CB 1000 Custom

[jdvorchak]

Probably not the place for this but I don't know where else to ask. I am trying to hook up with a guy selling what looks to be a very nice running 83 CB1000 Custom. Any of you guys know anything about the bike? It is supposed to be a somewhat rare bike as they were only imported into the U.S. that one year. It also has a 10 speed transmission 5 speeds in low range and 5 speeds in high range. Evidently you can switch between around town, low, and highway high? I can't wait to see how that works.

Opinions? Rumors? Guesses?

[sunnbobb]

That is a great bike. I was really torn between it and my Magna. Seems like it may have been around a few more years, as I thought I was looking at one when I bought my 82 Magna. I went for style, but the big cb was much more of a bike. I have never heard of any problems.

I'm corrected, the custom was only made for one year. I like the looks of that machine.

If you want to know more about the Honda 10 speed, go to Honda CB 900 / 1000 Custom club

also:http://www.motorcyclesurvey.com/reviews ... /comments/

[Sidecar Bob]

Probably not the place for this but I don't know where else to ask.

Probably should have been in General Motorcycle Forum, but no harm done.

The 10 speed transmission didn't really catch on, probably because the cost outweighed the benefits. I have heard that they work well if you have a sidecar that you take off part of the time (lower range with chair, higher solo).

Good luck. If you get it you might want to check out the DOHC Customs forum http://www.cb750c.com/modules.php?name=Forums

[Cookie]

I have a friend who has had one for many years. He loves it. He is an ex truck driver and enjoys the available ratios.

[winston]

They're good bikes, like most Hondas, and the extra gearbox is not prone to failure.

The CB900/1000 came about as a stopgap bike to fill the hole in the product line between the CB750 and the Goldwing.

Honda wanted the bike to have shaft drive using the GL final drive....and wanted to use the bored out 750 motor....but the motor runs output on the left and the final drive of the GL was on the right.

So....a jack-shaft was designed to take the power output across the bike then to the gl final drive. It's a bit complex, but overbuilt and hence reliable.

The engineers and marketers added the "dual range" as an afterthought/gimmick....kind of like the two front sprockets on a ten speed bike.

The jack-shaft gearbox has its own separate oil supply.

The extra length in the drivetrain meant a longer frame....so the CB900/1000 Customs are pretty much the same length as a GL1100 and therefore good for taller riders.

The swingarm wasn't lengthened to go with the long mid-chassis, so that's why the air shocks ...beause the relatively short swingarm makes for a bit of a choppy ride. I understand the CB air shocks aren't the same specs as the GL air shocks, but I think that's a fib...

It was a "parts bin" bike to fill a hole in the Menu...so the critics hated it, though they liked the look of the gas tank. But they're very good bikes, like a bigger 750 or a shaft drive CB900f cruiser.

In fact, I'll bet you could retrofit a CB900f rear wheel, brake and chain ad decommission the extra gearbox....not sure why anyone would or if anyone's ever done it...but I'll bet you could.

[jdvorchak]

I appreciate all of the good comments. Before I could get there with the money someone else bought it. Bummer....