Want your bike featured in a first ride? Please send me an e-mail at theherorr@gmail.com to arrange for a ride, Massachusetts area preferred.

My dream is that someone at Honda is watching this and they FINALLY, for real, bring a modern version of the Blackbird back.

I'm a female owner/rider of a 96 BB. Second bike for me. I went from a SV650 to this. Was a bit scared of it at first bit now I'd never part with it. Absolutely love my Bb. Effortless. Heavy bike on standstill for me. I'm 5ft4 and 9st. But I've had it for 4 yrs now and am used to her!! Best purchase ever x x

The Black Bird has aged so well It’s still my dream bike

yet another blackbird owner coming by to check and see if you had the same reaction the rest of us did. I've had mine for 7 years now and still daily it, drag it, and cruise highways and backroads with it. stock pipes are still the best sounding. you need quiet exhaust to hear all the wonderful chirps and whooshes of the engine, gears and intakes.

Hard to believe some 20 years ago, 2 months after passing the MSF and getting my endorsement I was riding a Blackbird. I started on a Superhawk. Two months later was trading that in for a Blackbird since a couple of riding buddies sold me on the bike. Never once concerned about the bike's weight or power, just rode that thing and had a blast. By far the most comfortable bike I've ever rode and had power for days. Rode that bike all over the Rocky Mountains, Pikes Peak, Salida, Fairplay, Aspen, Breckenridge, Bishops Castle. Amazing machine and amazing times!!!

The great thing about motorcycles is that you can just stick the key in and turn it on without having to buy it dinner and lie to it.

Had a 97 Blackbird, it would flatten your eyeballs between 7 and 10000rpm. Very fast, smooth and safe, wonderful bike and still relevant today, stable and great brakes.

Even though it's older video, your instant love with this bike made me smile. I'm a tall guy(194cm), so she is THE tall Lady for me. Got 2004 matt black/silver for 15 years+ and still runs like young kitten. You were right, lady runs hot when not moving, but who wants to be standing still ;). Its very comfortable bike to ride long distances. If it rains you get to be mostly dry and at least for me it's just in sweet spot not too leaning or upright position. Don't have to think too much overtaking someone/-thing with which gear you on, just twist throttle a bit or a little bit more xD. Longest continuous trip with just refuels was 650Kms for me, and I wasn't even exhausted, despite I'm over double of her age. This bike will take you for the ride with her and have to just sit back and enjoy the company. Definitely get one if available. For everyone who "owns" BlackBirdie: I'm happy for your marriage (Birdie owns you). Much love and peace for everyone from Finland.

The scariest thing about the Super BlackBird was how not scary it was at 200+ KPH. Add another 50-60 KPH to that and there was still no hint of blur in the mirrors. Keep in mind that the engine was hard-bolted to the frame; no rubber mounts, that's how balanced the engine was. The bike was 15 years ahead of it's time. I've owned three of them, currently ride a ZX-14R and in many ways the Honda is still superior. Although it did have it's quirks, it was the most reliable motorcycle ever built. We used to joke about the tool-kit strap as it's weakest link. The earlier carbed models were the best. Even with the smaller tank, it had a greater range than the FI models. You're right about it running hot, but that was only an issue with the FI models. The weight is absolutely not a factor once you're moving. Add a loaded-to-max 3-piece set of GIVI's and a passenger and you barely notice the difference. You never really got to check out the suspension, but that was one of the weak areas; something that most owners upgraded right away. Most raised up the bars but I loved the more radical riding position. What a beauty that bike was.

Love my '02 Blackbird. Found it in front of a Honda dealership in the summer of '08. Belonged to some doctor who never rode it (less than 2,500 miles on it at the time). Buying this bike was one of the best purchases I've ever made. And yes, they do tend to run hot in town or at idle. Get moving at highway speeds to keep lots of air flowing through the radiator, and it holds a pretty steady 185 degrees.

By the way! This blackbird is a 2003 model (last year offered in the USA). IT has EFI.

