Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird (1996-2007) Simplified Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals
This is the maintenance schedule and associated service intervals for the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird, often just called the “Honda Blackbird”.
The Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird was a Honda motorcycle, part of the CBR series, made from 1996 to 2007.
There were two distinct phases of the Honda Blackbird:
- 1996-1998: Carburettor fed
- 1999-2007: Fuel injected with Honda’s PGM-FI
Obviously the original is a classic, but fuel injection is always easier in the long term. There’s less to clean, and less to worry about if you leave a bike sitting around for a long time (which people with a few bikes tend to do).
Despite changes in fuelling, the maintenance schedule for both Honda Blackbird’s is the same — other than in maintaining the spark plugs, which is mentioned below.
The bike that took the Blackbird’s place was, improbably, the Honda VFR1200, a large V4 sports tourer that made 170hp at the crank.
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What you need to service a Honda Blackbird
Apart from general motorcycle maintenance tools (here’s a list I’ve compiled), here are some specific parts you need to maintain the Honda Blackbird.
| Part | Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird spec |
|---|---|
| Oil | The manual for the CBR1100XX Super Blackbird recommends SAE 10W-30 oil that meets JASO T 903 standard MA, and recommends Honda motorcycle oil, e.g. Pro Honda GN4. |
| Oil filter | A high-quality drop-in replacement is the Hiflofiltro HF303. |
| Brake fluid | You can use most, but Honda asks you to use Honda DOT 4. |
| Coolant | The Honda Blackbird needs ethylene glycol-based coolant (as do most motorcycles), e.g. Honda Coolant. |
| Spark plugs | Use CR9EHIX-9 Iridium plugs. You need four. Same spark plug for EFI or carburettor-fed models. |
| Brake pads | Use 2 x FA261HH for the front discs, and 1 x FA261HH for the rear (this is a rare case of the same pads being used front and rear) |
| Air filter | The Honda Blackbird takes a HA-1199 air filter from K&N. |
| Grease | Use a generic lithium soap-based grease for external points (like the kickstand). |
| Chain maintenance | Use a Motul chain care kit or Motul chain paste, two well-liked maintenance items. |
Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird Maintenance Schedule
Below is the maintenance schedule for the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird.
Honda suggests servicing steering head bearings and wheels tyres by a dealer. For other items, you can do the service if you have the proper tools and service data/equipment.
Notes:
- At higher odometer readings, repeat at the frequency interval established here below (every 4000 mi / 6000 km or year)
- The maintenance for the carburettor-fed version of the Honda Blackbird is the same except for spark plugs: for the fuel-injected version, you have twice the service intervals for spark plugs.
- The break-in schedule is omitted (the time for that has passed)
| x 1000 km | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 | 36 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x 1000 mi | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | |
| Month | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 30 | 36 | Every |
| Full inspection checklist (See below) — Perform | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year | |||
| Engine Oil — Replace (Pro Honda GN4) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Year | |||
| Engine Oil Filter — Replace (HF303) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Air Cleaner (a.k.a. air filter) — Replace (HA-1199) Service more often if riding in dusty / wet conditions | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Spark Plugs (FI) — (I)nspect (CR9EHIX-9) | I | Replace every 48000 kM (36000 mi) | |||||
| Spark plugs (Carb) — (I)nspect / (R)eplace (CR9EHIX-9) | I | R | |||||
| Valve Clearance — Inspect, adjust (if necessary) | ✓ | ||||||
| Radiator Coolant — Replace (Honda Coolant) | ✓ | 3 years | |||||
| Brake Fluid —(I)nspect / (R)eplace (Honda DOT 4) | I | I | R | I | I | R | 2 years |
| Brake Pad Wear — Inspect (FA261HH x 3) | I | I | I | I | I | I | |
| Clutch Fluid — (I)nspect / (R)eplace (Honda DOT 4) | I | I | R | I | I | R | 2 years |
Standard service checklist
Do the following checks on your Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird as part of every scheduled inspection.
| Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird Inspection Checklist |
|---|
| Fuel Lines — Check condition, correct routing, and for no cracks |
| Throttle operation and free play – Lubricate with Protect all cable life Target free play: 2-4 mm (0.1-0.2 in) |
| CARB: Carburetor choke — check operation |
| Check/adjust engine idle speed Target idle speed: 1100 +/- 100 rpm |
| Cooling system — Check level, for no leaks, and that fans come on |
| Drive chain slider — Check wear level. Replace as necessary |
| Clutch system — Check for correct function, and clutch free play |
| Brake system — Check for proper function |
| Brake light switch — Check lights come on |
| Wheels/Tires — Check for dents, tire condition, tread depth |
| Suspension — Check for smooth operation, no leaks |
| Headlight aim — Check, re-adjust after adjusting suspension |
| Side stand / Centre stand — Check for smooth function, lubrication condition |
| Steering head bearings — Check for smooth operation |
| Nuts, bolts, fasteners — Check for presence. Replace / retighten as needed |
| Secondary air supply system — Check |
| Crankcase breather (if fitted) — Check, clean as needed |
Maintaining Your Chain on the Honda CBR1100XX
It’s important to maintain your chain on the CBR1100XX, as on any chain-driven motorcycle, but particularly on a high-speed bike where the chain is likely to get a lot of abuse. Use a good-quality chain lubricant like Motul chain paste, or a Motul chain care kit which comes with a couple of handy tools to maintain the chain.
Honda recommends you follow the following chain maintenance schedule:
| Chain maintenance item | Every |
|---|---|
| Check drive chain lubrication condition, lubricating if necessary | 600 mi / 1000 km |
| Check drive chain slack, adjusting if necessary | 600 mi / 1000 km |
Notes:
- Do these items (checking/adjusting slack, and checking/applying lubrication) more often if you ride your CBR1100XX in dusty or rainy conditions.
- Always lubricate the chain after washing the motorcycle.
Tyre size and tyre pressure for the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird
Honda has these tyre sizes standard — standard sportbike tires, no fat profile tires. They also recommended the following tyre pressures.
| Wheel | Tyre size | Tyre pressure (cold) |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 120/70ZR17 M/C (58W) | 290 kPa (2,90 kgf/cm2) 42 psi |
| Rear | 180/55ZR17 M/C (73W) | 290 kPa (2,90 kgf/cm2) 42 psi |
About the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird
The Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird, or just “Honda Blackbird”, was developed to challenge the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11 as the world’s fastest production motorcycle. And Honda won!
he Blackbird achieved a top speed of 287 km/h (178 mph). Unfortunately the Honda Blackbird didn’t hold the throne for long — the first generation Suzuki Hayabusa came along in 1999 and beat it again it, hitting 312 km/h.
The Honda Blackbird is named after the Lockheed SR-71, also a speed record holder, though in the air. The CBR1100XX had the largest-displacement engine in Honda’s CBR range of motorcycles at the time, and still does today (they otherwise max out at sub-1,000cc).
Honda designed the Blackbird for high speed, so it looks like it was crafted in a wind tunnel. But the ergonomics are not unforgiving. In fact, it’s comfortable enough that many consider it a sport tourer, a bike on which to cover many miles in relative comfort.
After the Super Blackbird lost its high-speed crown, Honda didn’t keep fighting, and instead concentrated on making a great sport-touring bike. I don’t know how Honda makes their internal decisions, but the interpretation by fans around the world is that Honda focuses on not always making the fastest bikes, but always bikes thare enjoyable to ride.
From 1996 to 1998, the Blackbird was carburettor fed. But from 1999, Honda changed their engine to fuel-injected. They also made changes to the air box, ram air ducts, oil cooler, and clutch. In 2000 they updated the dash slightly, and after that the only changes were in colours.
After the Honda CBR1100XX, Honda tried to replace the CBR with the V4-powered VFR1200F, which didn’t quite garner the same market share.
Manual for the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird
The above maintenance schedule comes directly from the user’s manual for the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird — from the fuel injected years.
You can download it from Honda’s archive here.
See the manual from the 1998 Blackbird — it is very similar, other than the spark plug schedule.
