea, great bikes. Been seen to hit massive mileage Thumbs Up

Reid · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 24 Jan 2011 Karma :

All I really know about them is that bellypan damage doesn't always equal a dropped bike. The clearance isn't great and they tend to get scraped if the bike is leant over too far in the corners. Nice indicator of the previous owner's character/riding style though Wink

fatjames · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Jul 2011 Karma :

Can I have the plastic off your z when you're done with it?

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

Do you think the blackbird will be a better bike to do the commute on?
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P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Just looked up the specs.

Buy a GSXR750/1000 instead Wink

jjdugen · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jun 2011 Karma :

Good machines. Watch out for any that have been dropped, even at low / no speed. The fairing mounting bolt at the middle rear screws into a lug on the frame. This can punch through and damage the frame.
Low seat height so easy to control what is a long and heavy bike.
Hard on tyres and chains.
Smooth thanks to counterbalancers in the motor but they do add to the overall weight. Top of the insurance tree too so get a quote first.
Carbys are a bit smoother than the FI versions, sorted with the later versions.
The linked brakes nearly killed my brother.......... No kidding. They would be the first, but only, thing I would immediately change.
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The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

Instructor mate of mine had one & let me have a play on it a few years back... seriously impressive bit of kit, particularly being 'silly' and trying a CBT cone course on it!

Very, very, VERY capable motorcycle, and for something claiming the title of 'Fastest Production Bike in the World' remarkably UN-AWSOME!

When I had some cash, to go get another bike year or so bike, I was seriously tempted.... for about ten minutes.....

Conclusion was; for all its capability, and the rather 'smug' appreciation most owners have for them.... I just could NOT get over that 'Un-Awsomeness'!

Honda have a pretty good 'Department of Correction' to engineer out anything remotely resembling 'Charecter' in thier products.... VFR750 is case in point.

After the debacle of the VF750 and its chocolate Cam-Shafts, they went back to the drawing board and nicked the VF1000R's gear driven cams, stole an FZ750 and nicked its beab frame, and came up with 'something' that actually worked, and was a 'bit' different, with that V4 'grumble'.... and it would, I am sure, NOT have got past the Dept of Correction, were it not for Samurai 'Face' wishing to prove that they were 'right' in the V4 concept and COULD make cam-drives.... Dept of Correction, were, I think, significantly behind the original Bland-Blamange CBR600, from rival R&D department copying a GPz600R, and trying to disguise the fact under something blow molded by 'Little-Tykes'... but they let the VF 'go', on the basis that they would add corrections year on year, until it was as boring as it could be...

But then languishing in the backwaters of media interest, with even BMW making more headlines, they needed 'something', and in one of the piques of untypically 'Honda' inspiration, they built, and even released the 1993 CBR900RR 'Fire-Blade'... probably horrifying the Department of Correction, who weren't allowed do do anything with it, as it would have defeated the point...

So when they were faced with the Black-Bird? I think they released all their pent up spite to do to it, what they thought they ought to have been allowed to do with the 'Blade... and made what, on paper ought to have been just about THE most extravagantly, audacious, and awesomest motorcycle ever built... as boring as FUCK!

And succeeded!

I dont much like the Hyabusa; I think it looks like a Dolphin and has a name like a sneeze. But it DOES have that 'Awesomeness'.

CBR1100RR, is by far a very 'sensible' motorcycle, and immensely capable.... but its what it LACKS that stopped me buying one, 'character'.

For half the money, the indominable underdog ZZR1100, offers pretty much the shear excess of capability a 'bird or 'busa would, and DOES have that slight 'quirkiness' to be a bit less, well, 'boring' doing it!

As for commuting? And All-Round 'usefulness'? I think that the 'bird is remarkably competent, and probably less compromised than many bikes; the only real question being the cost. They are not 'cheap' and as I found, commuting on my VF more than a decade ago; it is rather galling squaring expensive rubber unable to really use much of what the bike COULD do, just getting to work, and burning a lot more fuel in the process. But its whether its worth it to you, really.
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Mrjoolz · Brolly Dolly Joined: 07 Jul 2011 Karma :

Hmmm food for thought. Still happy with the ZZR at the moment. Just replaced chain, sprockets, front discs with wavey ones, and a new clutch cable, and its so smooth to ride at the moment, so loving it.

Just thought about whether I would prefer a blackbird, but fuel consumption on mine, is blinding, I can do two days commuting on it and its still not in the red. (175 miles), so the next bike would have to do something similar.

Also the Pilot Road 2's I have front and rear on mine at the moment, have done 10.5K (of my miles - plus what previous owner put on them) and still loads of tread left on them. (Paddy can confirm this). Really surprised that I havent had to change them yet.

Perhaps keeping mine serviced and continuing to run her, would be better option at the moment..... grandfather always used to say, "If it aint broke dont fit it" so perhaps I should wait until she breaks !!

Thanks for advice though.

Thumbs Up

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Previous Bikes: TZR125, KMX125, RGV250, RD350YPVS, GXSR750H, GSXR600SRAD, R1 (2000), GSXR1000 (K1), ZZR600, CBR1100XX Super Blackbird

Current Bike: Suzuki GSX1300R Hyabusa.....

Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

jjdugen · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jun 2011 Karma :

If I were you I woud keep the Z. With the Bird you will notice an immediate jump in fuel costs, you wont notice any appreciable difference in journey times, just that you will be doing them at lower revs! The two are almost clones of each other, with the 'Bird a bit longer stretch to the bars. Both cockpits have the same number of guages, both offer extremely good wind/weather protection. Had both, sold the 'Bird, kept the Z. I made the choice on the basis that the Z was so cheap to buy, run and maintain that if it was crashed, stolen or blew up I would feel little financial pain and would immediately look for another one just as cheap.
Trouble is, like Triumphs, people will start to twig that these are a very good machine and the prices will start to rise.
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The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

Mrjoolz · Brolly Dolly Joined: 07 Jul 2011 Karma :

Hmmm, think you have answered my question. I'll keep the old girl, and continue our chats on the way into London each morning

Mr. Green

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Previous Bikes: TZR125, KMX125, RGV250, RD350YPVS, GXSR750H, GSXR600SRAD, R1 (2000), GSXR1000 (K1), ZZR600, CBR1100XX Super Blackbird

Current Bike: Suzuki GSX1300R Hyabusa.....

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Mrjoolz · Brolly Dolly Joined: 07 Jul 2011 Karma :

I took a biopsy of the tyre compound and found out that they are made of adamantium. ;o)
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Previous Bikes: TZR125, KMX125, RGV250, RD350YPVS, GXSR750H, GSXR600SRAD, R1 (2000), GSXR1000 (K1), ZZR600, CBR1100XX Super Blackbird

Current Bike: Suzuki GSX1300R Hyabusa.....