Posts tagged as “inline six”

Sealed for Freshness – 1976 Benelli 750 Sei

Published September 23, 2021 by Donn

More often seen as the later 900cc, the 750 Sei sings an alto arrangement with a sextet of pistons just over two inches in diameter. Hard to say just when this restoration was completed, but it appears to have traveled very few miles since then.

1976 Benelli 750 Sei for sale on eBay

Conceived by Alejandro de Tomaso, Benelli developed the Sei as a GT and introduced it 1972. The 1976 model achieved 71 hp, and used three 24mm carburetors. A gear-driven alternator kept the engine’s width under control, and its smoothness and handling reviewed well. In an early application of disk brakes, the Sei used twin 300mm rotors with a drum rear. 18-inch wheels and 500 lbs. weight were par for the mid-seventies, but overall performance was not as exciting as the look of the six angled mufflers.

Offered by a Miami specialty dealership, this Sei is a monochromatic composition in silver, black, and chrome, with factory-looking pinstripes. Just about everything probably looks better than the day it rolled out of Pesaro, though the finish on the instrument cluster and surrounding area is a puzzling exception. Comments from the eBay auction:

Top class restoration. The best you can get. Runs as it should. No issues.

A rare bike almost impossible to find in this good a shape. 90 miles done since.

Buy with absolute confidence.

Descriptions, viewpoints and opinions vary between people.

Please look at the photos and do your own evaluation.

Depending on your point of view, DeTomaso was somewhere between an early corporate raider and a gifted design engineer. Either way the small production runs at Benelli led to quality control and dealer network issues, so it was easier to show the Sei than write sales orders. Even given the alleged similarities to the Honda’s 550 Four engine design, the Sei was a smashing achievement and the only six cylinder for quite a long time. Interest in the Sei continues – especially when looking like a brand new bike – as does Benelli’s long history.

-donn

One Response.

More Polishing Hours than Miles – 1979 Honda CBX

Published January 7, 2021 by Donn

Showing just 3,784 miles, this CBX show bike’s condition is hard to believe. The third and present owner rode it once or twice but found being a museum docent on every ride was a reminder that this CBX is just too nice.

1979 Honda CBX for sale on eBay

Already a world sales leader, Honda wanted to demonstrate their engineering chops, and found a venue in the double overhead-cam inline six. Even the small 64.5 mm bores made for a wide package, and provided 105 hp at 9,000 rpm. Honda kept the center of gravity low, disguising the mass of package. Period UJM features like air-adjustable forks and the 19-inch front wheel are featured, and there’s a nod to the 600 lbs. riding weight in the 296mm rear brake disk – larger than the 276mm fronts. The six-into-two exhaust needed its own bottle of chrome polish.

The Florida owner tells most of his CBX’s history, which is surprisingly short. The level of polish is way over the top, but very little about the CBX isn’t. For all the dirty flat black Comstar wheels out there, these laboratory examples are a beacon of hope. From the looks of the tank, the fuel was drained for most of the display years. The seat fairing looks original but the owner says no, and it’s hard to argue with someone who puts a rag down under the centerstand in the eBay auction:

Three owner bike. Brief history 1st owner, from Oklahoma, purchased new and kept the bike in his house until 2002 and bike was sold to a collector in Ohio, 2nd owner never rode the bike and sold to me in 2020. The CBX was refreshed by the 2nd owner and stored in a climate controlled building with his collection of vintage motorcycles.

Refresh of the CBX was done by a shop in Georgia that performed the following – new tires, chain and sprockets, fork oil and seals replaced, original exhaust chromed to show quality, complete tune up, coils, spark plug wires, carbs rebuilt, wheels and side cases polished and new paint job. 2nd owner likes his bikes “over restored”. $,$$$ were spent and the bike was placed back in the collection. I purchased last year and just recently decided to start and ride the CBX–after changing all fluids, adding a fuel filter, bike was started and taken to a local shop to check/synch the carbs. Bike ran great with all 105 horses on tap it was a pure joy to ride – rode 65 miles. It has been painstakingly taken care of for 41 years and should continue to be. Not many in this condition left. Living in Florida, I wanted a nice UJM bike to ride during the winter months – this bike is too rare and collectable. Took 45 minutes just to get gas as many people wanted to see and talk about it – do not see these driving around in this condition.

