With mostly vertical photos that are cut off, other than the first one, it’s hard to get an overall look at the beautiful restoration of this superbike, and that’s super unfortunate. But, as with the rest of 2025, it is what it is. This incredible 1979 Honda CBX can be found listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Friendsville, Tennessee, and they’re asking $25,000. Here is the original listing, and thanks to PRA4SNW for the tip!
The Honda CBX is such a thing of beauty and wonder. If you haven’t seen one in person before, you’re in for a treat if you ever do. This example has had a couple of liberties taken during the restoration, unfortunately. For a special model like the CBX, original is king. A single seat is in place of the usual two-seat… seat, and a six-into-one exhaust was added in place of the usual three-into-one on each side. They say they still have the original seat frame and air box, but they don’t mention the original exhaust. Those things are deal killers for some buyers.
Benelli beat Honda to the six-cylinder punch with their 750 Sei, but Honda followed up in 1978 with a bigger engine (1.067 cc) and created more of a Honda experience, as in reliability, with the CBX 1000. Although not having a downtube frame gave some reviewers a bit of a hairy experience on the track.
Oddly, Honda’s CB900F outsold the CBX 1000, even given the incredible legend of this bike today. How many of us passed up buying one when they were $5,000, raise your hands. Me, too. Speaking of value, Hagerty has a #3 good-condition value listed as being $14,900 and a #2 excellent value of $24,200. Given the changes to this example during the restoration, I’d have to knock off points and value from what would otherwise certainly be a #2 excellent example. Not that it isn’t still in excellent condition.
The exposed and beautiful 1,047-cc inline-six DOHC engine has 105 horsepower and 63 lb-ft of torque, sent through a five-speed transmission. Syncing six carburetors is not for the timid, but the seller says the engine and carbs were rebuilt inside and out. The bike has 15,000 miles, and the engine is said to have zero miles, but the seller lists 300 miles, so I’m not quite sure how to list that. Please check out their ad to see the info. Any thoughts on Honda’s six-cylinder CBX?
These are finally getting the prices I thought they would but so much later. Not the fastest but definitely one of the most obscure things Honda built. The six cylinder engine is the focal point when you walk up on one of these bikes. They sound amazing and this one is a looker!
In its time it was the fastest! The 78-79 models are the ones to buy! Loved mine and wish I still had mine! Fuel injection would help!
I knew 2 guys that had these wild bikes. One raced it at the dragstrip, it moved down the track pretty well he said. 🏁 Awesome looking, and sounding motorcycles.👍
“Six…..count ’em….six.
And as a kid, the FOURS made us wet our pants.
And riding the SIX we know what would happen to poor Howard.
Drove these back in the day as I was the lucky one a buddy chose to keep his limbered up. My buddy Steve first bought the silver one with the saddle bags but was tapped/ran into at the light. He then bought the Pearl White one with the side bags as well which was fun to speed around on. Like the Kawasaki triples – these were not much of a handle bike – just nice to cruise around on.
I’m not really even a bike guy and I really like this. Look at that 6 cylinder!!! Very beautiful restoration. I sure wouldn’t want to sync 6 carbs either. ( wonder what would happen if I said that 6 times fast???) These are absolutely beautiful bikes. Look at that paint work on the tank. Absolutely beautifully done.
Tuning four carbs using mercury sticks was a feat in itself, but when there were SIX carbs it initially made for an entirely new Mechanics Blue Word dictionary..
Beautiful bikes (especially the 1982 white with the blue pinstripes, bags and fairing) and sounded like the angels of the asphalt singing most especially as they came on the pipe. Like you said Scotty the handling in a corner made for some anxious moments and IMHO helped the upholstery business tremendously due to the seat covers suddenly taking on a conical shape and needing replacement after a hot lap session..
Another bike in my dream garage, although finding someone competent that has the patience knowledge to reset the valves too is a major undertaking.
Honda was so classy with their showpieces like this.
Lovely bike. Terrific find, PRA4SNW.
Multiple carbs were always a major challenge. I watched an aging British mechanic tune a Triumph TR3 by blocking one carburetor off, tuning the open one then repeating the other side. I tuned up a number of multiple carb engines (including GMC 702 V-12s) that way. It wasn’t perfect but it worked.
Finally, the site opening up the floodgates from this guy, the CBX( regaining composure). I actually knew a guy that had one, he didn’t let anyone ride it, for good reason. Honda was a leader in innovative machines right from the start. The Benlys, the Dreams, the Super Hawks, the 750/4s, the GoldWing,( and several others) and to top it all off, the CBX. Cycle World said, it was the fastest production bike they ever tested, with a blistering 11.36@118mph out of the box and a top speed of 135-140!! Try hanging on to that! Of sheer importance, do NOT ArmorAll the seat. I read it ousted the Vincent as the worlds fastest bike.The motor was so powerful, I believe the alternator had a slip clutch to prevent damage on acceleration. I read the CBX did not share anything with the Benelli in line 6, but,,the Honda CB500-4( not 550) was a direct takeoff of the Benelli, or vice versa.
This has GOT to be the coolest thing old Gilby ever posted!
Right on the money, Howard. And don’t forget their V4’s that came later as they continued their 1st class engineering demonstrations.
And even though the 1980 KZ1000(H) was the 1st with mainstream fuel injection, it was the Honda Turbo competing with the EFI on the Yamaha and Suzuki turbo’s that focused that innovation at a higher level before the really big push later led by BMW and competitors to make it a standard.
On that note, can you imagine this 6 cylinder monster with fuel injection???
Is it just me, or does anyone else look at this engine from the side and see a resemblence to the old 450?
