This well-preserved 1982 Honda CBX is six-cylinder sport bike that was the company’s flagship offering when new. Featuring innovative packaging inspired by the company’s racing bikes, the CBX offered riders a fast bike with good handling characteristics and no major penalties size-wise despite the added mass of the inline-six engine. This example is a running model that the seller acquired as part of a collection of bikes; however, he is calling it non-running due to sitting for a spell before he got his hands on it. Find it here on eBay with bidding at $4,400 and no reserve.
Let me explain that last part, because this seller seems determined to call all of his items non-running (based on his auction history): the bike had fallen out of regular use in the last year, but the previous owner was using it consistently up until that point. The seller was able to get the bike to fire up again, but he’s not listing it as a runner since no additional mechanical assessments have been performed at this juncture. Regardless, this being a Honda, it seems likely a total makeover mechanically won’t be needed, especially since video in the auction listing shows it firing up quite nicely.
And oh, the sound it makes with just a few quick blips of the throttle: the CBX was a revelation in its day, capable of blistering acceleration and a top speed that demanded its rider be fully committed before dropping the hammer. Jay Leno counts a CBX as one of his favorite pieces of transportation, noting the six-cylinder powered Honda was his first new “vehicle” purchase in the early 80s. The CBX was occasionally dinged for some under-engineering in places, such as the rear shocks, which were cited for being too weak for a bike with a quarter mile time of under 12 seconds and a top speed of 136 m.p.h.
The seller always does a bang-up job of including a staggering amount of high-res photos, and the listing shows a bike that has clearly been loved. The fairing shows no obvious scrapes and the same goes for the saddle bags, though those attachments tend to reduce the bike’s performance slightly. Still, it reinforces what a fascinating bike the CBX was at the time, despite not being a big seller: it could go way faster than you ever wanted to go, or travel the countryside in relative comfort with enough storage capacity to extend the trip by a few days. At the current price, this looks like a terrific way to spend $5,000.
Be still, my heart. I lusted for exactly one of these but by the time I had saved enough and could afford one they were leftovers and as such bought up very quickly-or donated to local auto shops classes! I heard guys gripe about (a) the way they DIDN’T handle (as you so well pointed out, Jeff, the suspension needed a little aftermarket fine-tuning and (b) bringing SIX carbs into tune was an expensive job if the owner didn’t didn’t have the knowledge and carb stix to do it. Back then I’d heard of someone selling a replacement frame, ala Harris or Rickman type arrangement though I don’t think I’ve ever seen one or known anyone that had such an arrangement.
The bags were a last-ditch effort I’m told to move these, and this last year model was gorgeous as was the previous silver/black sport touring.
Nice find, Jeff!
BTW-BaT currently has one in the silver/black combo on auction @$7000 with 4 1/2 hours left!
MAMA MIA!!! You know, being 65, and not a lot of years left, I wonder, should I get the most powerful bike created, and blast off into the sunset in a blaze of glory? Quite a machine, it’s as if the Asians said, “oh yeah, America? Try this!” I read, the alternator on this motor had a slip clutch, because it couldn’t take the acceleration. I fear this bike is suffering from what I said all along about vintage Asian bikes, they have crappy electrics, and even NOS in the box, if you can find them, are junk as well. Something about the internals deteriorating over time, running or not. Still, another one of those bikes you don’t want to Armor All the seat. I suppose you don’t have to crack the throttle, and the 6 is a nice cruiser, but all that power on tap, just try and resist. Like driving a Z1 slow, can’t be done. Great find, if you can get it running right. 4 carbs on my GW was a nightmare, 6, I’d imagine, even more so. F.I. would be the hot setup. I’d venture to say, the most impressive production bike ever made.
The later ones,like this were made in Marysville, Ohio USA. I have had zero electrical issues with my 1979 CBX. Runs like a Rolex,sounds like a air cooled 911. Bike is easy to ride slow or fast tho on the heavy side in stop and go traffic. Front fork diameter was also undersized for the weight. Honda is rumored to be working on a new CBX w/ a liquid cooled F.I six. Things to watch out for are the nylon swing arm bushings and clutch basket/alt bushings wearing out on the ’79’s.