All lights – head, tail, turn signals, dash lights, horn function as new. Tach, speedo and volt gauges are original – not restored. The tach started to have a whining noise so it was disconnected. Inside of tank looks new and is not coated. The bike appears to have all its original parts except for the tail section. Original tool kit and owners manual are like new. Original shop manual along with many magazine articles and Honda brochures included with the sale.

Honda’s six was more successful than either the earlier Benelli or later Kawasaki, but still only survived four model years. But during that time, it served as a dealer showpiece, occasional endurance racer, and collector’s icon. This one has less miles but might be less original than some. The eye-watering starting bid might be offset by the show-ready appearance, at least for some buyers.

-donn

6 Responses.

Sei You Will – 1983 Benelli 900 Sei

Published November 17, 2020 by Donn

The 900 Sei was a natural evolution of the 1974 750, which was an engineering masterpiece. Here’s a 1983 example with rather low miles and superb looks.

1983 Benelli 900 Sei for sale on eBay

Just reviewing the numbers, the Sei might not thrill – the 80 hp are nothing dramatic for a 900, and the three 24mm Dell’Orto carburetors are a good compromise but don’t incite a fire-breathing riot. Magic carpet torque made the 5-speed perfectly adequate, and the Sei’s smoothness made the high-ish cruise rpm acceptable. The six-into-two exhaust didn’t photograph like the 750’s six megaphones, but certainly helped keep the weight down. Bodywork flowed from the cockpit fairing to the integral tank and sidecovers, which Honda’s CB900F seemed to reference the next year.

Offered by a Miami classics ( everything from a fire truck to an Africa Twin ) dealer, this Sei shows just over 12,000 miles and has fawned-over if unrestored cosmetics. No word on maintenance except to say that it’s a runner. Turn that O’Neal logo on the left grip to the underside and away you go. Limited comments in the eBay auction:

A rare Original bike in fantastic condition with extremely low miles.

They don’t come up often. Collector quality. Starts, runs and drives excellent.

With DeTomaso’s help, Benelli took an early lead in the 1970’s, but was a boutique brand compared with the Japanese competition. Still their ideas inspired copycats plus some design reverence, and more recent Indian and Chinese partners have kept the engineering offices in Pesaro while moving production further east. The buy-it-now is about all any Sei could muster, but the Make Offer button could be the start of a conversation.

-donn

4 Responses.

Featured Listing: 1979 Honda CBX

Published February 22, 2020 by Aaron

Update 6.18.2020: This bike is SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc

What’s cooler than a steel-framed classic motorcycle powered by an air-cooled inline six? In the literal sense, almost anything, as no matter how many fins you cast into the block, six 166-cc pistons slamming up and down at 9,000 rpm produce rather a lot of heat. In the figurative sense, though, damn near nothing comes anywhere close.

1979 Honda CBX for sale on eBay

The Honda CBX only lasted from 1978 to 1982, but when it bowed in ’78 it was the fastest production bike there was, and reviewers raved about how much better it went than the next-best CB900F. One reviewer said that even though the CBX was more expensive, it represented the better bargain as the dynamics were good enough to outweigh the cost difference. With 105 horsepower from the big six and a 140-mph top end, the numbers were absolutely eye watering, at a time when 80 horsepower was considered just fine. Even with a 600lb wet weight — gargantuan by today’s values, and unthinkable for anything sporting — the bike wasn’t that much heavier than its four-cylinder competition.

This 1979 Honda CBX is in better-than-showroom condition, having only covered 9,000 miles over the last 41 years. It has been owned by a Honda dealer, and two fastidious owners in the last 20 years, who kept it immaculately clean. The seller went through it thoroughly, but says he only refinished a few small parts. The gorgeous shine you see everywhere else is factory original.

