2006 Honda CBR1100xx Blackbird
Bought in Dubai, where BB’s are very rare, who knows why…? A very nice motorcycle, less vibration and quicker handling than the X-11, despite sharing about 90% of it’s parts. Despite its age, it's still good for 295kph...
15/12/25
Sold to a new home in Northern Ireland, along with my BB spares collection...
09/06/25
Spent a considerable time flushing and bleeding the brake system, after the rear kept locking on after any brake application. BB's are notorious for this, due to the quite complex hydraulic system with valves etc. in various places. Eventually restored it to normal.
02/06/25
BB now registered in UK. Had to clean/derust fuel tank, plus replace fuel pump and a few odd related bits like the battery to get it running normally after its quite long hibernation in Dubai. Seems weird that the fuel tank and pump would suffer, none of my other bikes have, even though they all stood for a while before I returned to UK.
11/11/18
Put the BB into ‘retirement’ until it gets shipped to UK whenever I leave the UAE….
24/4/17
Valve clearances done, only 2 were out of spec. also deleted the PAIR system and rethreaded one exhaust stud, plus new chain & tyre (Shinko!).
22/2/17
The BB is getting some badly needed maintenance. Valve clearances and general stuff, plus new rear chain and rear tyre.
5/11/16
Replaced front brake light switch—gone intermittent. LH and rear pads were shot, replaced all. Cleaned/adjusted rear chain.
1/8/16
Oil change, new oil & air filters and new rear chain.
1/4/16
The BB get some improvements. Fitted the hugger from my crashed X-11, and also the PC-3 as well (removed the Techlusion box). Two new tyres also.
20/11/15
New tyres...
15/12/14
Finally fitted an electronic flasher unit so the led indicators blink at right speed! Knock sensor FI light came on a few more times, unplugged/plugged ECM and it went away...
18/10/14
New rear tyre, had to be a 190 as no 180’s are available... :(
06/02/14
The BB now has it’s nice new paint, plus a Teclusion box, 02 eliminator and the old Yoshimura RS3 4-2-1 from my X-11 (the X-11 got a new Carbon Fibre RS3 Yoshi because it’s more visible than on the BB).
31/10/13
After the X-11’s rebuild, stripped the scratched panels, fairing, tank etc. from the BB and have sent for repainting with new decals, in metallic black (as it is now). I’ll also add the Teclusion box I have for it and 02 sensor eliminator, before I put the panels back. If I feel rich, I may get it a Yoshi RS-3, just like the X! Got dark lenses for the front indicators and replaced rear indicators with a LED taillight with built-in indicators. The gearing needs to go back to BB 44T rear, imho.
19/4/13
Replaced the rear chain with new DID 530, much better now. Using X11 gearing (43t rear) instead of 44t BB. Front sprocket was fine. I may change the camchain tensioner, I have a feeling it needs it. Think I’ll get dark lenses for the front indicators & a darker screen, it’s only bling, but...
25/3/13Decided to change the rear brake pads, because I know the linked brakes give them a hard time. They were fairly worn, ’tho not critical. Also checked the fronts, which were perfectly ok. Bought a LED rear light assembly which got rid of the rear indicators also. Rear tyre needs replacing already! -Swapped rear wheels with the Joy of X, which instantly proved that the rear chain is knackered (the Joy has a new rear sprocket).
12/3/13Collected the new toy and it passed it’s test ok. Initial checks only show that the fairing paintwork has a lot of superficial marks—no big deal. Mechanically, it seems very good.. “never raced or rallied” judging by the way it runs. The rear chain seems a bit tired though.