In July 2001, Bob waved a fond goodbye to his trusty 2-year-old Triumph Legend and decided to kick things up a gear—or several—by getting himself a Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird. This wasn’t just any bike; it was the two-wheeled equivalent of strapping yourself to a rocket and yelling, “Let’s see where this goes!”
Bob’s 2001 Honda Blackbird
The Blackbird had plenty of features to tempt even the most seasoned rider, but for Bob, it wasn’t just about the blistering speed or the sleek design. No, the pièce de résistance was the bike’s fancy linked braking system. Why? Well, let’s just say Bob’s right leg isn’t exactly showroom fresh. Thanks to an “unscheduled dismount” during his earlier riding days (a polite way of saying he had a crash that didn’t end gracefully), his leg is now more decorative than functional when it comes to conventional rear brakes.
This led to some memorable moments during his Triumph days, where stopping quickly was less about control and more about divine intervention. Following Bob while he rode his Triumph Legend was like watching a live-action sketch show—particularly when he had to execute an emergency stop. But being in front of him? That was when things got properly exciting (read: terrifying). The sight of Bob careening towards you with his one-caliper braking system was enough to make anyone consider taking up jogging instead.
Enter the Blackbird with its combined braking system, a piece of Honda wizardry that was light-years ahead of its time. With this system, pulling the front brake lever magically activated a bit of rear brake too, and vice versa. This meant Bob could now slow down without needing the reflexes of a fighter pilot or the grace of a ballerina—and the rest of us could finally breathe a little easier.
Sadly, April 2005 marked the end of Bob’s first Honda Blackbird. But true to form, Bob wasn’t about to let a minor detail like “not having a bike” slow him down. The very next chapter of his riding life? Another Honda Blackbird, of course—because once you’ve tasted speed and convenience, there’s no going back.
