In this back-to-back Blackbird review we'll be looking at (and riding) the 1999 Honda CBR1100XX and 2003 CBR1100XX. It's amazing how different such similar machines can feel! Which do I like better? Let's find out together!
I never understand why people spend so much money on new bikes when bikes like these are available with low mileage at a fraction of the cost. All the performance and style you could wish for for such little money!
I've got a 2004 model and thought about getting a earlier model, I think you convinced me to stay with the one I have. Fantastic bikes, maintenance can be difficult in places but overall one of the best bikes Honda produced. Thanks for the video!
Lovely smooth bikes that you could do big miles on. You weren't kidding about the wind, you could really see the trees move at the end - like your reviews 👍🏻🍻
It was. Testing conditions weren't ideal for 2003, but it felt softer in the lower rpm from the saddle as well. I know Honda made changes to the FI system in 2003. Cheers!
99XX has K&N air filter. The 03 XXhas a stock Honda air filter and is more restricted than the K&N. The 99 at red line in 4 th. gear is quicker, air deflector & K&N made the difference.
They are a classy machine, i have owned busas and zzr,11s, both great in their own right but my present 2003 model xx is ahead of them both for ride quality and smoothness for long distances.
Have a 98 in Thailand. Love it. Covers long distances effortlessly. Re the dash, I like having the Speedo front and centre, I think speed is more important than rpm, so easy to go twice the speed limit if not watching. Also I noticed on various videos that the digital instruments can wash out in string sunlight. For both dials the needle angle gives instant info. I do use the tach a lot to confirm if I'm in 5th or 6th when pottering along at 50/60 mph. Been riding bikes for 63 years, and the Bird is the absolute best, whether going 20 miles for morning coffee, or doing 400 miles in one day.
Right on, Rick! Being as tall as I am (6'-4") might impact how easily I can read the dash. Even when the speedometer is central on the earlier bikes, the numbers on the dial are too small for me to read at a glance, unlike the large digital display, likewise with the tach. At speed, I want to spend as little time looking down as possible. It's not a problem, really, but riding the two bikes back-to-back, I felt the later dash was a functional improvement. All of the Blackbirds are great bikes. Cheers!
Excelente comentario, tengo 40 años, tuve una Suzuki Bandit 600 y estoy mirando la xx única mano del padre de un amigo, tiene 40mil km. Y no sé qué hacer.. leer que usted lleva tantos años andando en bike y dice esto sobre la xx me lle de emoción. Creo que la compraré
1999 Carb is faster then the later injection version, Because of the catalyst exhaust law was introduced and took 10 hp of this amazing bike. I love my 2003 model x
I’ve got a ‘98. Airframe totally overhauled. Carbs and forks lightly modified. R1 on the back. Valves gapped, both chains replaced. Richening the jetting and opening the sliders removed any flat spots. Amazing power, amazing bike.
Nice Jon. These are both really awesome machines. I always enjoy the "ride alongs" and getting a feel for the different personalities of various bikes as well as your commentary. I took a nice ride today through the country and was really pushing the limits of my bike on several occasions. Thankfully the mighty KLR didn't get me into any trouble. 😊 Eric in NC
Both fantastic bikes ..fuel injection models for me are a much smoother power delivery..owned a 96 and a 2002 model and ridden over 40,000 miles touring throughout Europe…
Nice video. I had the first carb model late 96 then a 99 Fuel injected model which got rid of the flat spot the carbed model had at low rpm. I have now just picked up a 2007 model with 10,000km / 6000 miles that I'm doing up. Can't wait to ride it. Should have it registered for the road by June. Thanks again for making the comparison as I've been searching for such a review for weeks. Rob in Australia
Im Gerald from South Africa ,i have a 2003 fi blackbird my son bought a 1997 carb bird 3 months ago, in a straight line he pulls me up to 2 cond gear at 190 km a hour i go past him, we swoped bikes same result,the fi is much smoother the carb. Puts the power down muc.h more aggresively
Nice! I'm looking to test a carb model soon, so it will be an interesting contrast. The 99 FI bike was more aggressive than the 2003 in this test. Cheers!
I have a 99 with lenghtend swing arm with caufhman shorty exhaust and i love it. It looks better with swing arm and u can use all the power from a stop if u can keep it from spinning witch it will do through 2nd if u want. its just the perfect bike in my opinion.and they run forever honda needs to bring it back if u looking for bike u want find a better one than a blackbird .
I expect these Blackbirds aren't too different than the Yamaha V-Max that a friend loaned me many years ago. I considered the V-max to be an eyesore, but if you were going to "pull her trigger" the horizon had better be far away !!!
I loved my XX - a 2000. Later fi was even smoother but with CBR all smooth enough. My bike had 163hp, the later one a few less. Very linear acceleration, great power, wonderful build quality.
I have a 2005 Blackbird and am very happy with it in pretty much every way. The only thing I don't like is (and it's a silly thing to notice or be negative about) the tachometer. It just looks cheap and nasty compared to the rest of the bike, like something lifted from a base model Civic. But press that starter and hit the road - it is simply sublime.
