About the Blackbird '99.

By Peter B. Fitzgerald

During my current visit to Japan I collected 2 Japanese Motorcycle Magazines (October ) which had some articles describing the latest 99 Blackbird changes. I have taken some digital camera shots from the magazine pages ( there not the best quality but everyone can see the intent) and included them here to try and give a better an appreciation of changes. My Japanese friend did the translation ( he is non technical) so there may be some minor translation discreptancies - anyway the infomation is very interesting.

1. Blackbirds cannot be sold in Japan directly - they are re-imported
mainly from Europe and Germany.

2. '99 Models should be available for sale in Japan by 1st December 1999
for approximately Yen 1,180,000

3. European Colours:

• a. Candy Phoenix Blue

• b. Candy Glory Red ( 1998 Colour continued)

• c. Purple Rythmn Black

    American Colour:

•     a. Metallic Mute Black ONLY.

4. Horsepower Germany = 164ps Swiss = 160ps

5. Fuel Capacity Germany = 24 ltrs Swiss = 23 ltrs

6. Fuel Injection system is from the RC45 and has been remapped to suit with 3 different fuel Maps. Fuel Consumption improved by 8%. Throttle bodies = 42mm.

7. Ram Air added by using the original air intakes. Oil Cooler repositioned. Ram airs increase in density gives a 6% improvement. (See attached file: RAM AIR.jpg)

8. Radiator thickness made smaller - 32mm down to 24mm thickness - Fan diameter reduced from 200mm to 170mm - 6 fan blades increased to 7 fan blades giving a 25% increase in cooling capacity - fan noise reduced by 25%. Oil Cooler increased in capacity 18% and has been positioned on top of the radiator.

9. Clutch changed from 9 plates to 7 pates giving a 9% reduction in weight - 10% reduction in mass rotation - clutch material changed and using stronger springs - nett change is a 15% reduction in the activation force. Clutch Cover anodised Gold Colour.

10 Alternator output increased 9%. Alternator cover anodsed Gold Colour.

11. Weight reduction. Foot rest diameter reduced from 35mm to 30mm - saving 100gms. ( from CBR600F)
Handlebars - 80gms
Exhaust Pipes - 300gms
Muffler - 640gms.
Front Disk - 80gms
Front Forks - 80gsm

12. Knock Sensor added to the engine - located near No3 Cylinder, behind the air intake port.

13. Intake Valve timing change from 20 degrees BTDC to 17 degrees BTDC - improves low/middle RPM torque.

14. Crossmember under the air box changed from 50 x 22 rectangle to 33 x 20 oval - reducing weight and gear noise.

15. Ist gear design changed to improve gear selection. Dampers have been fitted to the gear shift selection mechanism to reduce noise and selection shock.

16. Dual brake system still fitted however the PVC operating force has been revised from 11.5 Kg/CM2 to 12.0Kg/CM2 which has the effect of reducing the rear brake operating bias - giving a more NORMAL feel.

17 Front Brake disk support changed from Stainless Steel to Aluminium - Floating Pins quantity increased from 6 to 7.

18. Oxygen Sensor and Catalytic converter added to exhaust system. Exhaust pipe collector changed to 1to 4 and 2 to 3 to improve mid range torque.

19. Ignition Key fitted with Imobliser ( not fitted to USA version) with a light added inside the Tackometer - if the light goes off you can start the motorcycle. Only 2 replacement Keys allowed to be ordered as Spare parts.

20 Rear tail light to revised to increase the efficiency of the reflector. Some minor body work changed to accomodate the changes.

21. Rear Shock Absorber valveing changed to improve the direct feel of the suspension.

22. Front Fork rods changed to Aluminium and shortened 5mm - oil path changed - dampening improved.

23. Shape of the front break lever reshaped to prevent the airflow pressure at high speed activation the brake light.

24. Side stand warning light replaced on the Dashboard by the Fuel Injection Warning light.

25. Manual Choke Lever removed - auto Choke controlled by PGM-FI system.

26. Front Screen changed in colour similar to POLARISER ( like a rainbow colour).

27. Both Dunlop and Bridgestone have changed the design of the REAR tyres in the casing and compound area to give further improved handling. New models will be fitted with there tyres - no change to the front tyres compound or casing.

The overall performance of the motorcycle has been improved dramatically. There have been many other minor/cosmetic changes to improve the overall motorcycle. Although no official figures were quoted from Honda there is a rumour that the new Blackbirds quarter mile performance is better than the new 175ps Suzuki GSX1300R which is sub 9.9 seconds. Its top speed is also better than the Suzuki at 300KPH plus. No responsibility accepted for any misquote or errors - I have attempted to provide accurate information as reported in the magazine.

