An unfair comparison...... but - .: XT660.com

Deg5y · # 1 06-05-18, 21:23

Had my first proper ride on the XTx today. Usual ride for any distance has been my trusty CBR1100xx Honda Blackbird but as I have temporarily took this off the road for some cosmetic surgery. (It's getting on now.) it wa time for the XTx to show me what it could do.
Well comparing to the Bird it's like chalk and cheese. There were some positives and a lot more negatives.

BUT by eck did I get off with a grin on my face.

Maybe I don't need to rush the work on the Bird!

englishbandit · # 2 06-05-18, 21:37

Yep they don�t do anything well ,but something about them makes you smile 😀. Hence I have to have one in my collection

Cozi70 · # 3 07-05-18, 10:19

I agree with you. Having owned an xtx after a few hyper sports bikes I learnt to recalibrate my riding, especially my over taking,to the limits of the single cylinder engine,but as you say the more I rode it I enjoyed the low down torque and handling plus the enjoyment of slower speeds as I all seamed to click with me and my aging hairy carcass.

Colin J

nikroc · # 4 07-05-18, 12:48

I have a ZRX 12,which has less than 6k on it and I bought it new 15 years ago. It sits in the garage whilst I take the xt out and enjoy the scenery in and around Derbyshire.
Massive grin factor.

The only complaint I have is the seat..An hour to hour n half my my skinny old ass is complaining. Good excuse to stop and enjoy the view tho.

I have had her about 18 months and still feeling the love!

Cozi70 · # 5 07-05-18, 18:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikroc

The only complaint I have is the seat..An hour to hour n half my my skinny old ass is complaining. Good excuse to stop and enjoy the view tho.

I have had her about 18 months and still feeling the love!

I've started using one of those sheepskin throw over seat covers recently. I've only covered about 600 miles with it but I feel it helps with the numb bum on the longer stints,and only �22. Unattractive but functional I keep telling myself .

Chalk Two · # 6 07-05-18, 12:51

Funny you mentioned Blackbirds, I've been looking at adding one if these to my garage.

https://www.custojusto.pt/aveiro/mot...kbird-25192214

https://m.olx.pt/anuncio/honda-cbr-1...tml#82b3a40d36

Bikes here are slightly more expensive than the UK but are generally in better shape thanks to the lack of road salt.

I had a 99 Bird in grey and loved it but if I bought one today it would have to have a top yolk and bar conversion due to my ageing frame and neck.

May be you could tell me if the Fi model with the full electronic dash is a better version than the Fi model with analog dials....I personally like the black frame / black engine version..cheers !

ps....I miss my Rex too...had 3 over the years...and here's my other ol' favourite.

Deg5y · # 7 07-05-18, 21:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chalk Two

Funny you mentioned Blackbirds, I've been looking at adding one if these to my garage.

https://www.custojusto.pt/aveiro/mot...kbird-25192214

https://m.olx.pt/anuncio/honda-cbr-1...tml#82b3a40d36

Bikes here are slightly more expensive than the UK but are generally in better shape thanks to the lack of road salt.

I had a 99 Bird in grey and loved it but if I bought one today it would have to have a top yolk and bar conversion due to my ageing frame and neck.

May be you could tell me if the Fi model with the full electronic dash is a better version than the Fi model with analog dials....I personally like the black frame / black engine version..cheers !

ps....I miss my Rex too...had 3 over the years...and here's my other ol' favourite.

The best version and I'm not just saying it as mine is one, is the early carb. Once you buy an injection you then enter the realm of loom fixes a problem that appears as they age, plus the power is down.
For anything Blackbird can I direct to here a forum where I've been a member for abot 7 years. Doesn't have so many members now since the down fall of Bikers Oracle but the amount of information stored away in the bowels of the forum is un believable. (Like this one) The main moderator Is JAWS who has been a Blackbird guru since the first modle came out and though he has now retired and passed the 'JAWS website' (Blackbird specialist site) on, he still helps them out.
ps. Jaws designed and made the flat bar conversion for the BIRD.

I run mine with vfr vtec bars, straight swap, slightly raised and a lot neater.

Chalk Two · # 8 08-05-18, 09:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deg5y

The best version and I'm not just saying it as mine is one, is the early carb. Once you buy an injection you then enter the realm of loom fixes a problem that appears as they age, plus the power is down.
For anything Blackbird can I direct to here a forum where I've been a member for abot 7 years. Doesn't have so many members now since the down fall of Bikers Oracle but the amount of information stored away in the bowels of the forum is un believable. (Like this one) The main moderator Is JAWS who has been a Blackbird guru since the first modle came out and though he has now retired and passed the 'JAWS website' (Blackbird specialist site) on, he still helps them out.
ps. Jaws designed and made the flat bar conversion for the BIRD.

I run mine with vfr vtec bars, straight swap, slightly raised and a lot neater.

Thanks for the tip...i have a soft spot for carbed engines so I'll widen my search. Cheers!