CB1 Experiences from ownership of 2
rapidrobbie said:
I would go with the CB1.Yes it has gear-driven cams,is a little better(easier to service,and when the engine expires,you can install a cbr600f1(hurricane)engine for some more FUN...Robbie
P.S. Low mileage is very helpful,over 20k,and these lttle ones are ready to pop.
Certainly how the bike is maintained plays a big role in the longevity of any motorcycle.... especially ones with small displacement motors that spend most of their lives running in the upper RPM ranges. I don't doubt that there are cases where little bikes with the mileage you mentioned Robbie, are already hurting (and perhaps you've seen just such cases in your work on bikes), but from my experience with CB-1's, they can go much farther than one might think.
I've owned two Honda CB-1's. As a matter of fact CB-1's were the only streetbikes that I owned for a span of about 4 years. The first was a 1989 (purchased new in late 1990) and the second was purchased used with very low miles on it, and was one of the 1990 models ... which was the last year this model was offered by Honda. I believe it'd be fair to say (and anyone that rode with me during the time that I owned them would likely agree?) that I didn't exactly ride those CB-1's, on the local backroads of the Santa Cruz mountains, in a "conservative" manner.
As to the total mileage numbers that I logged on the two bikes:
1989 CB-1: 33,000 miles (still running fine, when sold)
1990 CB-1: 44,000 miles (still running fine, when sold)
I always used "Mobil1" 15W/50 synthetic oil, and changed it regularly.
The only shortcomings that the CB-1's were noted for (in the engine department) were that the cam lobes would ultimately begin to show some signs of flaking of the hardened surface material. It wasn't enough to stop the bike from running fine, but something worth watching for. The second weakness is the mild steel tubing used in the frame. There is a possibility of the tubing of the frame eventually developing a hairline crack, especially in the area on the side where the upper tubes wrap on down to the main engine mounting plate. Just something to look VERY closely at before buying a used CB-1.
Oh, by the way ..... CB-1's work excellent in splitting deer in half too! Don't ask me how I know.
Gary J.
so my oppinion isn't the most educated. And yes, it's essentially a super-cheap gixxer, like a younger sibling with hand-me-down parts. I have no idea how it compares to the cb-1, but from what I can see the cb seems to be a little more agile.
