What replaces the Bird?

 

MatkR I have been told thats the end of the line there is nothing to replace it about all they can suggest is that the ST 1300 is close I think not eh!!

 

Well have placed 515 ks on my bird today and could have easily done a further 500 Ks. I have found a funny thing with this bike in that it gets to the from point A to a corner very fast and you really have to think and work to take it around smoothly, not like my 92 F as she got to the corner and went around at the same pace. The bird is a little higher in the saddle but I am 6 feet 3 and my wife is 6 feet and we are very comfy just need to tuck legs up. The instruments are fantastic just love that big Taco in the middle and the digital speedo is great ( Nearly lost my License today ) so the brakes work VERY well 170 to 100 in about 2 meters FLASH for CASH just mist it Phew great brakes thanks Mr Honda. Gave the motor a varied amount of work with speeds never went over 180 leave that for after the first service. The motor sat at 4,000 RPM at 121 Kls per hour and 5 grand she was purring at 150 Found after about 400 Ks I would come up behind someone in 6th at about 130 and gentle squeeze the throttle and with in seconds I was sitting on 170, 180 easily I can feel the motor freeing up. Even though the bike looks basic in my wife view NOT MINE !! it has a large WOW factor as many people have stopped and looked at her.( bike not Wife )
I have noticed the exhaust is getting a unique note to her as well at first it sounded like a ***** but she is developing a nice tone.
Starting the bird is lovely no more choke just wait for the elec fuel pump and hit the starter, the digital display tells you temp trip meter and millage and a clock. The front tyre was a concern when I first started riding her but I can lay her down with ease now its skinner than the 1000 F I will change back to Pilot Roads when the time comes as these are BT 57's 120 x 70. I changed the tyre pressure also as apperantly the front should be 42 NUP down to 38 and the back was on 45 back but I took it back to 42 that took the roughness out of the ride also will have to turn down the Mono shock as well.
I cant really put a negative against the bike as I havnt even got sore wrists ! would you believe as I forgot to put my cruise control on her. I wouldnt mind a touring screen but thas only being picky The only thing I missed was my sheep skin cover on the seat as with leathers on you slip but hats under control.

 

Um, what's the recommended break-in procedure on that bike?

 

They told me ride the bike like you would ride it for the rest of its life but just take it a bit easy for the first 500 Ks

 

Maybe that's what they told you, but what does the owners manual say? The manual for my 95 1000f says nothing over 5,000 rpm for the first 1000 km and nothing over 7,000 rpm for the next 600 km. The last new bike I bought, a 2002 Kawi ZRX 1200, called for, I believe, limits of 4,000 rpm initially and then 6,000 rpm (I don't recall the mileage cutoffs). Why would break-in for a Blackbird be any different? Check your manual.

 

Here is a linky to some thoughts for breaking in the engine. http://mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

 

Hi mark did you see a lot of hondas on the coast today i rode to nerang to day there was a few gold wings on the road. One more thing i go riding with a bloke with a gsxr1000 thay are real fast ,i was doing 220 on the Kilcoy road he was on my *** dropped a gear and parsedme like i put my brakes on.....john

 

I didn't get the bike out this weekend.
Nerang to Murwillumbar is not a bad run and I also like Springbrook, very windy

 

That was told to me by the mechanic he said don't trash it that comes later just ride the bike like you are going to treat it for the rest of its life and try not to go over 6 to 7 thous revs for the first couple of hundred, and like I said the motor at about 400 Kls seemed to loosen up with increased power. He also went on to say that after 500 Ks she is run in as thats the important time to structure its future. I did listen to this bloke as he had my 92 1000 F once for a tune and it has started ever since on half choke and one press of the starter.