The Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird was named after which aircraft?

The Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird was named after the Lockheed SR-71 aircraft.

Honda introduced the CBR1100XX in 1996 as a high-speed sport motorcycle designed to challenge Kawasaki’s Ninja ZX-11 for the title of fastest production motorcycle. The “Blackbird” name refers to the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the famous United States reconnaissance aircraft known for extraordinary speed and high-altitude performance.

The motorcycle’s name was therefore more than a color reference. It connected Honda’s machine with an aircraft regarded as a technological and speed record icon. The CBR1100XX used a 1,137 cc liquid-cooled inline-four engine and was developed with high-speed stability and long-distance capability in mind.

Honda’s Blackbird briefly held the production-motorcycle speed crown, but the Suzuki Hayabusa surpassed it in 1999. The CBR1100XX remained in production until 2007 and became known as a fast but relatively refined sport-tourer. The Convair B-58, McDonnell F-4 and Northrop YF-23 were unrelated aircraft names; none explains the “Blackbird” designation.