HONDA CBR1100XX Super Blackbird (1999-2000) Specs, Performance & Photos

In 2000, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer launched the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird, a motorcycle in the CBR series manufactured as a competitor to the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11, which at the time was the fastest production motorcycle in the world.

The Super Blackbird, named after the LockheedSR-71, which was the fastest aircraft at the time, managed to pass the Ninja ZX-11 with a top speed of 314 kph (195 mph), but only for two years when Suzuki Hayabusa took the title of the worlds fastest production motorcycle with a top speed of 317 kph (197 mph).

The Super Blackbird was a zero-compromise big-bore machine well suited for seasoned riders who knew how to handle a liter-class bike with some extra neve on tap. The bike was wind-tunnel tested and featured Honda's exceptional finish, but also offered excellent handling, while the race-derived engine provided plenty of power and torque for both casual and race-track fun.

In the power department, the 2000 Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird had its heartbeat set by a 1,137cc four-stroke four-cylinder liquid-cooled engine fed by a Keihin electronic fuel injection system that helped deliver an output power of 164 hp with maximum strength at 10,000 rpm and 124 Nm (92 lb-ft) of torque available at 7,250 rpm.

In the handling department, the bike packed a 43 mm HMAS cartridge-type telescopic fork on the front and a Pro-Link single shock absorber with spring preload and rebound adjustability on the rear.

As for braking performance, the Super Blackbird machine packed two 310 mm discs with three-piston calipers on the front wheel and a 256 mm disc with a three-piston caliper on the rear wheel that offered strong braking performance.