Hi from the UK, I px’d my Fireblade for a new Blackbird in ‘99. The best bike I ever owned, saw 195mph on the clock during my ride to work early one morning. A rocket ship when you wanted or a two up cruiser with the wife on pillion. Sold it after 3 years to preserve my license. Thanks for doing this video, brought back some very happy memories.

Back in the 90s and into 2000s we had to know what gear we were in. That bike was built for the Autobahn of Germany. They loved it. Here in the US we had no place for it. Cool bike. Good on you for sharing the experience. It is a classic. Edit: that bike was built to do almost 200mph for a long time.

I have a year 2000 red 'bird. I'm ashamed to say it's been tucked away in my garage for 18 months. However, I've got the itch back, and I'm happy to report that, following a new battery, it started first time. A bit of a brake clean, an oil change and some general tlc means I'll be back on the road next week. 😁

Sold My 2009 CBR 1000 RR and bought a 2001 Blackbird after hearing such great things about this bike.Fallen totally in Love with the Blackbird.Awesome Machine to ride even 18 years on.I have owned a few motorbikes in my time and this is at the Top of that list easily.Smiling from ear to ear and chuckle with joy every time I ride the Bike.Pure Joy!

As a blackbird owner for several years, I can attest to the statement of be careful of speeding tickets. In the first 6 months, I got 2 tickets and arrested for a super speeder 170mph in a 70mph zone. It’s so smooth on interstates it’s very hard to not be triple digits

ive had my 1998 cbr1100xx blackbird 21years and she still just as fast, nimble, reliable, comfortable and fun today, very underrated theses days, The blackbird was top of the range, cost me £10,000 in 1998! but no matter shes still as fast or faster then the bikes of 2019 and still the fastest (carbureted production motorcycle) in the world :) and the value s ever getting higher as shes just 3yrs from being a real classic.. Best time to own one :) go for it (hint hint) Once you go BLACKBird you never go back :)

Yeah, the bird's speed just creeps up on you. It pulls so linear and smooth, and pulls strong throughout the rev range. You go out for a nice calm cruise and you look down and your doing 130...

I picked mine up about 8 months ago (Australia). It is the second Bird I have owned. First was a 99 model and the current is a 2006. These are true icons of the motorcycle world. I bought mine so my wife and I can get out on the bike. I have an NC750 for commuting and the Blackbird is the fun weekender. Great video mate.

I have a 2002 in silver...125.000 miles on it. Regular maint. 18 sets of tires. half dozen chains and sprocket swaps....A few brake pads over the years. Fork seals...R/R the rear shock...New voltage reg. A couple of timing chain tensioners and she still tries to rip my arms out of their sockets every time I get on the throttle...The best mod you can do to this bike...Swap the clip on's for a set of 2004 to 2006 VFR clips...that solves the long reach issue....They run hot in stop and go traffic 212' in stop and go isn't unheard of and the fan kicks on at that point. I have worn off my peg feelers and put a few deep scratches on the stator cover from cornering...She likes to be man handled! It's not a bike for the timid...She'll hurt you if she senses weakness...Just like a real woman.

I have a turbo on my Blackbird. 217hp on 8lbs, 265 on 12lbs :)

I have a 98 Blackbird and commute, tour, and play on its amazing. I can't recommend this bike enough

just got a 2002 with a little over 22k miles on it . its in great condition so clean. all stock except for taller hand grips from a vfr. been watching all the blackbird videos i can

I installed a 03 blackbird engine,electronics,and exhaust into the 93 cbr900rr and i really love it..its got razor sharp handling and plenty of power..of course the build took me a year and a half but every time i ride it it gets all thumbs up and plenty of good comments so im happy

I sold my 2003 Blackbird and I bought a 2012 Fjr1300 with 20,000 miles and I regret every day, I thought the FJR was going to be just as smooth and with the Blackbird's torque with some less power, but no, big mistake, the FJR does not. It does not even reach the heels in smoothnes, quality, power, high speed stability, in short, I did a bad business. Everything they say about the Blackbird is true, there is no need to sell it.

