Occasionally we see a special bike re-appear after many years and just a few miles, and though it could be seen differently, this is one of those – an anyone-can-jump-on machine, special handling if not performance, with 26 years and 9 miles.
1989 Honda CB-1 for sale on eBay
Harkening back to the CB-400F ( and marketed in some countries that way ), the CB-1 is peculiarly recognizable as a motorcycle, and while not a race-replica, you might not throw your daughter’s date off the porch if he rode up on one of these. Sharing but slightly detuning the liquid-cooled 399cc in-line four from the CBR400RR, the CB-1 makes do with 55 hp, geared down a bit so it gets away punctually if not with great speed. Using a steel tube perimeter frame instead of hydro-formed thin-wall aluminum, it’s a neutral handling if not lightweight package. Built to satisfy progressive license requirements in Japan and Europe, it was value-engineered to appeal to junior riders, carburetted instead of injected, but did come with nice 41mm front forks, Pro-Link style rear suspension, and 310mm front / 240mm rear disk brakes.
Spiriting away a plain vanilla model and storing it without fluids will eventually pay off big, all a question of patience. With only 9 pre-delivery miles, this might be the time for this gem. About the only usual upgrade that would be welcome would be a polished stainless exhaust. From the eBay auction:
We are proud to offer for sale a Museum Quality Collector example of the rare 1989 Honda CB-1 also known as the CB400F or NC27 in some countries. This bike was developed for the Japanese market and also sold in the USA and Canada. Only offered for sale in models years 1989 and 1990 this is a very rare and desirable bike. The only owner of this spectacular motorcycle purchased it new on March 23, 1991. The bike was intentionally never started or ridden and has the original Pre Delivery miles on it performed by the selling Honda Dealership. This CB-1 was purposely preserved in As-New condition and stored indoors in a climate controlled environment. The motorcycle has a charged battery in it and spins over quickly on the starter button. We have made the decision to not fill the carburetors or tank with fuel, fire up and run as many potential buyers would prefer to keep the bike in its present condition to be part of a motorcycle collection.
Not a legislative requirement and not much of a bargain in the states, the CB-1 was withdrawn after 1990. It needed the 400-4’s cool factor, but over 15 years the game had changed, even for a fun machine with a 13,500 rpm redline. In the 25 years since the CB-1, it has changed again, with singles and twins in the first-bike market with counter-balancers replacing the multiple cylinders. Especially in the U.S., the CB-1 is a snapshot, when there were still a few bikes with not much plastic and no room for graphics. With 7 days to run, the auction has more than 20 bids, showing that there are still some riders out there that want a motorcycle that looks like well, a motorcycle…
-donn
Hey!!!! This is not a sportbike. Sorry, had to be the 1st. 🙂
Anyway, one of the coolest small Hondas that used water.
What are you talking about man… this bike has the heart of a CBR 400RR beating inside of it. How is it not a sportbike again? I hope you are kidding.
Plenty of these have seen some racing and track time, along with the Hawk GT. Just because they don’t have fairings doesn’t mean they aren’t sportsbikes!
It is a sportbike, but it’s not rare.
Living in San Francisco might be a whole different thing, but over 1/2 these bikes on this site could not be called rare when you see them all the time on the streets here.
You guys must have the market wrapped up in San Fran on these bikes. I think that I see one a year out here in the Midwest, and I visit dealerships just about everyday for my job.
One with 9 miles on it is not just rare, its incredibly rare.
I really wish we could move past the ” this bike is not a sportbike/ this bike is not rare’ crap on this site. If you don’t agree just head over to Rideapart.com or something…they have wonderful tabloid style articles for the masses.
I do believe these have gear driven cams as well.
I passed on the chance to buy a really nice example a few years ago and still regret it from time to time.
Cool little bike for sure.
just a downsized cbr 600f2 with the fairing removed, not very lust worthy imo. much rather have an fzr400
I can’t tell you how much I want this bike. Had one many years ago, and I still regret getting rid of it. It revs like nothing else, is crazy clickable and pretty much reads your mind.