Motorcycle makers have always wanted to make the fastest motorcycle on the market. Kawasaki claimed the title in 1990 with its ZZR 1100, and it wasn't until six years later that Honda was able to respond. Placing a 164 bhp engine in an aerodynamic motorcycle weighing 241 kg ( 531 lbs ) resulted in a top speed of 285 km/h ( 177 mph ). However, the Blackbird is also docile, easy to ride at low speed, comfortable, and has surprisingly agile handling. It combines the punch of a boxer with the manners of an English butler and has become a popular motorcycle for two-up sports touring use. Inevitably the Blackbird had a limited life at the top of the performance chart, in 1999 it was overshadowed by the Suzuki Hayabusa.