I like this, Honestly I think you should add Nostalgic Bike reviews to you repertoire, or just reviewing Bikes Period

Yesss dude one of the most underrated bikes ever made!! Have had the pleasure of riding on and they’re amazing.

I used to ride ~400kms everyday to and from work on my blackbird. (around 1 hour 15 minutes one way at slightly illegal speeds 😁) Enjoyed every single moment of it.

saw this bike today for the first time out on the street, thanks for the upload man i love your channel so much

Sold my zx10r and kept my blackbird. It’s truely amazing road bike. Carb model the one to go for.

I'm picking my 2002 up Saturday. Watching your review has really helped in sooooo many ways. Thank You

These have been my favourite bike since before I started riding or even knew anything about them. This is the best review I've seen, and makes me want one even more.

The reach will help to reduce frontal area and wind buffet. I encountered this with my 1050 Sprint GT after riding more upright bikes and got used to it very quickly. Wouldn’t go back now. I’m still looking at buying one of these beautiful machines.

My second bike was a '97 Blackbird and was my only form of transportation for 2 years as I went to college. Amazing bike and comfortable for long rides, I would buy a new one in a second if Honda every brought it back!

Great video...this bike is a legend, it still has magic appeal after 25 years!

Bird is the word! I had a '97 XX back in the day. Miss that thing!

Currently rocking a '99 Blackbird...LOVE IT!

I had a Blackbird for 10yrs...a good mod is to replace the bars with the ones from a VFR 800 V-Tec, higher and nearer, no adjustments to pipes or cables needed

Very clean bike. Looks like Andy has taken good care of this Bird.

So you came full circle you made the epic video that got me to buy my blackbird 1100xx now you are riding one bravo young man Bravo....

I have 3 of it's parents 3 CBR1000f's (3 different models) and a bird along with a VFR800. The bird cannot be beat, it does everything so well. The old CBR's are fast enough and comfy, the VFR is just fun.

I absolutely love Blackbirds. I own a '98 and an '02 Bird. The '98 since it is Carbureted I have turned into a drag bike. Mr. Turbo turbo, Nitrous Express NOS kit. 12" extended swing arm. Air Shifter. Carbon Fiber Wheels. 7.90's in the Quarter.

I had one of these for 10 years. Brilliant bike!. I took my CBR600 for a service. I could not see why you would need a bigger bike. The dealer lent me a blackbird for the afternoon. That was it, I fell in love and never looked back. Effortless, quality engineering.

I've seen this video over and over again. I got a blackbird my self. Love this bike. Great video👍👍

What a bike. Still one of my favourites. Since the 90's.

Extremely underrated classic if that is possible. Also, styling that has carried so well into present day. Unlike the Busa which has that mid 00's look. Which has aged terribly. Kind of like XXL t shirtsb

A cracking bike. I agree it is a beautiful bike.I first rode one back in 1999 and was looking to buy one. Then I went and bought the Kawasaki ZZR 1100 . Brand loyalty had something to do with it. Absolutely no regrets. I still enjoy riding it 20 years later.

I own a 2003 Blackbird as well it looks exactly the same. I love to ride it. It`s such a fine ride every time. Nice review.

Facts... nothing is like the rush from a fast bike. I love cars but not nearly as much as I used to since I have started riding.

First 200 mile per hour bike. That's why so much power. She is a force to be reckoned with. Even to this day.

Got A 21yr old blackbird and she still going strong 💚

Just sold mine after owning it 10 years,fantastic bike.

Taking delivery of a 2000 gunmetal bird with 1,600 miles this week. Cant freaking wait

so glad to see the Bird in a nicely produced video, nice work 👍

Having ridden a Blackbird, I think it is a lot like what my ZX-14R is now. People who have never ridden one think it is only about drag racing or top speed pulls, but both bikes are so much more. Others write them off as "touring bikes", which they both do very well, too. But both bikes handle and hide their weight at speed. Anybody who hasn't ridden a Blackbird or 14R has no idea how good both really are. And the Blackbird has that great transmission, while my 14 has a bit clunky Kawi one. (My only real complaint about it.) Props to Andy, that Blackbird appears to be in perfect condition. Great to see an older sport bike that has clearly been loved and properly maintained.