From the eBay listing:

1979CBX: As close to new as possible with no “patina”. The original owner was a Honda Dealership owner. The owner passed away after putting 8,533 miles on it in 5 years. It took 20 years for his estate to be settled and the bike was auctioned in 2005. The second owner had it for 15 years (mostly sat in his living room) and put about 500 miles on it before selling it to me in July 2019.

I disassembled the bike and performed the following: Replaced the wheel bearings and seals, replaced the steering head bearings and dust seals, rebuilt the brake calipers and master cylinders using all Honda NOS parts. Replaced all of the brake lines with Spiegler stainless steel lines. Replaced the 630 drive chain with Honda NOS chain (continuous with no mater link) in a sealed bag with instructions and a new chain wear decal. Replaced the tires with Avon Roadriders. Replaced the shocks with Hagon adjustables. Rebuilt the forks with Honda NOS seals, o’rings and Race-Tech springs. The carburetors were restored by Old School Carbs. Replaced the fuel petcock with Honda NOS assembly.

There were only four parts that I refinished-side stand, center stand, brake master cylinder and battery side bracket. The only part that I re-chromed was the rear axle nut. The front fender, fuel tank, tailpiece, side covers and chain guard are original. The seat is original. All of the electrics except the battery are original.

Included is the original operator’s manual velcro’d to the right side cover. Also the complete original tool kit is in its bag next to the battery box.

I had planned to ride the bike after I completed my work. I have changed my mind as it is too nice for me to risk it. Please call if you have any questions or need pictures of specific areas. Paul 314-600-0197

As the specter of inline six motorcycles fades further into history, bikes like the CBX are moving up in the world with collectors. Apart from the alarming speeds they can achieve, they sound like a Formula 1 car at full chat, and cut a wide swath in person. Finding one even close to this nice is going to be increasingly hard.

Featured Listing: Pristine 1979 Honda CBX

Published January 30, 2019 by Aaron

Update: eBay shows sold at $15,500. Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc

The 1979 Honda CBX, a six-cylinder behemoth dressed up as a buttoned-down commuter, was an exercise in weird, but impressive, flex from Honda. As the long run of the original CB750 was at its peak, Big Red decided it was time to show off the ultimate evolution of the CB line, but elected to bare its engineering fangs instead of building a taught, sinewed race bike on the CB platform. Honda brass at the time even admitted that, if they had been going for track records, they could have made it with a much lighter, more focused and faster four cylinder.

1979 Honda CBX for sale on eBay

But that wasn’t what the CBX was for, so they took the lessons from their tiny 250cc grand prix six cylinders of the 1960s and made a mill four times that size that put out 105 horses at 9,000 rpm. Honda stuck the accessory drives in the middle of the crank, as opposed to at the ends, to keep the crank short for cornering clearance. That also helped balance the big engine, which otherwise would have vibrated mercilessly. Though the technology and thought meant the CBX was a true feat of manufacturing and engineering, it was also heavy, flexy and intimidating. Reports from the time said the handling was more impressive than it had any right to be, but few people were buying it.

This 1979 Honda CBX has been mothballed since 1988, when it was placed on display in a family dealership. The carbs were drained as it was put in storage and the engine was turned over regularly to keep it free. It had a new tank at some point in the 1990s after the original was dented. The tires were last changed in 2001. The seller says he plans to leave it as-is and let the purchaser decide what to do with the bike. Between 1979 and 1988, it covered just 8,400 miles.

From the eBay listing:

This is an original 1979 Honda CBX. It has not been registered or on the road since 1988. It has been stored in a climate controlled garage in Northern Nevada until I purchased it from a friend a few years ago…it had been in their family and on in display in their dealership since the 80’s.

I received the original California small pink slip with 1988 registration ( I have photos of this when I took it to DMV ) I have since registered and titled this in Arizona, it has a clean and clear title in my name.

