blackbird power

[danny84]

There seems to be only a small percentage of 7 type cars with cbr1100 engines yet this unit is very powerfull compared to the likes of early fireblade/r1 units.Are these any less reliable than the other units.Any pro's and cons listed would be appreciated.

[Yazza54]

From what I've heard they can be costly as they really need dry sumping, whereas the R1 and 900 blade motors can get away with a baffle plate. Think they're on carbs too which isn't very modern.

[danny84]

Yazza54 said:

From what I've heard they can be costly as they really need dry sumping, whereas the R1 and 900 blade motors can get away with a baffle plate. Think they're on carbs too which isn't very modern.

The one i saw is on here and it's injected 165 bhp.Can't remember if it said dry sump or not.When you say costly is that to repair and maintain or just get it dry sumped.
Just had a look at the advert and it has an acusump system fitted already.

Edited by danny84 on Tuesday 12th October 16:20

[Yazza54]

danny84 said:

Yazza54 said:

From what I've heard they can be costly as they really need dry sumping, whereas the R1 and 900 blade motors can get away with a baffle plate. Think they're on carbs too which isn't very modern.

The one i saw is on here and it's injected 165 bhp.Can't remember if it said dry sump or not.When you say costly is that to repair and maintain or just get it dry sumped.
Just had a look at the advert and it has an acusump system fitted already.

Edited by danny84 on Tuesday 12th October 16:20

The older ones will be carbed, think there's a few versions. Dry sumping costs a fair chunk of cash that can be avoided with other engines. Also correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't an accusump just a device to hold oil pressure which can then be released again before each cold start? I don't think it helps when you're actually driving and throwing it round the twisties.

[jason61c]

It does help as if the oil pressure drops below a certain level then it releases oil to the main gallery or where plumbed in, when pressure rises again it goes back into the pump(accusump)

[Furyblade_Lee]

Early ones were popular then dried up a bit in cars due to the oil issue stated and gearboxes were a bit fragile. All the downsides of a 'busa like dry sump reqd but only the power of a good R1 which does not need one. Bestcpkace to ask is a Westfield forum as Megabirds have been made in comparatively large numbers, I sure they will be able to give you more accurate answers.

[Jon Ison]

In a nutshell #3 journal shares its oil feed with the balance shaft, it gets starved of oil #3 rod exits through block.

[rhinochopig]

I had a blackbird engine in my BEC. They were quite popular as you could buy the engines direct from Honda, whereas with a Busa you couldn't so had to buy the whole bike and break it for parts. Cost was £3500 IIRC.

The engines have to be dry-sumped (cost ~ 1300-£1500), and once done are pretty reliable. The key benefit of them is that the ratios in the gearbox are better suited to BEC use than the busa and the box is nicer to use. Having driven both Busa and 'Bird BECs back to back, there isn't a lot in it terms of speed, but I have to say the Busa is a much much nicer sounding lump.

I managed to break the box in mine due to finding a false neutral, but other than that it was a reliable engine.

HTH.

ETA mine was an injected model.