L'oiseau noir

Rods · Post by **Rods** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 11:00 pm

gus wrote:Blimey richard,yours does look shiny and new!

That's cos the previous owner looked after it so well, it has nothing to do with the fact that Richard spent more time on Saturday cleaning it than I did in a year

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 9:23 pm

Got a couple of better pictures now (including new fairing panel on the 'Bird) plus a sneaky one of da new motah... afraid it's not as spangly as Paul's new one though (although it does go a bit for a tractor engine)

Had Jaws do the Bird's 32k service last friday - this is basically a biggy; valves, carb-balance, the lot. Came to 137 quid or approx 80 quid more than doing it myself. I'll do everything bar valve clearances tbh - shim adjustment on a DOHC IL4 isn't my idea of fun. Je suis un lapin content.

herrman · Post by **herrman** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 9:34 pm

£137 for a 32000 service, No wonder your a happy bunny. Time to trade for a Honda me thinks??

Regards Peter.

Archie · Post by **Archie** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 9:36 pm

Gromit wrote:shim adjustment on a DOHC IL4 isn't my idea of fun.

Very shiny sir, do you want to come to my gaff to hone your bike cleaning skills. There's a few here to practice on!!

I agree about IL4 valves, but you want to try desmo shimming

Valve shimming is probably the least satisfying service task ever, for me anyway.

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 9:46 pm

Archie wrote:
Very shiny sir, do you want to come to my gaff to hone your bike cleaning skills. There's a few here to practice on!!

I agree about IL4 valves, but you want to try desmo shimming

Valve shimming is probably the least satisfying service task ever, for me anyway.

I've 'heard' about the 'fun' one can have with shimming Desmo valvegear. No thanks.

To be honest I once had a go at shimming a DOHC IL4 - my old Kawasaki GPz550 which I rebuilt the motor on. Took the cams out, removed the head and turned it upside down to check what the valve faces looked like. 8 buckets along with all their shims fell out onto the floor and got totally mixed up. I'm just glad it wasn't a CBX

Should've said - none of the clearances were out on the Blackbird which no doubt helped keep the cost down.

Archie · Post by **Archie** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 10:37 pm

Gromit wrote:Should've said - none of the clearances were out on the Blackbird which no doubt helped keep the cost down.

Major plus about a Jap bike, there's nowt to service other than oil and filters etc.

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 9:30 pm

Coming out to play today daddy....?

(taken at 0730 today)

Ade B · Post by **Ade B** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 9:46 pm

nice pics Gromit..

you still got the S? cos I still have your twinmax....

Hopefully sneak out on a brekkie run sometime soon to return it, or pm me your address and I'll post it to you (Flat DIY permitting..)

Ade

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:42 am

Ade B wrote:nice pics Gromit..

you still got the S? cos I still have your twinmax....

Hopefully sneak out on a brekkie run sometime soon to return it, or pm me your address and I'll post it to you (Flat DIY permitting..)

Ade

No problems Ade - there's no rush re the Twinmax as I no longer have a 'twin' any more.

Hope to catch up with you on a brekkie morning though sometime.

It almost seems a sin to admit it but despite my traditional long-held contempt for H0ndas I'm really enjoying the Blackbird. It's bloody quick (no surprises there) and with a 7.5mm spacer under the rear shock (plus a couple of other mods) it handles really well.

BXR12NT · Post by **BXR12NT** » Wed May 16, 2007 5:58 am

Its with a touch of sadness that I report the sale of my 98, Red , Blackbird. Just 53000 km old she did me well for nearly nine years , tackling with aplomb everything I threw at her . Tropical heat never moved the temp guage above 1/3rd on the move( it did turn the top of the tank a sort of metallic pink though) , Eastern Creek , Phillip Island, Mallala and Hidden Valley race tracks did nothing to her,apart from planeing down the alternator cover, exhausts and lower fairings and apart from two cam chain tensioners she never needed anything other than basic servicing .

Until recently we had no open road speed limit which the old girl loved , bowling along two up (the Mrs and I are well padded) at well past 200kmh for hours at a time . These are exceptionally good bikes and I will miss her , except of course now I can devote much more time to my new true love , my R 1200S .

Bye bye, Blackbird Bye Bye,

Col

1998 Honda Blackbird (Red) Departed
2006 Bmw R1200S ( Black )

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 1:21 pm

Home after another fabulous w/e away with the Trixters - a bit mucky, but still loved. Not looking bad for 46000 miles old (and still on the original chain and sprockets)

Will be looking nice and shiny again soon.

Rods · Post by **Rods** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 2:31 pm

Rods wrote:
That's cos the previous owner looked after it so well

What I said!

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:03 pm

Rods wrote:
Rods wrote:
That's cos the previous owner looked after it so well
What I said!

Hell's Bells!! The prodigal returns!!

You now know what to do Tom - get yerself back on 2 wheels with an engine mate

Gromit · Post by **Gromit** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:31 pm

As of this month, the old girl's a teenager - 73000 miles and still riding/looking great:

Steve1200S · Post by **Steve1200S** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 8:08 pm

Looking good!

not bad at all for its age.