From Spain, thank you very much for the video; I really don't care if the '99 or the '04 is better, I don't think you can finish either; I am a happy owner of a 2003 that I bought in 2015 for a ridiculous price with only 15,000 miles and that I will probably never change; as you say, depreciation makes it easier to access these gems, but not all of the second-hand market is worth it. For me, this Honda is simply the best motorcycle in history, I can't find a possible comparison with any other. It only has the drawback that you stop being interested in other new motorcycles, the illusion dies because you are already at the top. And it also requires close monitoring of the radars...😉
Be nice for you to do blog or review for big motorcycle networks- motorcycle magazines ect.. cycle world /Rider magazine /classic BIKE = top reviews you do a great job complete reviews - thankyou great service to the motorcycle enthusiast out here. great content -- thankyou
Just my input into the handling of the 99 bird could be down to front tyre pressure. Mine if its low tends to pull the handle bars into the corner. Think pressure is critical for the handling.
For sure, tire pressure is critical to good handling. I think with stock suspension settings and fresh tires, the handling would be great. I checked tire pressure before the ride so at least that can be eliminated as a factor. Cheers!
I haven't had the opportunity to ride a Blackbird but did have a ZX12R back in the early 2000's, it was mega. Unfortunately I broke it in half whilst in Spain chasing a Fireblade. I managed to get away with a broken collar bone and a bruised ego.😫I keep thinking about getting another one though.
I'm glad you made it out of that with only a broken collar bone! I have such a hard time resisting the temptation to open it up on the big-bore sportbikes that it's good for me to only ride them occasionally. They make ridiculous speed too easy. Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 Cheers Jon, I'm really enjoying your channel and look forward to your next vid. Stay safe, there are too many drivers out there looking at their phones instead of the road.
I own a 97 xx and a 00zx12r 1a ,07zx14 ,86 Vmax, the xx is smooth like a porsche 911,and the zx12r is like a Lamborghini more ridged and fast as hell, I like the both for different reasons.
@michaelmartin7073 Right on! I would love to ride a ZX-12R at some point for the reasons you mentioned. I've owned the others you mentioned but not the 12R. Cheers!
In fact the 2004 model had many differences from the old model .Bigger radiators, ram air system which provides fresh air straight to the air filter KN and not to the radiator like the old model. BUT the power was reduced from 164 to 152bhp due to catalyst....So your ...duty is to replace the exhaust system with an full titanium acrapovic.....12 kgr less weight...and 20 horses more !!
Question for you here Jon,does both the 99 and 03 bikes have that EXTREMELY ANNOYINGLY LOUD Turn signal indicator noise? Man, that thing irritates me to no end when I hear it! Awesome review Jon! 😊
Great question! Yes, both bikes have a custom installed blinker buzzer. Like it or not, it is an effective way to remember to turn off your blinkers. Cheers!
The 99 is faster top end, but I prefer the 03, with standard pipes, just suits it better and still has a beefy sound, this honda basically is the same as the new gen3 busa for the price off one years depreciation 😅 I have the busa and just sold my 06 bird and am wondering if I should off sold the busa😮
OMG! Stop already. You're making me miss my 98. 80+K miles I spent on her. Im now down to half the HP on my Nighthawk now. At least it's more safe, keeps me honest.Too bad you can't find a 97 or 98. Comp. between carb. and FI. would be very interesting. I never rode an FI version. Paul has quite the stable! 2 Birds and all those other Hondas! Wow! That one knob in the road I'd be carrying the front wheel for 25 yds.
Right on! I have another friend with the carbureted Blackbird (two actually) that I hope to review soon. The knob is fun on a bike I'm used to, but it takes time to get used to an unfamiliar machine. Cheers!
I'm sure a Power Commander would improve the powerband on both the 1999 and 2003 bikes. The 1999 seems more responsive at lower rpm, but without a dyno facility, I'm not sure about top-end power. Cheers!
@@jonsmotorcyclerescueandrev3538 thanks for your response, I was hesitating between the 1999 model and the 2003 model. I had read somewhere that it refurbishes the engine of a Power Commander 5 environmental dip will be eliminated and more power and torque will be available after adjustment on a dyno bench
Sorry but the carb version is better , ask anyone who has owned both ....the FI version is less bhp and less torque and the carb can be worked on at home ..I currently have a 97 and it's a ballistic rocket , smooth and a joy to do long rides on
Same . The carb birds are ferocious. I have changed the jets and it’s ridiculous after about 7k I can’t blv you can get a good bird now for 2k If only people would realise how good they are you absolutely don’t really need anything else I think one day the carb birds will be very valuable Hang on to it 👏🏻
Setup (mods) can alter the bikes, and I take that into account and address it in the video. The 1999 handles oddly because of the way it was lowered. The bikes would handle similarly in stock form. The 1999 is much more aggressive in power delivery below 6k rpm with similar mods (both bikes have slip-on exhaust). This is due to revised FI mapping and the addition of a cat in the exhaust on the 2003. The 2003 has much easier to read instrumentation. Both are still fast, fun, smooth machines. Cheers!
