Description
In 1969 Honda stunned the motorcycling world with the launch of the first modern superbike, the 68hp CB750 four. Fabulous though it was, its thunder was stolen three years later by Kawasaki’s 903cc 82hp Z1. Honda retaliated in 1975 with the launch of the water-cooled, flat-four Gold Wing GL1000, but this lardy tourer lacked the raw appeal of both the CB750 and Z1.
Something really special was needed again, and with Honda’s successful 6-cylinder GP racers still a recent memory, its engineers didn’t have to dig too deeply to create the technology required for the Honda CBX1000 roadster.
Despite the 1972 Benelli 750 Sei being the first transverse 6-cyl machine to market (its engine being a copy of Honda’s CB500 four motor with an extra cylinder at each end of the crank), the vastly more powerful and technologically advanced 1,047cc CBX hit the streets in 1978.
The Honda CBX1000 is an engineering masterpiece combining Grand Prix glamour with gas-guzzling hedonism and ‘70s glamrock panache. In uncharacteristically simplistic style, the late LJK Setright described the CBX’s engine as “The nicest motorcycle motor to ever to hit the street”. This most sought after CBX model is in original unrestored condition and described as “as new” by the vendor.