CBR 1100 XX SuperBlackBird Model 1999
First impression

1 At the Dealer's showroom.....

I ordered the Bird on November, 6 1998 and the delivery was foreseen for the December, 11 1998. On the November, 27 1998 I go to the Dealer for some other stuff and he says : 'Come with me in the garage, I've a surprise for you....'. In the garage, I've just in front of me two Blue XX.  I couldn't say any word, the shock was so big ! It was the first time I see in real life the new blue XX and it's more impressive all the pictures you can see in magazines. I ask : 'Can I take it now ?' He answered me : 'No we have to prepare it. You can take it omorrow morning.'.....

2 The first ride....

After a sleepless night and saying goodbye to my little CB 500, I leave the dealer's showroom with the Bird. This bike is very impressive and very different of what I knew with the CB 500. The first kilometers are very exciting, when you accelerate, you feel the power of that missile very quickly,  this bike has a very sensitive throttle, even if you are in 6th speed at 4.000 RPM turn the throttle and the CBR restart directly.

3 After the first 1.000 Km....

After the first 1.000 Km, I can really try the bike but the wether doesn't allow it (lot of rain, snow during 1 week, slippery road, ....) but between two 'belgian showers' I test it.  The accelerations are powerfull but linear. I mean that there is no level where all the power comes in one block, it's more progressive but still aggressive. The brakes are powerfull thanks to the Dual CBS. The front light is very good in comparison to the light of the CB 500 where you don't see so much..... It's an extremely silent bike, the engine noise is like a vaccum cleaner (saying my friend Olivier how has a DEVIL on his XX). The stability of the bike is very very good on dry road. On wet road, the rider must be very carefull, the rear wheel slips very quickly.

I've three bad point to notice :

• a) It's a heavy bike

• b) It's not very easy bike in slow speed (to do a U-turn or to ride in town)

• c) The bird loves fuel. My average consumption is +- 9 liter (the lowest : 8.2 l and the highest : 10,5 l)
  
  Due to the bad wether we have now in Belgium and the fact that it is my first big bike I cannot tell you more about this bike but I wait the sun's return to see what this bird can do.....
  
              Serge Driesen

Comparison between '98 and '99 model

1: it was foreseen the new XX should have a less crunchy gearbox. For what I saw on the 99 model, it's not crunchy, it's precise and you still hear the fisrt gear, but, yes it seems sweeter than before.

2: the "driveline lash" i.e. the too much responsive reaction of the bike when you twist the throttle. This is not a problem on each XX I tested but mine is much sensible, I have to take care in U turns...
On the 99 XX, the EFI turns off this phenomenon, the throttle is crisp and precise, but this is not brutal. The EFI turns the engine into a "precise" vacuum cleaner :-)
3: Serge is right about the engine, it is now very linear, it is efficient but you don't have the feeling of a warp! when you hit the 7000 rpm like on the previous model. Efficient because you don't have a little hole at 4500 rpm, but a little less funny maybe. What do we need ? perfection or fun ?

4: the fuel tank is larger, this is noticeable but not intrusive for me.

5: the side stand light is replaced by a EFI control light. (sounds a bit strange..)

6: fuel consumption is higher as said by Serge who drives in a Sport-GT rythm, like me. I don't understand why. Note that fuel injected VFR also drink more fuel than carbureted ones (even if the 800 is bigger than "old" 750, this is also strange). My consumption is between 6,4 and 7,4 (average 6,9 l/100 km).

7: The XX stays an impressive package but I can say after a test on a VFR that a XX is a bike that tells you : "go faster...". It's difficult to cruise gently, that's my opinion. Maybe because mine is so fun after 6000 rpm...

            Olivier Darge

Motorrad, one of Europe's biggest selling motorcycle magazines have tested the ' 99 Blackbird. I will not translate the article, but only their final conclusion
The improvements make the '99 Blackbird a better bike than it already was. The engine is smoother, midrange and top power is better, the fuel injection is very good without any negative marks some other fuel injected bikes show. The clutch works better. Even the brakes are better. The Blackbird gives you a perfect Grand Tourismo feeling.

After reading the test I wished it would already be March :-))))

A flat tyre at high speed.

by Peter Habing

On a beautiful Sundaymorning I was riving along the highway in Germany on my Blackbird and ... there where two other people who wants to drive with speed. Two German car's, a Volvo 850 TR and a BMW M3. Faster then 250 km/h couldn't, while most European car's can't faster then that. Only ... there are people who think, it is possibly. One on the right and one on the left lane of the highway. "Who can drive faster ...?"
Me, on the left lane in the 5 gear, I was waiting. Waiting if one of them goes behind the other, so I can pass and drive my speed up to ... "Yes, which speed?".
After pushing I can pass, and goes to the 6 gear with speed on the tacho 260, 280, 300 and ... 310 km/h. That the speed of 310 km/h this time was the limit, I couldn't know before and ... maybe it's OK. While when you know everything before, then there was no Sundaymorning-ride.-))