new to me

[Speedy1959]

The other weekend I was at a bikers meet/ burger joint and saw a bike that amazingly I have never seen before.

Tony Nitrous I think it would be up your street!!

It was  Honda X11
Basically a naked Honda Blackbird.
I liked that it was rare and to me damned attractive....
I would love to try one out..

[T250]

You don't see many of them, I don't think the styling was everyones cup of tea

[Blubber]

I like the Honda " Big one " CB1000 SF T2 more


Just like i the ZRX1100 / ZRX1200 / GSX1200 too.

I think it has to doo with the way the frame is visible.. More of a cradle frame guy.. apparently   

[Mick_J]

When the X11 first came out it was never very popular, the styling was not to many peoples taste and the reviews were never that good.  All that means is that they never sold in great numbers so a good original one will be rare now and there will not be many if any aftermarket products or spares for it.

[Tony Nitrous]

I rode an X11 (naked 1100 Blackbird... Sort of!) ages ago, friend of my ex-Mrs had one in Sheffield.

Wasn't a bad bike. Just wasn't that special.
They were comfy and had a good size tank, the handling was nothing special, the linked brakes and the motor was OK but no better than the GSXR1100 and Bandit 12 I had at the time in lighter bikes.

I think the X11 and B-King had some similarities. Big nakeds based on their Tupperware sisters. Folk got interested, but few bought them, and they had short production runs. Years later both still have their fans.

EDIT: The X11 I rode certainly wasn't 145hp. My ZZR1100 at the time would easily outrun it. You'd be very lucky to see 145hp from the full power motor in a Blackbird on an honest dyno.

I do miss the big Jap Nakeds ?
Have Yamaha discontinued the XJR13 and the VMAX now too ? I don't see them listed.

[gsxbarmy]

Have Yamaha discontinued the XJR13 and the VMAX now too ? I don't see them listed.

I think they may have Tony, as you say not listed - although I see what used to be the FJR1100 is now a 1300 so maybe that's the way they've progressed. No idea on the VMax though, maybe the market dried up for it, as it was rather large, grunty and expensive.

[grog]

yeah, think xjr has gone. last models were stupid, 14 litre tank. a bike i really liked, nice brakes. always wanted one but would prefer bandit. xjr have great quality, paint, chrome etc. no 6th gear. they certainly handle nice, very planted front end feel, for me anyway.

[Bob]

I've had a couple of X11's, red & blue with full Akrapovic, both immaculate condition ( it's easy to keep a Honda ) I found them uncomfortable reach to the bars due to tank size and incompatible belly size, my ape like mate (long arms, short legs) still has one and really rates his.. I found the linked brakes fine, engine turbine smooth, lashings of go and not too bad wind wise for a nekkid, there was a poorly run forum for them that I managed to get banned from :-/ I think someone was trying to sell a part, and I questioned why mod banned him so earned a ban myself....
I wouldn't buy another unless to chop it about

[shanered6]

Ive been offered a x11as a swap for my sprint 1050 i was thining about it as at some point i would think they will be worth money at some point ??

[seth]

I've riden a blackbird and compared to the gsx1400 or a fast top end but on real roads the gsx1400 bottom end wins everytime.
The bike I missed getting and always wanted was the gsx1200ss only really available in Europe but looks like a gsxr1100 with a big bore kit and twin shocks

[gsxbarmy]

I've risen a blackboard and compared to the gsx1400 or a fast top end but on real roads the gsx1400 bottom end wins everytime.
The bike I missed getting and always wanted was the gsx1200ss only really available in Europe but looks like a gsxr1100 with a big bore kit and twin shocks

Hmm I guess any bike would be faster than a blackboard 

[seth]

Bloody phone 

[KiwiCol]

It'll be them pudgy pinkies (fat fingers) too mate!

[Tony Nitrous]

The bike I missed getting and always wanted was the gsx1200ss only really available in Europe but looks like a gsxr1100 with a big bore kit and twin shocks

If you mean the GS1200SS, then yes, it's on my to do list to.

It has some similar style panels to an early GSXR1100 G/H/J but is a lot closer to being the oilcooled steel framed Bandit 12 but with twin shocks.

I like them, the same motor with twin shocks went into the retro styled (similar to a Zephyr in looks) Suzuki Inazuma 1200.

[Tony Nitrous]

Ive been offered a x11as a swap for my sprint 1050 i was thining about it as at some point i would think they will be worth money at some point ??

They may have some value as a low sales novelty, something a bit rare and different. Personally I can't seem holding high value for being a great bike as they never were.


You may hear comparisons between the B-King and the X11. Yes, they have stuff in common, both naked bikes based on sports tourers, both had short production runs, both had poor sales.

The difference was the X11 was a soft option and the motor was based on the birds but with differences. I think it had 1 less gear, 1 less balancer shaft etc. The King was 100% Gen-2 unmodified motor.  The X11 was also based around a more sensible bike, big tank, linked brakes etc where the King was a bit more full-on, radial brakes, 163hp, aggressive design. The King was more of a hooligan tool than the detuned naked Blackbird.

Interesting though.  I'm the first to moan about not having big bore performance  nakeds on sale, but when stuff like the X11 and King sell so badly and have such short runs why would a manufacturer be keen to repeat.