I bought the bike as it sits today. Carbs were drained and the bike has been in stored conditioned for over 15 years. The engine was turned over occasionally. The tires are from 2001 I believe which I think is when it was last freshened up a bit. I also was told that the original tank suffered a dent while on display in the early to mid 90s and the original tank was replaced with one of the last new oem ones available from Honda. The tank is perfect and like new inside and out as seen.

I am selling the bike as is, I am going to leave it up to the new owner to display as is or make it a runner. I added a new battery and fresh avgas last week and the bike runs and the carbs do not leak, however it only ran on 5 cylinders and did not want to idle. So carbs will need a proper going over if you plan to bring it back to life.

Two other flaws on the bike. The tach was lazy when I started the bike, this might sort it self out with some run time. There is also some scratches on the gauges as shown in the photos.

I have not spent much time trying to detail the bike so it will clean up much better than what is shown in the photos if you dedicate a day or two, but as it sits it is very nice…it has basically been inside the last 30 years!!!

Original owners manual and tool kit in place and perfect. The original keys were lost, I had new ones made. I took photos with the tank, side covers and seat off so you can get an idea of the condition.

I will add a few more photos over the next few days, please email me with any questions or if you need specific photos, have questions etc.

I CAN SHIP ANYWHERE IN THE U.S. and help ASSIST with WORLDWIDE SHIPPING!!!

The asking price for this time capsule is $15,500, for which you are getting a pristine, absolutely unmolested example of a piece of Honda’s corporate history. They do not make them like this any more.

Oh Sei – 1983 Benelli 900 Sei

Published September 16, 2018 by Donn

New CEO DeTomaso ( yes that one ) led the historic Benelli company to higher performance machines and the 750 Sei ( Six ) in 1973. Benelli increased bore and stroke on the Sei to displace 906cc for the 1979 model year. Simultaneously outrageous, exotic, handcrafted, and occasionally disappointing, the Sei was Benelli’s flagship until they merged with Moto-Guzzi in 1988.

1983 Benelli 900 Sei for sale on eBay

Looking for all the world like a SOHC Honda engine from the era, the Sei had some innovations, like placing the alternator behind the cylinders ( which were wide enough already ). 80 hp were routed through a 5-speed and double-row final drive chain, speaking to the torque that was available at just above tickover speed. Good as they are, the Brembo brakes are hopelessly outgunned by the power and mid-500 lbs. weight. In spite, the Sei got high marks for handling, steady in a corner when the competition was wallowing.

Looking excellent in its late -70’s flowing bodywork and controls, this Sei has just over 11,000 miles. A machine of this age will have an afternoon’s worth of tales, but the owner stays on message in the eBay auction:

A meticulously maintained 1983 Benelli 900 SEI with extremely low miles at 11300.
This bike is almost perfect, serviced and runs and drives perfectly.
They don’t come up often so here is an opportunity to get one.
Bid with absolute confidence.
Don’t waste my time with silly questions, low offers and if you don’t have money.
Viewing is welcomed before you buy.

Already in boutique territory, the Benelli pricing and complication of three carburetors made the Sei a rarity. Performance was a few bullets down on the mission statement, under pleasing the crowd, honoring the Benelli name, and showing off the factory’s skills. Further down was a reliable ride, and the Sei got gigged repeatedly on electrical issues. But the sound ! More 911 than motorbike, especially with the six-into-six. For a collector with a European interest, this is just the bike for the end of the row…

-donn

Six-y Beast: 1980 Moto Martin CBX for Sale

Published February 25, 2018 by Tad Diemer

You might initially be confused by what you’re looking at here, but get past that riot of color and the swoopy bodywork, and the big aluminum brick of an engine could only be one thing: Honda’s 1047cc, 24-valve straight-six CBX motor. But what about the rest of it? What exactly is a Moto Martin CBX?

