Honda CB-1 | |
Aka: | CB400F, NC27 |
Manufacturer: | Honda |
Production: | 1989–1990 |
Predecessor: | Honda CBX400F |
Successor: | Honda CB400SF |
Class: | Naked bike |
Engine: | 399cc liquid cooled DOHC four valves/cyl. inline-four |
Bore Stroke: | 55mm42mm |
Compression: | 11.3:1 |
Top Speed: | 118mph |
Power: | 55.2bhp @ 10,000 rpm (claimed) |
Torque: | 29lbft @ 9,500 rpm (claimed) |
Ignition: | electric starter |
Transmission: | 6-speed chain drive manual |
Frame: | Steel perimeter |
Suspension: | Showa. Front: 41 mm telescopic fork, non-adj. Rear: single shock w/7-way preload adj. |
Brakes: | Single disc front/rear |
Tires: | Bridgestone Front: 110/70-17 Rear: 140/70-17 |
Rake Trail: | 25.5 degrees, 99mm |
Wheelbase: | 1370mm |
Length: | 2035mm |
Width: | 705mm |
Seat Height: | 775mm |
Dry Weight: | 395lb |
Wet Weight: | 413lb |
Fuel Capacity: | 3.3usgal |
Related: | Honda CBR400 |
The Honda CB-1 is a small, light naked sports motorcycle with a 399cc straight-four engine, carrying the model code NC27. In contrast to other models of the Honda CB series, the name is written with a hyphen. In some countries it was marketed as Honda CB400F.
The bike was first introduced in 1989 and continued through 1990. Originally developed for the Japanese market, the CB-1 was also available in the United States and Canada. Called a "great motorcycle that never found an audience" and "victims of a difficult market" by Cycle World, the final model year 1990 CB-1s available as leftover stock were offered in 1992 at a $600 discount, for $3700 in the US, which in current money would be $ accounting for inflation.
The CB-1 engine is similar to the early NC23 models CBR400RR, with changes to the port lengths and angles as well as smaller valves and lower compression ratio; changes in the primary and secondary gear ratios reduced the 60mph first gear down to around 30mph, making the slightly less powerful CB-1 feel much quicker from a standstill than its sportier sibling, All engines derived from the NC23 block carry the NC23 ID code in the engine number; this includes the NC27, 23, 29, 31 etc., including the VTEC models with chain driven cams. Like many of its stablemates, the CB-1 has straight gear-driven dual camshafts with self-silencing gears to reduce whine.
Cycle World measured the time to cover a as 13.17 seconds with a final speed of and the top speed as Braking distance from 60to was . - saying the bike was "a reincarnation of the standard motorcycle ... the sort of bike everyone rode before sporting riders went replica racer crazy".[1]