In nearly six years. Summary: I've put petrol in it, changed the oil, brake pads and tyres as necessary. Erm, that's it. Thrilling. In its favour, it has never failed to start, it has its original chain and sprox, all of its original bulbs. What have I changed? The screen, for a d/b, Helibars to give a slightly more upright riding position, a Baglux cover, a hugger, and a touring Scottoiler. The Givi Wingrack as fitted(bodged on) by the original dealer has been replaced by a Monorack, as the panniers never got used. It's sipped fuel at a steady 29mpg, used no oil. Four pairs of tyres and four sets of pads have been consumed also. The only problem I've had was self-inflicted - jetwashing around the sprocket area caused old chain lube to contaminate the slave piston on the clutch. Fixed for a fiver. Funnily, since the jetwash destroyed itself, the problem hasn't reappeared. It's spent nearly all of its life inside central London, but every time I've ventured further afield, it's been fun. I'm convinced it saved my life in Norfolk two years ago, it's taken me faster than any other vehicle I've been (nominally) in control of, its punched over its weight in commuting duties nearly every day, and if you throw a bucket of water over it, it looks like new. From a distance. The use of aftermarket cans has helped keep the original silencers in better condition, anyway. It's still a better bike than I am a rider, and although it doesn't stir the emotions, I can't think of a suitable steed that I'd swap it for. In short, it's done exactly what I wanted it to do, and you can't ask much more than that. -- | ___ Salad Dodger |/ \ _/_____\_ GL1500SE-V/CBR1100XX-X/CBX1000Z |_\_____/_| ..78895.../...19992.../..31257. (>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 |__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 \ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4 \|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 PM#5 WG* '^' RBR 2005: Abandoned - Bronze Award.
Bear says... They blew the ZZR11 up IIRC -- Lozzo Track pixie GSX-R1000 K1 I haven't lost my mind, it's backed up to a floppy disc that's around here somewhere.
Bear says... Takes some doing with a newish one. Champ managed it too. <applause> -- Lozzo Track pixie GSX-R1000 K1 I haven't lost my mind, it's backed up to a floppy disc that's around here somewhere.
On Wed, 19 Oct 2005 18:58:18 +0100, Salad Dodger Very Honda. I'm tempted by one as high mileage models seem to be going really cheap.
: > : > I'm tempted by one as high mileage models seem to be going really : > cheap. : : Ditto. Always fancied one as I move to old man status...just a question of : whether I can insure it in the road... : I was of the same mind. E-sure were surprisingly cheap. £50 more than the 1200 Bandit IIRC. Mark
I thought about having a test ride on a new one but of course that would rather cloud my judgement if I were to then start looking at 3-4 year old models with 30k+ miles on them. I know handling will be a different ball game to the gixxer but I'm curious to know how much. Maybe if Dodger could take his to BOSM 2006 )
That sort of sums up what I thought when I rode Zymurgy's. "God this thing does everything I'm ever likely to want of a bike....." But it didn't communicate. Like a CBR600 with (a lot) more grunt. Hasn't stopped me considering buying one from time to time, mind. Because we all need good efficient working bikes from time to time. That was why I bought a new Divvie 900 a few years ago - I kinew it would be dull, but I new what it would do, and (at the time) I needed something like that.
On Thu, 20 Oct 2005 07:35:07 +0100, I remember testing one when I had the 955 Sprint ST and thinking that grunt was actually lacking on the 'bird. It needed more revs than the Triumph to get the best out of it, which in my book made it a bit pointless. Of course, I could say the same about the gixxer, except, well, it wouldn't be true ;-) -- _______ ..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom) \`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 `\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2 `\|/` `
Have I missed something? You selling the K5? BTW, whilst the Blackbird is as good as SD says, it is frightfully dull. The kind of bike that you look at and think, "nah, i've got stuff to do". And, I never found mine any more or less comfortable on long European trip than either my 6R or the gsxr. Kiran
Don't forget who's sitting on it... -- _______ ..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom) \`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3 `\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2 `\|/` `
Tosspot emerged from their own little world to say He did say most of the miles were done in central London. It has also consumed 4 sets of brake pads which I would guess is atypical for a 20k Blackbird. All that inertia....
wessie wrote IoD to Holborn( is that where he works)? About a zillion sets of lights, a similar number of taxis, scoots, peds and assorted shit to avoid. In that environment you are either on the throttle for 50 yards or the brakes or waiting for the lights to change. He is lucky to have used so few.
