Hey fellas. I traded up my well-worn ZX11 for an 00' Blackbird a few years ago (short stint with an 00' busa' in there too, hated it as an everyday commuter so after 2 months I got the Blackbird. I've been happy with it over the years, changing a few things here and there but mostly realizing that those Honda engineers are pretty sharp. I've never posted here, but thought I'd share some thoughts and maybe get a few questions answered:
1) Tried 3 different windscreens before deciding that the OEM screen is the best overall, despite how low it is. Anyone else?
2) Gold Valves are great, Hypertech springs are nice, but Hypertech fork oil does something to the fork seals that makes them stick like mad. Stick with Spectro.
3) I've tried BT010's and D208's before going back to the OE-spec BT57's, and I'm happiest with them.
4) I tried the EBC HH brake pads and could never get used to that hairy initial bite. After unsettling the bike 1-too-many times on corner entries, I went back to the OEM pads and again, I think they're the best overall. Just as strong as the HH pads at full power and a lot more controllable.
5) I put on a full Yosh RS3 system a couple years ago and loved the sound and top-end power increase....for about a year. Then the highway drone became annoying day in / day out, and the OEM system went back on this spring. I've re-discovered the low-end grunt I lost with the RS3 and it's a better day-to-day streetbike now. Chalk up another one for "stock is best overall"
6) I've go a PC2 and now that I've taken off the RS3 system, I don't know which map to use - "for stock bike" or "for stock bike with ignition advance". I'm using the "stock bike" map now - does the "ignition advance" map make much of a difference? I do run 94 octane all the time.
7) My stock grips were too hard, or maybe just became too hard over time, but in any event I tried a set of the Gel Pro-Grips this year. Besides wreaking havoc on my Throttlemeister, they're too squirmy and gel-y. Once again, I'll be going back to something OEM Honda, but does anyone know of an OE Honda grip that's a little softer than the XX grip, but with the same dimensions and with the little grove dealio on the inboard throttle end? I'm thinking Gold Wing or PC800. Suggestions?
8) Does anyone else think that the bodywork on these bikes is a bit noisy over bumps? I wear earplugs most of the time, but when I don't I'm always surprised at how much plastic crunching and slamming goes on from somewhere under the bars and instrument cluster. My ZX11 was 7 years old with 56k miles and it was quieter than this bike in the squeaks-and-rattles department. I have all of the little push-fastners in place and in fact I usually replace them with every other oil change. Still noisy.
Anyhow, those are my thoughts, just looking for some feedback on the PC2 and hand grip questions, please. Honda did a great job with this bike - most of the things I've done to improve it ended up not being real improvments at the end of the day, and the thing is wearing like an iron shoe. I just hope the big new XX makes it to production before get the new-bike itch.
