.... someone on the this forum wants to sell me a CB1. Is this a good beginner bike?
The little 400cc naked "CB1" was an awesome bike for real world riding! Too bad American bike buying public habits ("more power is better") killed it quickly; due to the bikes becoming a dust-collectors on showroom floors, and being sold off brand new at blow-out $3,100 pricing, on a $4,400 list, at the time it was produced (1989 and 1990 only).
Light enough to flick around (about 360 lbs), enough power (about 44HP) to do backroad, commuting or freeway riding, yet not too much to be intimidating to newer riders. Low seat height and comfortably positioned handlebars also made it a great all-rounder.
I owned two CB1's consecutively, over a 5 year span, putting nearly 80K total miles (33K on first and 44K miles on 2nd) of use on them without any problems. This bike was the door that hooked me into the world of sportbike riding, and ultimately roadracing; hence I've kept the letters "CB1" in my email address to this day.
Parts availability (being 20 years since last manufactured), and hard use that most CB1's that you come across have endured, are the only things to think about when considering one these days.
There were some issues with the plating flaking off the cam lobes, and saw it on my bikes. However I never saw or heard of it ever causing any actual failure to the bike to keep running, and running just fine, during my ownership.
The one that's advertised here on BARF looks pretty clean; though I don't know the specifics on it.
Worth considering for sure as a bike for a newer rider ....... if all checks out good.