These were certainly their own beast. Kawasaki built a 1300 six which performed more like a Chevy 292 in a fully loaded grain truck. The CBX was light and reasonably maneuverable for having such an overhang on either side.
I remember racer, Mike Hailwood, with his 250 six. Six very tiny pistons, moving very fast. No doubt some ideas that went into that racer got picked up by the designers of this one.
I think the CBX got short-sheeted in its heyday. It came out when the Skuttlebutt about the Japanese manufacturers “dumping” motorcycles into the American marketplace was picking up. I had a customer down toward Great Falls who ran a typical small town dealership where he sold farm and ranch supplies, snowmobiles, ATVs, and Honda motorcyles. He confirmed the dumping rumors. He’d order (2) bikes and get (5), which he had to sell or transfer.
Anyways, it was getting to the point where the slamming of Japanese motorcycles was blinding the general public toward the innovations coming from across the Pacific, not to mention the bad-mouthing from the WWII veterans. In short, bikes like the CBX lost out. I saw (2) ’81 models in the crate, in 1990. And I have to admit that I didn’t help much; I loved my Harley Davidsons and my British bikes, and a ‘Jap bike’ was something you rode–behind everyone else.
And I was such a hypocrite; one of my all-time favorite bikes was / and will always be a Honda 305 Super Hawk…
I also remember Hailwood’s 250 six when I was a kid. How could they even build that? I thought. Over the years I have owned three CB750s and two S2000s. I suppose you could say I like Hondas.
My best buddy and I both rode CB 750s in the mid 70’s. When his was stolen, I was looking for a new one and he was considering buying my 75. I ended up buying a 78 Z1R Kawasaki as an year end closeout. He ended up buying my 75 and almost immediately ordered the a CBX 1000 6 same color. He had to wait about 6 months if I remember right. The CBX was about a 1/2 second faster in the 1/4 and had a little more top end. Both bikes screamed.
Difference is that was my last street bike, He still has his CBX and 2 Harleys.
Laverda 3C
I had several Suzuki bikes and loved them all. My last bike was a GS1000 with a Kerker 4 into 1 that sounded awesome. That said, the only cycle that outran my GS1000 was a CBX. I was quite impressed!
I have a 6 cyl KZ1300 basketcase, well, a scattercase LOL, parts 4 miles apart. I’m retired next month, it’s not high on the list.
I love these bikes. I have two 79’s both in candy glory red. One I’ve done a nut and bolt restoration that took ten years to track down all the new old stock pieces. The engines are incredibly complex and very expensive to rebuild. The second one is a survivor with 4500 miles.It had been put into storage in 1991 after the rear brake master cylinder failed. I found it three years ago and after a deep clean and carb rebuild it was ready for its first show. It’s still riding on its original front tire.They are very beautiful bikes and attract a lot of attention and they are nimble and fast. The first thing I’d do is throw those pipes in the dumpster. David Silver Spares occasionally has some very nice reproductions.
Rode a new one in 1979. Best sounding motorcycle ever.
Having owned four (4) of these, 1979 & 1980 models, I can speak honestly and state the engine/exhaust under load at high RPM sounded like a cross between a Turbo 911 Porsche (1980’s) and a three-liter Ferrari Colombo V-12…talk about a GLORIOUS noise. Acceleration sounded like someone ripping bedsheets!
My bikes were stock except for the 1980 which had shortened pipes (6:2). My buddy’s 1979 had the Pipemasters (Australian-made?) 6:6 exhaust, with three pipes on each side stacked vertically. First CBX I ever rode on, as a passenger, and there was no sissy bar behind me. When he punched it, I darned-near slid of the back so I grabbed on to my buddy—and didn’t care WHAT anyone watching thought.
Too bad the CBX was so tall, but they were proportioned well with larger lights and trim. I believe the seat height was around 30”, and with my 29” inseam, well, sitting at traffic signals proved to be a dance for me trying to keep it upright. Fond memories nonetheless!!
I WAS honda factory rep 1971-73 al and ga 57 dealers before the gold wings came out,,one of many on the pre design team and turbo guy for the land speed salt flats attempt when Bob Young was field chief. Ive ownd 59 motorcycles severa; brands but only 5 now 80 yr old,,,,i remember the 6 cyl but never owned one,,,,there was no way you could be missed on the road or a parking lot!! Still have XL 250 and CT trail 90 original with less than 2000 miles on each ,,one owner,,,let me know if anyone is interested bill45colt@yahoo time to sell out getting old,,,256 5 85 46 00
fresh temp tag that’s not even expired yet and the owners selling it. why?????????
Scared the heck out of them?
Absolutely the sweetest sounding engine on earth.
I never saw one of these in the flesh, but I can see why the seat’s been swapped for the Corbin seat. Glorious music from the 6 into 1 header. GLWTS.
LET THE BIG SIX HOWL!!!!
I bought a new silver 79 CBX in 81, a leftover. $3500 or about $1000 off original list price. I really loved that bike and for the life of me cannot remember why I sold it except maybe after I did a wheelie at 135 mph when I crested a hill into the wind. That wide engine caught a lot of wind at that speed and stood me right up. Didn’t wreck though. Bought another CBX, an 82 in grey with the fairing and saddle bags but it wasn’t as much fun, totally different bike.
I had a ’79 black Euro model with the set back foot controls. Happiest day of my life when I sold it. I had the 6 into 1 exhaust which really sounded nice. That was my only good memory of the bike. Too heavy, and didn’t handle well. I’ve had twins that were faster.
All 82’s were Pearl White. Here’s the crate bike I assembled and fired up for the first time about 15 years ago. I believed if it was allowed to remain dormant it would continue to molder and deteriorate to the point of no return. https://youtu.be/4Fac_N6jrgE?si=wCd2P_A6Eszg3mZL.