High Mileage Blackbird. To buy or not?

[Louie7Oaks]

I'm looking at a 1997 Blackbird on Ebay that is up for £1495. Seriously tempted, and it has the Givi wingrack fitted that will take all my luggage. Trouble is it's done 76K. I know they are capable of huge mileages, but is this a purchase I should really consider, and is the price right? There are all the service records to 60K and that was a major service apparently. Opinions would be appreciated please!

[adam277]

If it's reach that mileage it's probably been taken care of.

How long has he owned it for? Id be skeptical if he has only owned it a year and racked up high miles.
Try and see why he is selling it.

Edit here it is for the others.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CBR1100xx-cbr-1100-xx-blackbird-sports-tourer-motorcycle/323302379830?hash=item4b4652d136:g:pFUAAOSwJo5bJQYB

Bike is being sold by blazing motorcycles in Keighley who have quite a few bad reviews. I suspect it goes with the terrority when selling bikes for cheap but they don't seem to mind selling faulty bikes or even bikes that are not Road legal.
From the reviews I'd steer clear unless you know your stuff, or bring someone clued up with you.

Also get the number plate so you get checks it's mot history.
There seems to be some real nice ones on eBay though if you can stretch to £2000/£2500
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Bikes: Previous Bikes: Piaggio x8 125: 2012/2013, YBR 125: 2013/2013 BMW R1150GS 2013/2017, Honda CBR600RR 2017/2017, Honda CB500 2018/2018, Suzuiki Address 110cc 2019/2020, BMW R1200GS 2021-2023
Current Bike: Honda CBF 125: current

[Chuffin Nora]

^^

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

fwiw i've toyed with the idea of buying a b-bird - but one thing I kept coming across was complaints relating to suspension (both front and back). If you're considering a purchase you'll have seen some of the many online discussions - inc. potential remedies and upgrades.

Sag in particular can be way over what it should be. I'm not not small, nor light - and I err on the brisk side, pace-wise. So I'd need it to be sorted. But that's not easy. If there's no (fairly recent?) paperwork mentioning suspension work, maybe budget for upgrades and set-ups if you haven't already.

Personally, I'd never buy anything off a dealer. But I'm terminally cynical, and also think it's usually easier to 'read' a private seller.
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"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Rogerborg]

[johnsmith222]

[Rogerborg]

[Evil Hans]

[johnsmith222]

[stinkwheel]

With higher mileages stuff, you need to watch the consumables too. If you need to stick three discs, pads, chain and sprockets, headstock and wheel bearinga and two tyres on it, you just doubled the price. Exhaust? ouch.

But the thinking is good. Get a cheap blackbird. Drop another £2000 upgrading the brakes and suspension and you have a real weapon on your hands.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Ste]

76k miles, £1495, I'm going to say no.

It'll need stuff doing to it so spend that extra money on buying one that's better.

Sub £2,500 Blackbirds for sale: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Cars-Motorcycles-Vehicles/9800/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=honda%20blackbird&_dcat=9806&rt=nc&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo&_udhi=2500

Increase the budget further and you get even more choice.

[Fizzoid]

[mattsprattuk]

Nobody else noticed it's doing 220mph and the odometer probably doesn't even work as a result. I'll bet it's closer to 100k miles.
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Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!!
Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[BTTD]

No.

[Nb]

I sold my 2002 with 26k on the clock for 1500 quid.
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Cbr1100xx blackbird gone, mk4 golf gt tdi chav now
Colin1 wrote 'Im grateful for what i can get, which isnt all that much.'
Columbus travel insurance are crap!! Do not use!

[ADSrox0r]

Busted clocks stinks of, "It runs but it's fucked, chop it in to a dealer who doesn't give a fuck and be shot of it"
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Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[Ste]

Or they've just taken that photo after turning the ignition when the clocks do their full range of movement?

[BTTD]

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[Ste]

[johnsmith222]

[TheGazWaz]

Personal experience of Blazing Motorcycles here.

I bought my first big bike from them 5 years ago. 97 RF600. The were friendly and I never had any issues with the bike but that was probably down to a bit of luck in picking a bike that had been looked after by previous owners.

I got a months parts an labor warranty so I had a month to find anything serious. I didn't find anything but I get the impression they wouldn't have any issue upholding the warranty if it were needed.

I work up the road from them and frequently visit just for the pleasure of looking round bike places. They have a lot of older bikes in there but the odd newer one.

I've got it on good authority that they get most of their bikes from a larger dealer called Rite Bike. Rite Bike won't put anything above a certain age on their forecourt so Blazing Motorcycles get them, touch em up and ship em out.

To conclude, if you're lucky like I was you'll get a good one. Otherwise I'd be wanting to know my stuff before considering buying from them.

Nice looking bike though.
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Went like this.. 43 years old(2013) decided to do CBT to get a 125 for new job. Bought 2011 YBR, loved it for three months then hated it because it was too god damn slow. Did DAS 4 months later then bought RF600 Loved it, sold it bought Bandit 1200(K3). EFFIN lOVED IT. Wanted something a bit more sporty so got Triumph Sprint ST 955i (53). Not sporty enough so now on my GSXR 1000 K3 and absolutely love it. 1 year down the line, nearly died way too many times on this bike. Sold it. Had a 6 month break. Missed biking so now, Aug 2019 have a 1999 ZX9r. What a beauty she is too.

[arry]

Sure Rite Bike were dodgy, weren't they?

[winz]