Honda’s original CBX was a bit of a missed opportunity. It seemed designed to capitalize on the six cylinder racing bikes of the late 1960s, but no real link between the two seems to have been made in advertising the bike. And certainly there was no obvious visual connection, either: the original machines were jewel-like, pure racing motorcycles, while the CBX was a sophisticated, premium machine clearly designed for the road. It was big, heavy, and pretty powerful for the day, but handling was poor due to a flexible frame and the bike’s overall weight.

The main reason to own a CBX was always that huge brick of an engine with its cascade of exhaust pipes sweeping around and under it, the wild shriek of the engine, and its smooth power. But in its original iteration, that was pretty much the only reason to own one. They could be made to get around a race track: some great videos exist of them shaking a leg on track, but they weren’t really suited to it. And styling was relatively bland as well, typically conservative 70s UJM, with just a small duck-tail spoiler at the rear t0 add a bit of zing.

The solution was pretty simple if you had a bit of money and the ability to twirl some wrenches: find a nice, clean CBX, remove the motor and electrical system, and basically ditch the rest. By 1980, the Japanese manufacturers had gotten a handle on the art of making their motorcycles go around corners, but the small frame builders that had sprung up during the 60s and 70s were still around, and the CBX was a perfect candidate for a custom creation. Certainly Frenchman Georges Martin thought so, and his Moto Martin-framed CBXs are often considered the CBXs to have.

There’s no getting around the width of the inline six, and any replacement frame is going to have to figure out how to go over or under, since there’s just no going around… The Moto Martin part hugs the back of the engine pretty closely, making the stock airbox pretty much impossible, and replaces the original twin-shock arrangement with a monoshock setup, with thicker forks up front. Interestingly, it kept the original bike’s geometry, which was basically fine. A finished Moto Martin CBX was both lighter and stiffer than the original bike, with new bodywork, including a one-piece tail, kept the ducktail spoiler but gave the finished bike a much sleeker, more purposeful look, while twin round lamps gave it a bit of endurance racing cred.

From the original eBay listing: 1980 Moto Martin CBX for Sale

This is an extremely rare and highly desirable Moto Martin CBX built from a complete Moto Martin rolling chassis with all of the best equipment of the day as fitted by Moto Martin including: Moto Martin aluminium 18inch wheels, Marzocchi forks, Brembo brakes front and rear with drilled cast iron rotors, braided hoses, De-Carbon under tank rear mono-shock. It has been customised with a different bikini fairing and single piece fibreglass tank and seat unit as in the pictures (and has received a FB like from Georges Martin himself) but the original Moto Martin aluminium tank, fairing, fairing bracket, headlight bracket, seat unit, screen with a spare as shown, are also included in the sale.

The motor is very strong as befitting the bike and is fitted with Carrillo Rods and Arias 1168cc big bore Arias forged piston kit and has done very little mileage since the big bore kit was fitted (hence my reason for sale), being ridden by me only in a few exhibitions for historic motorcycles at our local racetrack.

All in great condition with a few marks and slight damage to the side cover as shown in the photographs. I am the third owner, the previous owner and I each owning the bike for over 15 years.

Your opportunity to own the rarest and most desirable bike in the CBX world!

Seller can help with shipping – I live in a city with a major port.

Like a Spondon or a Rickman, there’s really no “standard” Moto Martin: they were generally sold as kits and built to the customer’s specifications. As few as 50 may exist that are actually titled as Moto Martins, but more kits were probably sold. The listing shows this as a 1980 model, but I believe the Martin kit wasn’t introduced until a bit later, so this might be titled as a Honda CBX, per the donor engine and transmission. The starting bid is $10,000 with no bids as yet. Depending on the reserve, this might be a good opportunity to get a very rare machine for a pretty good price, but note that this bike currently resides in South Africa, so keep that in mind if you’re suddenly having fantasies of wheeling this beast past your local bike hangout.

