Quote:
Originally Posted by NakedRider
Yep. I believe it was called the Sei. Started as a 750 and if memory serves me correctly it grew into a 900. All of this well before the CBX.
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Yes, the Benelli Sei came out before the CBX, but it was more like the SOHC Honda CB500/550 with two additional cylinders.
The CBX was DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder with the alternator/ignition running off a jackshaft driven behind the cylinders. Honda kept the width reasonable that way with nothing on the ends of the crank.
The CBX was a drawn out, tortured release not unlike BMW does occassionally; shown in the press and at shows long before it's actual release. By the time it did come out, the Suzuki DOHC GS1100 has eclipsed it in terms of performance.
Honda had something unique but kind of really botched the whole affair-the CBX was made for just 4 model years-1979 through 1982.
The 1979 model was the "lightest" at just under 600 lbs. But to get there, Honda made everything too light: plastic swingarm bushings, 35MM fork tubes and narrow rims/tires. with 103 HP at the crank, not exactly a "handler".
The 1980 model was the worst. They beefed up the swingarm with real bearings and used a wider rear wheel, but due to fuel consumption/emission concerns, the engine was detuned with less cam duration and ignition advance. Now it was a 600+ pound good looking slug with low 90's HP and an 85 MPH speedo.
With sales plummeting, Honda turned the CBX into a "sport tourer" for 1981-82 with an added fairing and color matched bags, restored some HP, added Pro-Link rear suspension and 39MM fork tubes. Now it was about 635 lbs.
I've had my 1982 since new-it was my rep bike when I was a Honda DM. I stripped off the fairing, never used the bags, installed the Euro-only low bars and rear sets, added the '79 "hot" cams and ignition advance as well as the '79 carbs with primary and secondary mains (I have a new, spare '79 engine) and swapped the incredibly bad Pro-Link rear air shock for a Work Performance emulsion unit. I also made a six into two exhaust system with VF750 Super Trapp silencers and a 140MPH speedo. I've enjoyed it over the years, but this winter, it's getting spruced up and going on eBay:
