The Honda CBX1000 was introduced in 1978 as the first production motorcycle Honda had produced with an inline six-cylinder engine (earlier they produced a six-cylinder race bike). The twin-cam 24-valve engine produced 105 bhp. The model was produced from 1978 to 1982.

History

In the late 1970s, the four major Japanese motorcycle manufacturers all began to build superbikes, road bikes with superior performance. Honda intended for the CBX to help re-establish the company's position at the forefront of motorcycle technology. American journalists were first introduced to the bike in 1977; a first review appeared in Cycle

Cycle (magazine)

Cycle Magazine was an American motorcycling enthusiast magazine, published from the early 1950s through the early 1990s. During its heyday, in the 1970s and 1980s, it had a circulation of more than 500,000 and was headquartered in Westlake Village, California, near the canyon roads of the Santa...

magazine. The review called the CBX a "breakthrough for the Japanese motorcycle industry" and praised its design, concept, and performance. Yamaha had already introduced the XS1100

Yamaha XS Eleven

The Yamaha XS Eleven motorcycle, also called XS11 and XS1100, is a Japanese superbike produced from 1978 to 1981, powered by an air-cooled 1101.6cc 4-stroke, DOHC inline four-cylinder engine mounted transversely in a duplex cradle frame with swingarm rear suspension, shaft drive, and telescopic...

 in 1979; the CBX was available on the market in late 1979, and the production model was even faster than the prototype. The CBX was not the first production motorcycle to be powered by a six-cylinder engine—the Benelli 750 Sei

Benelli 750 Sei

The Benelli 750 Sei is a motorcycle that was produced by Italian manufacturer Benelli from 1972 to 1978. It was the first production motorcycle with a 6-cylinder engine. The engine was based on the four-cylinder Honda CB500, but with two extra cylinders...

 had that honor—but it was the latest and the most advanced entry into the hotly contested superbike battle being fought by the Japanese manufacturers. The 1979 model's 11.36 second quarter mile time (at 117.95 mph) was quicker than other superbikes of the day.

By 1980, Suzuki

Suzuki

is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...

 had released its own superbike, the GS1100, and Honda came with a modified 1980 model which had revised cam timing and ignition for a better midrange performance. On the quarter mile, the Suzuki was a bit faster than the 1980 CBX, which was tuned down slightly; Motorcyclist

Motorcyclist (magazine)

Motorcyclist is a motorcycling magazine in the United States. The magazine is headquartered in Los Angeles, and is published by Source Interlink Media. The current Editor in Chief, Brian Catterson, was formerly Executive Editor at rival Cycle World....

tested them head-to-head on the quarter mile, with the Suzuki clocking 11.84 sec. at 116.1 mph, compared to 11.34 sec. at 118.9 mph 3800 for the CBX. Cycle World

Cycle World

Cycle World is a motorcycling magazine in the United States. It was founded in 1962 by Joe Parkhurst, who was inducted to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame as "the person responsible for bringing a new era of objective journalism" to the U.S. and is now the largest motorcycling magazine in the world...

clocked the CBX at 12.13 sec. at 109.89 mph. Motorcyclists dyno test

Dynamometer

A dynamometer or "dyno" for short, is a device for measuring force, moment of force , or power. For example, the power produced by an engine, motor or other rotating prime mover can be calculated by simultaneously measuring torque and rotational speed .A dynamometer can also be used to determine...

 on the 1980 model revealed that the engine had lost five hp

Horsepower

Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...

 compared to the 1978 model, from 103 down to 98.

Sport touring model

In 1981, Honda switched gears and headed the CBX into the sport touring

Sport touring

A Sport touring motorcycle is a type of motorcycle that blends the performance of a sport bike with the long-distance capabilities of a touring motorcycle, while providing comfort and relative safety to the rider....

 category with the CBX-B, adding a sleek fairing, besides Pro-Link rear suspension. Honda decided that dual stainless-alloy ventilated front rotors (a first for the motorcycle industry) were needed to stop its 272 kg (599.7 lb) weight. When the CBX-C model arrived, it came equipped with panniers.

Engine characteristics

For its time, the engine was highly advanced, Honda having started the move toward four valves per cylinder.

To make an otherwise bulky engine more ergonomic, the CBX had a stacked engine accessory arrangement. This involved a jackshaft that provided the drive to the alternator and ignition equipment positioned behind the cylinder block. This arrangement produced an acceptable engine width and removed critical equipment from positions that would incur expensive damage in the event of contact with the ground.

Legacy

Although it lasted only five years, its style did give birth both to Honda's sport bikes and to its Honda ST series

Honda ST series

The Honda ST series, also known as the Pan-European in some markets, fills the gap between touring-oriented sport motorcycles such as the CBR1000F and full-dress tourers such as the Honda Goldwing....

. Cycle Guide praised the bike as "the Vincent Black Shadow of 1979" upon its introduction.

In 2011, 2 Wheels Magazine (an Australian publication), named the CBX1000 as one of their favourite 12 superbikes ever.