Honda CBR1100XX reviews

the big XX is a very comfortable and fast ride. i'm familiar with the ZX 11R(I've not ridden the 12R), it might be slightly faster accelerating than the honda to 130+ but is not confortable and does not handle like a sportbike. the XX will go like HELL when the rider wants to, but for most, the danger exceeds the foolishness of power riding on public streets. I can go from 0-105 in five house lenghts, who needs more. the bike does not feel as fast as it is. I've ridden 600's that felt faster but were not. the big XX is a very reliable, usable and smooth super-bike. The Suzuki's are fast for several years, then break; the Kawasaki's are very fast but are peaky and not as comfortable. Many of my friends ride the big super-bikes and the Honda is probably the best. The old CBR 1000 is also a great bike, very reliable and comfortable but not as fast. the reality is that the others are just not as durable or comfortable as the Honda; thats why there are so many older ones around still in good shape. try finding a 5 year old ZX 11, good luck unless it wasn't ridden much, but there are many old CBR's around with 50+ thousand miles on them and still strong. I have a friend who put 49,000 very, very hard miles on a CBR 900 before it broke. few super bikes will do that. the XX will not only move you down the road faster than one could legally go, but will do it with comfort and respectable handling. Show less

THIS BIKE IS A SPEED KING FASTER THAN THE SUZUKI HAYABUSA IN THE 1/4 MILE. 10.20 SECONDS THE BUSA DOES THE 1/4 IN 10.34.EXTREMELY CRISP THROTTLE RESPONSE THE 492LBS DISSAPPEAR QUICKLY. THE BIKE IS WHEELIE HAPPY IF YOU WANT IT TO BE.GOOD UPRIGHT SEATING POSITION RIDES COMFORTABLE AND SMOOTH EVEN AT 150MPH.ALSO GREAT GAS MILEAGE Show less

This thing was made for sport touring, not especially for cutting through tight canyons. If you want to cut through canyons, get a 600. But in reality, this bike would leave anything behind. I've gone up to GSXs, Ninja's and just plain toyed with them until I hit the throttle and left them to get their heads together. The looks complement the power you get out of this bike. And what can I say about the color, black is the best. Show less

A technical marvel great workmanship, and quality. All said, the bikes performance and other qualities are great. I bought my 2000 model sight unseen with the assurance from Honda that the riding position would be reasonable. I'm used to the Kawasaki '82 GPZ1100 which had an upright riding position. I have found the riding position even with Helibars puts too much pressure on the wrists and in my case leads to considerable pain after a few hours on the road. Riding double for any distance is for me impossible. Since more mod's would change the bikes too much, it will be relegated to burning up the road for short distances in town or sold. I have also tried sitting forward and squeezing the tank but this leads to a different problem, strain, occasional pain between the legs, and the risk of raising my voice with the next big pot hole. To put this in perspective, I've been riding since the 50's, I'm 5'10", 145 lbs and have had my share of excellent and really lousy bikes. There is no question that the Blackbird is excellent. I imagine 99.99% of the buyers have either had a test ride or at the minimum sat on the bike. I didn't have either opportunity. I've finally found a source for the ZRX-1200. I'll miss the F.I., the brakes, but not the riding position. Show less

This is bike number 22 or 23 in 30 years of riding for me and I have 4000kms on the Blackbird in just six weeks. I am enjoying the bike more, each time I ride it. I tested the Hayabusa and the Kawasaki but they were not really what I was looking for. A bit too much towards the sport end of the spectrum and a little too much weight on the wrists. I got the feeling that I would not want to ride either of them on greasy wet roads in preference to the Blackbird. There was also more engine vibration, especially in the 3-4k touring range, to contend with compared to the Blackbird. With the CBR1100XX there is a nice balance of common sense and performance. The FI is great, a little more direct than the carb models that I tested. There is tremendous power but it is controllable and the motor is happy even at quite low revs, get above 5000 and the bike really starts to move but still in a predictable linear fashion. Basically, this bike was well finished, it goes, it stops and corners well. The lights are good but I think that high beam could have been even better. The linked brakes have been rather less visible than I expected and I have no complaints to date with their performance. A number of 800km days have proved no problem as far as rider comfort goes. It is not the best for a pillion, unless they have short legs, but it is not the worst by a long way either. Touring range 300km + about 60km on reserve. A great bike! Show less

I had a 1999, BlackBird. In the year, and few months that I had it. It performed, with ease of handling, and a touring torque monster. I had put over 16,000mi, during the time that I had the bike, Allways wanting me to push it futher. I would rate this, as the best sport-touring bike, that you could buy. Now that mine was stolen. My next bike will be the 2001, Super Black Bird. Can't wait to get it Show less

