Honda CBX1000 - The Six-Cylinder Saga

In the late 70's the four big Japanese motorcycle manufacturers started a new battle to produce the most powerful machine on the market.

honda cbx1000

Kawasaki started off with the launch of the Z1000, which was followed by the Yamaha XS 1100 and the suzuki GS1100, all equipped with DOHC, eight-valve, in-line four engines. Honda decided to do things differently with the introduction of the CBX1000, equipped with a mind-blowing in-line 1.047cc six-cylinder DOHC engine.

The 1979 Honda CBX 1000 wasn't the first production six-cylinder motorcycle as Italian brand Benelli beat Honda to it with the 1975 750 Sei. But it wasn't Honda's first six-cylinder bike either. Honda had made a name for itself in the 60s with six-cylinder motorcycles like the iconic RC166. The Honda CBX did, however, borrow technology and knowledge from those racers.

Despite its substantial weight, the CBX performed and handled exceptionally well. As a matter of fact, it did everything well ... except sell. After a few slow years Honda transformed the CBX from a Sports bike into a Sport Touring model with several technical changes and an optional fairing, but this new configuration also did not manage to capture the hearts of many motorcyclists.

The relatively small sales figures and the iconic six-cylinder engine make the CBX a rare and highly desirable classic.

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