Yes, wheels do differ, I bought (and returned), a front for mine, as it was the wrong size axle. Ended up getting the original wheel fixed. Should be ok if you give the year, and ask the seller the dimensions. --
Would you consider 2nd hand wheels? Might be easier to find at wreck yards. Drop me a mail if you would like me to try a couple of places. Btw, in what town is the bike (might as well avoid paying for transport)? May be even worth asking for help (even in English) in fr.rec.moto. They are French but they are OK
Had a nice few days in Paris, then on the way back along the peage we left a paying station and headed off, right into an obstacle that crossed the entire road - almost like a severe sleeping policeman, but very narrow and black, barely a line, at about 70-80mph. Almost threw us off, but all seemed fine until the bike seemed to riding in treacle. Got to the hard shoulder and found a flat front. Got the bike to the garage we had just passed and found a flat back too! Also found a big dent in the front wheel and a smaller dent in the back. SOS call got a recovery wagon, who strapped the bike on and I then watched in horror a few miles up the road as the blackbird fell over! Now it's at a Honda dealer in France, who tell me it needs a new front wheel, and there is no stock at Honda for the correct wheel. It's a '99 CBR1100XXX model. The part number is 44650-MBW-E10. I checked with my local dealer on return to the UK (on foot!) who told me that there is plenty of stock of 44650-MAT-E10. They then said that this was for the 2001 year model and that I should have the MBW version for a '99. So...... My question is - do Blackbird wheels differ? Can I just get any Blackbird wheel from Ebay? The bike is stuck in France and I have to obtain a wheel and take it over in a couple of weeks time (after the bank holiday) Help much appreciated. I have now learnt French for tyres, wheels and other exciting technical jargon!
No, it was an SOS telephone call from the Autoroute. I have a claim in against the recovery firm for the damage to the fairing. I had the standard comp insurance and a travel insurance policy. I don't have European breakdown recovery, just standard AA UK.
Absolutely. It was an expensive add-on part way through my Bennets/Zenith policy this year, and although there is always a first time, I've ridden throughout France & Spain for 10 years and on many occassions without incident. Always ready to learn, though
I certainly would consider 2nd hand, but it seems like it would have to be from a '99 XXX model. I don't mind taking the wheel back to France (Vernon, about 80km north of Paris on the A13) I've only tonight got another motherboard in this PC (so much trouble all at once - the Northbridge fan gave out on the last one, the day before we went to FRance!)...so I'll email shortly, thanks.
In my mind the wheels would have been found in a French shop. For instance, try there: http://www.accimoto.com/piece-detachee-moto.php. One word of caution though, the French used to have a weird way to designate years (before 2000, motorcycle was said to be of year N if it was put on the road between July N-1 and June N. And a bike which spent three years in the shop before being sold can look a lot more recent than it really is. I wish they used version numbers... But the good shops have a decent return policy in case of errors like this (but you can have made a trip for nothing). Mechanics who aren't affiliated to a specific brand may help you locating second hand parts (they may have their own networks).
The AA do a 5 star European recovery policy for £26.00 to cover the duration of a TOG tour, well that's what it cost me last year.
Here in spicland, european breakdown cover is standard (maybe even compulsory) with every motor policy. What was this thing in the road that totalled 2 tyres and a rim? -- Paul. CBR1100XX SuperBlackbird (Buen mueble de patio) BOTAFOT #4 BOTAFOF #30 MRO #24 OMF #15 UKRMMA #30
Don't know yet. It looked like a thin black line - concrete or even angle iron or something, part of the road, not an object lying in the road. It went across at least the outer two lanes just after the Peage toll booth went from 6 or more lanes to three. We had no way of avoiding it, and were doing 70-80. When I get back with a wheel I'm going to pull over and photograph it for the insurance company.
be happy that you went over some weird obstacle in the road and managed to survive.. My 'bird had harder springs put on the front buy the previous owner, not sure it would help me if I was in this situation ! Simon
