Update 10.27.2017: SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc
In 1978 Honda stunned the motorcycling world with a technological tour de force. The six cylinder, 24 valve CBX was the most ambitious – and the most visceral – Honda project to date. Dominated by an air-cooled inline format mounted transversely, this Honda made a statement like no other. And while Benelli introduced the world’s first production six cylinder motorcycle, Honda completely owned it and made it their own. Seemingly an engineering exercise that got out of hand, the Honda CBX remains a remarkable piece of machinery. It is coveted by collectors as well, with prices following suit.
A bit portly at 600+ pounds wet, the CBX was considered a superbike at it’s 1978 introduction. Part of that reason is that the world had never seen anything like it. With more than 105 HP on tap, the big bike was as strong in performance as it was stunning to look at. While you might not know it by looking, the big six was actually an evolution of the 50cc and 125cc GP race bikes of the 1960s and early 1970s. Honda claimed this lineage not only aided in meeting the performance targets of the 1047cc, 24-valve DOHC inline six cylinder, but also dramatically shortened the gestation period since this was a route already well traveled by Honda engineers. As a promotional stunt Honda provided bikes to the Isle of Man TT, which were utilized by course marshals and made a statement as to the sporting intent of the flagship Honda. Capable at the dragstrip, decent on the road course (especially endurance events), and at home at any boulevard in the nation, the CBX delivered on Honda’s promise of engineering excellence.
From the seller:
1979 Honda CBXThis CBX bike comes from BAC, the famous automotive and motorcycle collection. In the early 2000s the owner of a famous automobile collection decided that post war 1970s and 1980s motorcycles were some of the most unappreciated classic bikes and set out to buy the best of the best of all the iconic bikes. The owner is nearing 80 years old and has decided to sell off his collection of Italian and Japanese classic bikes of the 1970s and 1980s.
More from the seller:
The CBX in this ad took him three years of traveling across the country to find the best CBX he could find. While the bike has just under 10,000 miles on it, the current owner is the second owner. The previous owner who purchased the bike new only drove it on sunny days and it has never seen a drop of rain or any major dust or dirt. Everything is original bike except for the bearings in the rear swing axle. The bike even has a matching color Honda period correct helmet. The owner says without a question; this has to be one of the finest CBXs in the nation. It runs perfectly and has never been taken apart and nothing sounds like a Honda CBX when it is winding up through the gears.
More from the seller:
The owner said in his opinion the most important part of any collector bike is the mufflers as they are almost in all cases impossible to reproduce. The mufflers on this CBX are immaculate.This bike also comes with a matching helmet!
This 1979 Honda CBX is located in Chicago land: $14,500
From the pictures of the enormous engine, you might think you need to be a bow-legged cowboy to ride one. But thanks to intelligent design, that is not the case. Not only did Honda cant the cylinder bank forward some 30 degrees, the intake setup is arranged in a vee format to further narrow the bike’s midsection; despite engine dimensions, there is plenty of room for the rider. And with a jack-shaft arrangement that moves ancillary components from the ends of the crank to behind the motor, the CBX is not nearly as wide as you might otherwise imagine.
Built from 1978 through 1982, the CBX was but one of the incredible models that Honda created during this wild time; other examples include CX500 Turbo, CX650 Turbo and later the V45 Interceptor. Yet the more conventional CB900F was the real showroom performer, outselling the engineering oddities by a large margin. As a result, the CBX remains a relatively rare model. Yet it still presents an amazing sight, and continues to stun today. The 1979 Honda CBX shown here is a low mile example. More importantly, this is a a completely original example that was recently liberated from a larger collection. If you are in the market for a 1970s collectable Honda, you want to source the cleanest, best example you can find. This particular machine meets those specs easily. The asking price is $14,500.
MI
