Honda Blackbird: The Bargain Sports Tourer That Still Soars

Let’s talk about the Honda Blackbird, a machine that’s still a legend on two wheels and one of the best bargains in the used sports tourer market today.

Back in the '90s, the race for the title of “world’s fastest production motorcycle” was heating up. Kawasaki had held the crown since 1990 with their ZX11 (Ninja ZZ-R1100), and Honda, not one to be left in the dust, was eager to snatch it away. Enter the Honda Blackbird, named after the legendary SR-71, the fastest jet of its era. Honda wasn’t just building a bike; they were crafting an icon.

When the Blackbird hit the scene in 1996, it was a revelation. Built to dethrone Kawasaki’s top speed record, the CBR1100XX Super Blackbird did more than just that. It carved out its own place in history, not just for being quick but for being one of the best all-around bikes ever made.

Honda replaced the aging CBR1000F with the Blackbird, and while the CBR1000F was a comfy sports tourer, the Blackbird was something else entirely—a hyperbike with a sportier, more aggressive riding position. Powered by a 1,137cc inline-four engine derived from the Fireblade, it boasted a whopping 164 bhp at 10,000 rpm and 124 Nm of torque at 7,250 rpm. Sure, there was a slight flat spot in the midrange, but let’s face it, when you’re launching from 0 to 60 mph in under 2.77 seconds and hitting 100 mph in just over five seconds, you’re not going to mind.

What made the Blackbird stand out wasn’t just the speed. It was the engineering finesse. The engine had two balancer shafts for silky smooth power delivery, and it was mounted rigidly without the need for heavy rubber mounts, making the bike both stiffer and lighter.

The suspension was designed with real-world riders in mind. It wasn’t some track-focused setup that would shake your teeth loose on a Sunday ride. Instead, Honda opted for a more cost-effective but perfectly capable system that kept the big bike stable at speed while remaining remarkably agile. And those brakes? Honda’s third-generation Dual-CBS linked braking system was a marvel, biting down on massive discs with the kind of confidence that you need when you’re flying down the road at warp speed.

A 22-litre fuel tank meant you could cruise for well over 180 miles before needing to refuel, even if you were hammering it. And with a wet weight of 254 kg, the Blackbird was no lightweight, but it handled its heft with the grace of a much smaller bike.

The Blackbird didn’t just look fast—it was fast. The aerodynamics were honed in a wind tunnel to minimize drag, with every detail, from the larger front fender to the integrated mirror indicators, designed to cut through the air like a hot knife through butter. Honda made a statement when they launched the Blackbird at the Paul Ricard circuit, taking down Kawasaki’s ZZ-R1100 and holding the title until the Suzuki Hayabusa arrived in 1999.

During its 11-year production run, the Blackbird saw a few updates but remained largely unchanged, a testament to how right Honda got it from the start. The VFR1200F was supposed to fill its shoes, but let’s be honest, it never did. The Blackbird remains Honda’s biggest displacement bike in the CBR lineup, and there’s a reason for that.

Now, if you’re thinking about buying one, be prepared to spend a bit. Despite being over 20 years old, a well-maintained Blackbird will still set you back a few grand, but it’s worth every penny. These bikes were built to last, and even high-mileage examples are known to keep going strong if looked after properly. The dual-CBS brakes and the cam chain tensioner are things to watch out for, but nothing that can’t be sorted.

In the 1990s, speed was everything. The Blackbird was a product of that era, but it was also so much more. It’s not just a fast bike; it’s a superb sports tourer that can comfortably munch miles all day long. The build quality is outstanding, and that engine is practically bulletproof.

Rumors are swirling that Honda might revive the Blackbird. Let’s hope they do, and with the same success they had with the Africa Twin. In the meantime, I’ll be adding one to my perfect 10-bike garage before the originals become even more collectible.

The Blackbird isn’t just a motorcycle; it’s a legend. And like any legend, it only gets better with age.