Dear Honda - I've always been a "Honda for life" kinda guy but for the past 3 years and with considerable expense I have been "fooling around" with the Y2K-Kaw ZX12R, the 1999 Suzuki Hayabusa and lately the 2001 Yamaha R1. Oh yeah, I've sinned and enjoyed it! The Busa was butta outta the "holeshot" at the Jersey tracks always commanding respectable 9's. The ZX12R was a real headcase but none the less a very sleek and sexy, well, what can I say, "a very respectable mount". And now I'm literally screwing around with the R1. Screwing on kits and pipes to find never ending pleasures and excitment living in the fast lane - ahh yes, she "handles well" but never really pleases me. To get our XX relationship back on track for 2002, here is a simple wishlist for the Honda 2002 Super Blackbird XX. (1) raceable 200 size tire, (2) get rid of LBS, (3) lose weight, (4) go back to the color BLACK, (5) cc's = 1298, (6) more torque, (7) improve that da** clutch and (8) last but not least, better cross wind aerodynamics! Show less

I have been riding for over 20 years, but finally made the right decision with this bike. I have had Harleys, BMWs, Kaws, Yamahas, Suzukis, and older Hondas, but this bike rocks. I will mention I have been stranded on the side of the road with two out of three of my old Harleys only 50 miles down the road, but never once on a, shall I say non-American bike). The blackbird stock will deliver all expectations that one has been informed of. I just installed a turbo kit, and let me tell you that one will have to be strapped in even tighter once the boost kicks in. In some ways almost too much fun for just one to have. My girlfriend rides also, so I got her a ninja zx-12, she still can't keep up but she'll catch me when I pull off to have a smoke waiting for her to come over the horizon...if you are thinking about getting a "xx". You must: you cant loose. Happy riding and keep it under mach 1. Show less

I bought a new CBR1100XX six months ago. This is my 17th bike. I am 69 and have ridden motorcycles of all types since 1948. Without doubt this is the finest machine I have ever owned or ridden. The nearest that approaches it is the Vincent 1000cc V twin that I had back in the 50's, which was streets ahead of it's competitors in those days. The Blackbird has all the power anyone could need for road use and then some. The acceleration is incredible. It will cruise at speeds that many bikes cannot even reach. And the power is so flexible and smooth that riding in traffic or changing conditions is almost effortless. The ride is comfortable and the handling inspires confidence. The fit and finish are superb. It is quiet and unobtrusive, so if you are a poser this bike is probably not for you. It is faster than any standard Ferrari or Porsche, 0-100-0 in 10.4 seconds, and a lot less expensive to buy and maintain! For fast cross-country transportation it's the tops. The comments from Italian and French contributors that you list are unfathomable. I'd like to know what they ride and what they are comparing the CBR1100XX to? Surely not a European bike! Show less

I was fortunate enough to acquire a pre-owned 2000 XX in immaculate condition, complete w/Corbin saddle with low km. I have been riding an 86 FJ1200 for the last ten years and put over 100,000 km. and that is my basis of comparison. I enjoy sport-touring. The XX is a highly-refined sportbike, with same kind of longer wheelbase (great for the sweepers)handling but far superior to the aged FJ. The standard seating is slightly more aggressive than the FJ. As a 50+ aged rider, this can reduce the enjoyment factor a bit. It has the same wide torque band as the FJ. The brakes and suspension are very adequate for the greatest majority of riders. Handling is first rate for this type of machine. The XX pulls strongly, without hesitation seamlessly from low revs to red line in any gear. It is a high-tech package with incredible, but manageable power...it's uncompromisingly fast...it can be a hyperbike if that's your thing. Yeah if you want to mod hell out of it go for it...but it's not necessary. For me the 'Bird is the basis for a robust quiet mannerly smooth sport-tourer following a few easy mods (raise bars raise windshield and add throttle lock). Yes it has the looks performance and top end mystique of a Ferrari or Porsche (and then some). But it can still be a reasonable affordable and relatively comfortable way of enjoying the thrill of watching the scenery go by at any frame rate your wallet is thick enough to allow. Responsible riders will revel in the fit finish and magnificent power inherent in this incredible motorcycle. Four years of refinement show throughout the 'Bird...it may not be perfect for every rider...but then again you have lots of other choices. This motorcycle yells VALUE PERFORMANCE and QUALITY (defined as "the wise choice of many alternatives") all in the same breath! Besides that it's the most FUN you can have on regular gas! Show less