-tad

6 Responses.

X-Rated! 1979 Honda CBX

Published February 13, 2017 by Mike

In the world of bike porn, there are many shapes and sizes. And while most lust-worthy machines are built from the ground up to become a whole – frame, suspension, motor, bodywork – the outrageous, plus sized Honda CBX seems to be a machine totally built around the motor. The first gen CBX made no bones about what made it special – it was a naked bike showing off its wares to the world. Born from the engineering might of Honda during a time of great experimentation, this inline six-cylinder with DOHC and four valves per cylinder pumped out an impressive 105 brake horsepower. And while the motor looks impossibly wide when viewed from the front, Honda spent considerable effort to reduce the flare at the bottom end, stacking ancillaries such as the alternator behind the block.

1979 Honda CBX for sale on eBay

The CBX debuted in the latter part of 1978 and were badged as 1979 models. The first generation bikes actually developed more outright HP than the follow on models, although the later years did have overall improvements in torque and general responsiveness. Sold alongside the CB900F, the CBX was a bigger, badder and far more expensive machine. And while CBX sales were far better than other “experimental” bikes of the time (think the CX-series Turbos), it was handily outsold by the cheaper 900F.

The seller’s text goes a long way to describing the CBX history, variances and qualities:

From the seller:
Introduced in 1978 as a 1979 model, the Honda CBX topped its competitors with a 6-cylinder dual overhead camshaft engine; however, it was not the first inline 6-cylinder from the Japanese-motorcycle titan. Honda developed a series of sophisticated multi-piston 4-stroke Grand Prix-racing entries culminating in the RC165 and RC166 250cc inline 6-cylinder machines. The engine was successful in 1966 and 1967, and was the precursor to the CBX. The fact the CBX engine has its roots in Grand Prix racing is not coincidental. Engineer Shoichiro Irimajiri developed the 6-cylinder Grand Prix engine and led the team behind the CBX powerplant. Six cylinders, 24 valves and chain-driven dual overhead camshafts help the 1,000cc Honda engine crank out 105 horsepower. Six Mikuni carburetors with an integral accelerator pump deliver the right combination of fuel and air into the cylinders. The CBX engine is integrated into the frame as a stressed member, and the absence of conventional downtubes makes for a clear display of all six cylinders and the exhaust. Honda pushed into the future with bold styling and innovative features on the Super Sport CBX. The sculpted tank blended into CBX-logo side covers and the kicked-up winged tail section looked fast at rest. Lightweight Comstar 5-spoke alloy wheels were equipped with dual front and single rear disc brakes to slow the CBX from velocity. In an effort to improve lagging sales Honda pushed the CBX away from pure sport into a sports touring direction in 1981-82. Full fairings and hard saddlebags position the earlier and more powerful CBX1000 Super Sport into a unique spot in collectible Honda history. This 1979 Honda CBX first and most powerful year of what was then the fastest production motorcycle in the world. This bike will thrill you with its smooth idle and fantastic power and the sound is unmistakable, go for a ride or just add to your collection.

While Honda did race six-cylinder machines in the 1960s, this was their first jump into sixes for the street. However they were not alone: Benelli had already come (and gone) with the Sei models, and Kawasaki was soon to follow with their excellent KZ1300 liquid cooled example. And while Kawasaki transitioned their naked bike into a full-blown touring bike, Honda elected to evolve the CBX into a sport tourer. They would re-enter the six-cylinder world with the dominating Gold Wing touring RV, but chose to drop the inline arrangement in favor of a boxer layout. Most recently BMW introduced the K1600, an inline six more narrow than some fours.

The CBX line has always been a visceral affair. These bikes have serious presence, amazing sound, and actually function as a terrific day-to-day rider. Being a Honda, they are well built and surprisingly reliable. Parts are still available for the model, making it an excellent collector choice. Prices have been on the rise with these machines – especially the earliest models – but nothing compared to an RC30, RG500 Gamma or D16RR. Interest in this particular bike is solid, with bidding up to $7,700 with reserve still in place. I, for one, will be watching this one. This bike is clean and looks very, very original. Check it out here, and then share your six-cylinder thoughts in our Comments section. Is a CBX on your bike porn bucket list? Good Luck!

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