Post Sale Update: This Super Blackbird originally sold for $4,200, but it was immediately relisted and then sold for $3,003.22 after 16 bids on eBay.
From 1990 to 1996, the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11 was the world’s fastest production motorcycle, and Team Green benefited from all sorts of press and rider excitement about that fact. Honda decided to steal the crown, and their weapon of choice was the CBR1100XX. It was also known as the Super Blackbird outside of the US – the name was an homage to the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, which has owned the record for fastest “manned airbreathing jet” since 1976. Honda only had the record for three years until Suzuki released the Hayabusa (which was amusingly named as the “peregrine falcon” because they prey on blackbirds), but it was still faster than you’d ever need.
The Super Blackbird got a significant revision in 1999 with the implementation of fuel injection, a ram-air system, larger fuel tank (6.3 gallons), revised linked brakes, and plenty more. Engine output numbers were bumped to 164 hp and 91.5 lb-ft of torque with a top speed of somewhere between 174 and 180 miles per hour, depending on who you asked. For more information, check out this buyer’s guide from Visor Down – they note that while future efforts from Suzuki and Kawasaki were faster, the Honda was the best all-around bike of the bunch. It also makes you wonder why Yamaha never tried their hand at taking the speed crown.
This example (VIN: JH2SC3515WM100154) has 9,457 miles and it’s being offered by the second owner (who also sold a recent Bike-urious feature). The seller notes that Pridmore installed some decals that say “Habu”, which apparently refer “to a viper native to Okinawa”. The seller says that “Reg is friends with Super Blackbird Pilots and knew that the SR 71 spy plane was known on Okinawa as the Habu.”
Modifications are limited to an Ohlins shock, Zero Gravity windscreen, and a set of Erion slipons, though the exhaust is included in the sale and not currently installed. The sale also includes the tool kit, owner’s manual, and one key. The only issues are a crack in the front fender, some small scratches, and some “speedometer error” which makes the seller think that a sprocket was changed in the past.
Find this Super Blackbird for sale in Tyron, North Carolina with bidding up to $2,125 and the reserve not yet met
This bike-uriousity brought to you by Jim W!