Are you happy with your bird? how bout some pics, freind of mine has one and its a screamer, comfy too. got any pro's or con's?i love the way they look , when i rode his his instrement panel vibrated around so much you couldnt see how fast you were going but other than that i think i want one but the more info i get the better. thanks in advance.kd

 

Hi,

I'm very happy with the Bird. It has been tweaked to 153 rwhp by porting the head, other cams, 4-2-1 exhaust etc. I felt it was not as snappy as the Cane up to 7 k before these mods. Carbed Birds are a bit lame stock up to 6 k. I can’t remember that the Cane was. After 7 k even a stock Bird will pull very strong compared to a Cane.

The chassi are about the same, both bikes are a bit slow steered, so I've raised the rear on the Bird 30 mm's and then it is fine.

The transmissions are the same, i.e. typical Honda clunky but basically free from problems. Both bikes have the CCT issue, but it is much easier and cheaper to replace a CCT on a Bird, you don't even have to lift the valve cover.

The comfort is better on the Cane for normal driving, but the Bird is far more stable at high speeds, 200 km and up. The Cane can almost not be used up to its top speed 260 km/hbefore weaving, while the Bird will do almost 300 km/h rock solid.

It is all a question about taste, a Cane is never wrong and the Bird is stronger if you are a power freak. Saying that, don’t mean that it is easy for a Bird to leave an Cane behind, this is muchmore a driver issue than the bike itself.

I don’t regret the transition from a Cane to a Bird, rather the opposite to be honest, butam still quiteimpressed by the Cane which I test-drive now and then using friends bikes. The Cane is a bit easier to run realhard since it isVERY well balanced in power vs. chassie. The Bird is not as forgiving and may bite you if not handled with some caution. Thestopping capabilityis far better on my Bird than it was on my –92 Cane.

There are millions of Bird pics on the Internet, whichyoumay look at. Mine is on the picture below. Not a very exiting colour though. It was dropped on side a few weeks ago and may be repainted glossy black next winter. This will hide some of the Birds not so nicebulkiness, e.g. the gas tank is better looking to meon the Cane since it does not have a large air box sticking into it.

Hope this helps.





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Hi R1000

Havn't you installed, higher than normal, clip-ons? VFR clip-ons perhaps..
If so, how does it work compared to the normal seating position?

Noe

 

Hi Noe,

Yes I've installed VFR bars, and they are noticeable better (for me) compared to the stock bars, especially at low and medium speed on uneven roads. When I started this season with some initialdrivingabout two months ago, I felt signs of tension between the shoulders after about an hour. Today, the body has adjusted so well to the Bird that itis as comfy as the favourite sofa. It is astrange feeling to ride with the same degree of relaxation as beingfloating around on back in a swimming pool.

The bike is used for daily commuting since a couple of weeks, when the weather permits. The temperature this morning was only +1.7 Deg C but I couldn't resist taking the bike 25 km's to work since the sun was shining. This requires good clothing and heated grips, but then it is pure pleasure.

 

thanks for the input ! youve made some valid points on both sides. i need one of each!but i dont think the wife would like that. i'll ride the 1000f for the rest of this year ( since i just got new tires) and if i still feel i need a change winters's alway's a good time to buy!