From a long time rider, Patrick S.,you’re a rich man to have a treasure like the one in your photo.
Insofar as electrical issues go, I’ve had more than 33 bikes in a little more than 50 years ranging from A to Z (Aermacchi to Zundapp), American,European, and Japanese. Never had an issue with ANY of the Japanese of any vintage, the European bike electrical issues were primarily with the Italian machines (Aermacchi, Vespa mostly and NOT the British (BSA, Triumph) or Spanish (Bultaco). Of the American bikes, the mid-to-late ‘90’s HD Electra Glides I rode burned up the fusible link constantly until replaced altogether along with the alternators replaced by HD regularly.
But each had its own quirks and “character traits” that made it a memorable bike if for no other reason than that it was a bike, a inanimate object that will come to life when we dance on the asphalt or dig around in the dirt: an instant transport into Zen that only riders can attain in 60 seconds or less even if it’s just in the memory..
I got that electric issue off a Honda forum. Someone was asking about a no spark on a vintage Honda, and that’s what someone said, poor electrics. I’ve known several Asian bikes that had troubles. I still think the Achilles Heel is the 6 carbs. Asians knew about fuel injection, so much simpler. Probably had a warehouse full of carburetors to get rid of.
I have a 79 which I am in the process of restoring. Loved it and had no issues with it. I’ve had it now for about 30 years. Had 6 into 6 pipes and sounds like a sports car. I’ll get some pics up soon.
The early Honda CBX 6 cylinder put out 105 BHP. Mine had a 6 into 1 exhaust system and the sound when wound up was indescribably beautiful. I sold it only because I knew I would die on it if I kept it. It was also fitted with a full fairing and clip on handlebars. Wish I still had it as being 80+ years old now I don’t think I would ride it like I did back in the day. My current bike is a Honda Rebel 450cc twin. Nearly half a CBX so I still have fun.
This bike is the touring version, and is quite enjoyable when ridden sanely. Its replacement was the V65 Sabre, a water cooled V4 with monoshock rear suspension. They were at the forefront of the sport touring genre of motorcycling.
As others have said, with any vintage Japanese motorcycle finding replacement parts while on the road may be an issue, but like a Ducati, CBXs have a distinctive exhaust note.
We had two of these, two CX650 Turbos and two automatics (think they were the 450 CC versions) donated by American Honda to the local Community College fro the small motor repair course. None were ever touched and went into deep storage in the surplus warehouse. In the late ’90’s the college wanted to dump them and found out part of the deal was they could never be sold. They could be destroyed or sent to another college but no MSO (Manufacturers Statement of Origin)would ever be issued so they could not be titled. I found all this out when I wanted to put a state tag on one of the CX650 Turbo’s for an Advanced Rider Course demo bike so the instructor team didn’t have to use their personal bikes. I had that bike brought back to operational status, put the tag from a legal bike on it and ran up 200+ street miles breaking it in when we found all that out. It became a display piece. We carried it to shows, etc. I retired and lost track. Always wanted the college to give it to me for a retirement gift! These were New Old Stock and Honda went nuts as they would hit the surplus sales. BTW, the Turbo would fly. Had a lot of firsts including fuel injection, full fairing, was, of course, water cooled, Comstar wheels, triple disc brakes, shaft drive and…the turbo.
Yep…buddy bought the grey issue one first – after someone bumped into him at a traffic light – he cashed it in to buy the pearl white saddle bag version. Lucky for me he didn’t have the time to keep the carbs blown out so I put maybe a thousand or more miles on it rotating in with mine. Nice bike – another buddy had the Kawasaki 6 cylinder….we had a lot of fun cruising around. These are not bikes to just let sit around….need to be ridden ! He sold it with less than 5g’s miles showing in about 1998…..
I had a 79 cbx with a twin kerker header People would get ugly at me when I came home from work,Man that thing sounded awesome when you we’re gouging on her oh the good old days
Sold for $6551
Truly a STEAL.