The XX was my bike for over 10yrs, had two of em, made somewhere over 200.000 km in total. Unmatched bike.

I've had my Blackbird for 10 years, done 10s of thousands of miles and I still get a grin when I ride her.

Awesome video and I totally get your hype! Late 80's to early 2000's Honda's were the best bikes ever built! I highly recommend testing an FJR 1300 as well. That thing will blow your mind!

Smooth, effortless, leg cooking, unrelenting freight train. The XX is all those to anyone who rides one. Funny thing is, if you rode or owned a CBR1000F before (which I did) you can "feel" that bike's DNA in the XX. They just have the same demeanor and there are even some visual and ergonomic similarities between the two. The F is another legend that was often overlooked for the more glamorous or hyper-focused competitors. More bikes never hurt anyone, I'm currently at 9.

Just picked up a low mileage and super clean '97 Blackbird for a great price! Had to jump on it since I NEVER see these bikes for sale around here. Amazing bikes!

As a blackbird owner, you done a excellent honest review. Kind regards Dave

This was the dream bike I got to own. It did not disappoint.

This is my favourite bike of all time. The looks, the performance, the comfort. Unbeatable! The best 2 versions are the 1998 with the refined carburators and updated suspension. OFC the 2006 version with digital dash and fuel injection would be the second one. TRUST ME, you can lean the XX just like a Fireblade and scrape the footpegs before you lose traction ! Its not just that XX you are riding that has issues with heat during low speeds. Many, including me, installed a manual switch for the cooling fan when we got to longer red lights. Buts thats not just the XX, it was the same thing with the late 90s/early 2000 bikes such as the Fireblade, R1 from that era. I have a mate that installed an automatic trigger for the cooling fan when tempreture reached certain degrees. A very simple hack tbh !

God, I still remember the day I first took my brand new 2006 Bird out. Only way I'll let go off that bike is when they carry my dead body from the crash scene. Most incredible piece of machine ever made imo.

You're right, you can /really/ lean these bikes, and they're fantastically stable.

I've had a number of bikes including an 03 RC-51 and a Ducati 900ss SP, and have to say that my (current) Blackbird is the best all around bike I've ever owned. I am a bit on the short side at 5'7 and had the clip ons replaced with a JAWS handle bar> almost sitting straight now. 0 to 60 is about 3, and 60 to 120 is also around 3. I am an outlier and actually love the linked brakes as it allows a nice smooth slow down in traffic by using the rear pedal first. Handling wise, I take mine on a local river run all of the time and I am always amazed at how it corners for such a big bike. I also love that if I push a little too hard, the rear predictably slides rather than the front. As I get older and slow down, I may replace her with an ST1300, but until then... she will always have a place in my garage. PS: They run hot, especially when sitting at a stop light.

Somehow, RJ's latest videos brought me here. Stunning bike. Kudos to the owner for having kept it pristine.

I will never forget the first Blackbird I saw when they first came out. It was bought by a local Dr. who took it out, got on the throttle while entering the highway, and took it back to the dealership scared for his life. My Concours 14 only has 10 less HP and my -King has over 10 more HP. Crazy where motorcycles have evolved into.

ohh, how long i waited for this

Fuel injected 'Birds run hot, it is known and normal. Carb'ed 'Birds run considerably cooler :) Anyway - Hondas masterpiece, no questions asked. my '97 BB runs just like on day one, zero issues and i love it. you put it nicely: "you feel like a force on this bike when you're moving." this is absolutely correct.

That bike along with the vfr (2003) will always look good. I get compliments on my vfr all the time still.

I have the zero gravity windscreen on mine too. Love it! This bike will get your blood flowing very easily.

Mad they never replaced this such a great motorcycle 👍

I used to take my blackbird through the dragon alot. I can attest to how well this big bike handles on twisty roads. Wish I had never sold it.

Niceeeeeee , this is one of my fav bikes, glad you enjoyed it!

