"The Bird"

[CINDERS]

Had it a few weeks now almost got it to the point where it looks good out & about have some stone chips on the fairing to touch up after sourcing the paint from a Holden car dealer.
(Slipstream Blue) Not to shabby for an unmolested bike that was made in Sept of 2003 I have done just over 2000klm on it had 42,000klm when I purchased it for $5k.
Only really given it one good handful not quite to 11 grand on the tacho in 3rd gear still pulling strongly just shy of 190kph when prudence stepped in, apparently I am supposed to have another 100kph on top of that!
The Blackbirds really have got allot of horsepower for their size the front tyre is being replaced next week did the back 2 weeks ago so its cost just over $700/Au for the 2 tyres but I will not compromise on good rubber on the road.

Servicing it!
Spark plugs are $35 a pop apparently iridium ones (NGK) IMR9A-9H, oil is $115 for 4 liters, the tank you have to drain somehow or have plugs for the myriad of lines underneath it before you can remove it to get to the air cleaner, I can do most of the easy stuff like the plugs which you can either take the tank off or drop the oil cooler & radiator from the front which also requires removing the 3 bottom fairings, disc pads easy as, chain & sprockets have to get a Ft/lb torque wrench and a chain breaker/riveter as they do not go with the cir-clip type master links now you rivet them.
Now we just have to get Mrs CINDERS a bike and were off been looking at a CBR 300 as my wife is not strong enough to take the weight of say a 600 Ninja besides it will keep me from getting a speeding fines tagging along with her.
She has never ridden a bike so we will give her a go on my sons 250 Honda road trail to see if she has the co-ordination operating the controls then get her brave enough to get in among the traffic as she is not an aggressive driver as you have to be on a bike.

Those of you that disagree you have to assert yourself against those that drive mobile lounge rooms may find that they the car drivers do not give you the respect a bike rider needs.
I know there are those that really display bad attitudes by weaving, doing wheelies past cars and so on I pick my place & time to have fun where the road is devoid of cars I have had 2 good stacks one wrote my Z-900 off as a woman came straight through a stop sign and I had to throw the bike away lest she T bone us.
The other was a Kangaroo at 140kph at night in the wheatbelt near Mullewa where to see a car at night is as rare as rocking horse doo doo so took a chance and hit the 'roo I survived with bark missing the hopper perished that was on my Z1R MkI

Information

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[WarPig1976]

"The Hog" aka Bonnie Jean.
2011 HD Softail Deluxe 96 cu" 1640cc
Two tone Dark/Light Candy Root beer
If you can guess where the top photo was taken you win a cookie.
Attachment 87630
Attachment 87632
Attachment 87633

[CINDERS]

Very nice WP

[WarPig1976]

I rode one of those Japahondaski's once. Went around the block and immediately handed it back to the owner. Immensely powerful machines, to be respected. I just couldn't figure out where to put the rice.

I've only had one wreck. 13yrs ago in a few weeks. A doe hopped out in front of me during the rut "deer mating season". I caught her out of the corner of my eye bounding out of the bushes maybe 20 yds ahead. I couldn't do anything, she hopped again onto the roadway. I smacked her in mid air, she hit the ape hanger bars first which saved my life, then me. Last thought I had was "this is going to hurt" but nope got knocked out cold. Broke my back in two places, broken ankle, collapsed lung, broken collar bone, road rash and I stubbed my toe.

People may call us crazy. Some may call us stupid but we know why dogs like to stick their heads out the window don't we?

[CINDERS]

The rice WP is not really an issue in summer in winter you have to watch it as the water swells the rice!
After my first 14 year stint of riding them in winter its no fun doing 110kph getting pi$$ed on going to work to arrive there like a frozen piece of steak, spring/summer time rides now only.

Betchya that stubbed toe was painful

That style of Harley is that called "Californian" not full bottle on the styles of them all.

Seriously glad you are still here and made a full recovery I am still a bit nervy around cars coming up to intersections as I half expect them to come sailing straight through and take me down as before.

[WarPig1976]

That style of Harley is that called "Californian"

No, those are pimped out Boulevard cruisers. No good for real riding, they look good parked in front of a bar.
Bonnie Jean is a stock Softail Deluxe.

[30Three]

The Blackbird is a great bike. My mate had one when we worked in Dubai. i had taken my 3 bikes out there as I did not want to sell them at the time. 900 Superlight Ducati; 900 Speed Triple Triumph (1995) and a Z1 with Moto Martin frame. sold the Duke and bought a Honda CBR 400RR for track days. That was super! only 55HP and 14500 RPM. So much fun with the risk of chucking yourself off when you pin the throttle!
Still have a few bike now, but no time to ride them.
The Moto Martin went to pay for the Lee Enfields (good move). Still have the Triumph; an XT500 and a 73 Z1 in bit's.

[WarPig1976]

Still have a few bike now, but no time to ride them.

Got pics? Good a place as any for members to show off their scooters.

[CINDERS]

threeoh is that an original Jaffa as they are worth a nice penny as I think Kawasaki only made 20,000 units WW of them I missed one 3 months ago it sold for 12K usual range for an all original concourse one is 23-25K my wife would not release the funds the thing with owning a bike like that is they need good care with no wick twisting at least with the Bird if I give it a fist full nothing is gunna break, well at least I hope not will dig out some pics of my bikes - Elsinore's 125 & 250 green & silver tanks,'76 Z-900, Z1R Mk 1, my Honda 900 F2B and my VF1000R

[30Three]

Heres a few pic's of my bikes.Attachment 87706Attachment 87705Attachment 87704Attachment 87703
The 900 Superlight at the World Ducati weeekend in 2000.
The Moto Marin Z1 with the body off, with the XT500 and the current Z1 project.
The Triumph Speed Triple and earlier 900SS special (sold that to get the Superlight)
The Moto Martin, 900SS and Speed Triple at Forza Automobile; where I worked at the time.