I own two - love them - you are right though - have to watch that speedometer! Really enjoy watching your reviews and listening to the excitement in your voice on this ride, I was like, "yeah, I know... right?!" Cheers. Keep up the great work!

Great vid, mate. I've had my bird for close to twenty years.. have been contemplating selling it.. your video has set me straight! Yeah- heavy when you're pedaling, and if the reach to the bars is a bit much (I'm tall, works for me) you can get riser clipons.. get one, GET ONE!

I think it looks great, I especially like the turn signals in the mirrors.

Agreed on all points! Have ridden busas too but the blackbird just feels so much more nimble in the corners than the busa

Had this exact bike -- 2 brothers and tuned and it is THE BEST OVERALL bike Honda ever made. And yes- I sold it for one reason, well two- i was either going to be in jail or dead bc its that addictive and it is supremely refined at the same time... I wish I still had her.

If the engine is spinning where you want it for that moment then YOU'RE IN THE *RIGHT* GEAR! Gear indicators are one of those absolutely useless gimmicks with no real purpose. The neutral indicator is a good thing to have, if it works. But there's no point to a gear indicator. BTW I've seen footage of Blackbirds on the Autobahn where they seem to run cooler. Seems the radiator & cooling system was designed for speed. 👍 Good vid, thanks for posting it!

One of the iconic 3. The Blackbird, Ninja Zx12r (my favorite), and hayabusa

Just imagine how the zx-14 you are restoring will feel,great videos!

To answer his question regarding the twisties... it awesome! A good workout on the quads moving off the seat from side to side, however I can get around the hills as quick as I can on my Fireblade but with more confidence and comfort. It's a pig to physically move around, but as soon as it's rolling, it's so light.

What a blast it was to own a '99. Big, smooth, fast.

I was literally JUST looking at Blackbirds on FB marketplace while I was watching your old "Ninja 300 at a big bike meet" video while you were uploading this video.

I’ve been missing your vids because of Uni, wish I could go ride with you and let you do a first ride on the Magna! Keep up the good work! Love the Blackbird!

Love this Review of the Blackbird and this guy,s Enthusiasm! Great Watch!

The heat is a normal thing. It does heat up pretty good when not moving.

My blackbird runs hot at a stand still but so does my VFR. Both of them cool down quickly when you get moving. I have never had any overheat issues with either.

My first bike was a "78 Honda Cb750F Super Sport. My second was an "83 Yamaha Seca 750. I have owned Hondas ever since. Even had a VTX 1300R for a few years. Just great bikes. That Blackbird is gorgeous but I still want the RC 51 to add to my collection.

These are high mileage workhorses, props to the owner who kept it in such awesome/original condition

Oh! Rode home from work today myself and my buddy two up on the ''bird, I weigh 240 he's about 220! And we didn't go slow! Try that on a R1!

Wonderful bike, perfect combination of stability, comfort and power. I would love to get one. Maybe next year I need a new bike anyway.

I currently ride a Honda VTR1000 Firestorm, but I have a lot respect for this bike. It's weight is a concern but I guess that's what makes the bike a great stable grand tourer.

Oh wow, is that mine? :) I am still grappling with mine after 10 months, It is nothing less than a beast but I will tame it. All 180BHP (it's tuned). They do run hot but don't overheat.

Tourer concept didn't yet exist in street category at this time. You had Cruiser, Sport, Race replica. Sports like GSX F, CBR F, ZZR, FJ were all smooth they were all stretched a bit and had quite Race riding positions compared to what you expect from a tourer today. Most of them had Smooth engines that would pull from 2K rpm than have nothing in the middle and than have decent top end. CBRX Was Kind of optimised to be Top end ish to break that speed record tho altho its smooth troughout. Its a 1100 however.

I just bought my 1998 cbr1100xx yesterday I’m in love with it!

I just bought a fuel injected one. It my absolute Hero bike. I keep having to pinch myself seeing it in the shed. It's absolutely gorgeous. It is a joy to ride. I might even figure out how to adjust the mirrors one of these days.