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New CBX??????

Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:20 am
by Mouse
I dropped into the Calgary Motorbike show on the weekend. While looking at the massive front suspension on the new Honda Gold Wing at the Honda display a fellow in a suit with a Honda badge walked up and asked if I had any questions. "About the Goldwing, no" , I said. Then I smiled and asked "But, when will Honda be bringing a new CBX 6cyl to market?" He paused, and then with a somewhat surprised puzzled look said hesitantly "I'm not sure". He then asked what I rode, to which I replied " A 1979 CBX". He said "very nice" and then moved off.
So, considering the number of millenial's rebuilding 60's and 70's era bikes and various manufactures producing retro sport bikes ie BMW R nine T racer. Is Honda looking at bringing an inline 6 back to market? Or is that a wishful fantasy? :lol:

Re: New CBX??????

Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 2:00 pm
by Syscrush
Honda is already squarely in that game with the CB1100:

Image

Almost everything about the bike is right - nice seamless tank, air-cooled, EFI, relaxed ergos, classic looks with (relatively) modern features. And I think that it's been a borderline market failure. It's hard to imagine that they'd double down on that AND an attempted reincarnation of a bike that didn't meet sales expectations 40 years ago.

But that is a cool story - maybe there's something exciting waiting in the wings. :)

Re: New CBX??????

Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 4:10 pm
by wyly
I had sit on that new CB1100, it felt very 70's familiar and had a number of people interested...retro is in, as mouse mentioned the BMW R nine T cafe racer (pretty but my back would hate it) and the entire R nine T line...Triumph, Norton, Kawasaki with the retro z1 900, they even got the colors right!...sport bikes maybe the ultimate performers but how many of us live in that world everyday? how useful is all that high rpm hp really for everyday riding? retro/standards with friendly seating position and wider bars appeal to my old body and riding style....

the CB1100 is nice and no doubt has better suspension a handling, braking, a sixth gear and electronic gizmos than our X's but but for presentation the CBX is still KING! and if the specs are accurate...still faster 8) ...and I know when I park next to a CB1100 the crowds will still be looking at my '79...

Honda has a 6 still in production as does BMW so it's feasible there's room for the return of the cbx...make it lighter, modern suspension, ride mode, abs and most important EFI! I think it could work...

the bike the peaked my interest most at the show was the Triumph Street Triple, 366 lbs 118hp , it fits my search for urban commuting and occasional hooliganism ...I thought I was decided on the R nine T Pure as my future ride but I'll need to rethink that...

Re: New CBX??????

Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 7:21 pm
by Dynamohum
Honda still has an (inline) six in production?

Re: New CBX??????

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 7:35 am
by EMS
Mouse wrote: He paused, and then with a somewhat surprised puzzled look said hesitantly "I'm not sure". He then asked what I rode, to which I replied " A 1979 CBX". He said "very nice" and then moved off.
...a wishful fantasy? :lol:
That last statement!
The guys who man these shows are in most cases not Honda employees but employees from local dealerships who are asked to support the manufacturer.
These people have absolutely no idea.
The described reaction sounds to me as typical from someone who doesn't even know what a CBX is/was. Have you ever gone to a Honda dealership and asked for a part and told the guy it is for a CBX? You get that empty stare.

The comment about Honda still making a six refers to the Goldwing, of course. It was not said that it is an inline six.

Re: New CBX??????

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 9:36 am
by Syscrush
EMS wrote:These people have absolutely no idea.
Image

Re: New CBX??????

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 1:58 pm
by wyly
EMS wrote:
Mouse wrote: He paused, and then with a somewhat surprised puzzled look said hesitantly "I'm not sure". He then asked what I rode, to which I replied " A 1979 CBX". He said "very nice" and then moved off.
...a wishful fantasy? :lol:
That last statement!
The guys who man these shows are in most cases not Honda employees but employees from local dealerships who are asked to support the manufacturer.
These people have absolutely no idea.
The described reaction sounds to me as typical from someone who doesn't even know what a CBX is/was. Have you ever gone to a Honda dealership and asked for a part and told the guy it is for a CBX? You get that empty stare.

The comment about Honda still making a six refers to the Goldwing, of course. It was not said that it is an inline six.
true...Honda parts/dealership guys, where I go the head of the parts dept is 50-ish, he knows all about the cbx and knows what parts I can substitute from other models, his younger assistants have no idea what it is, I usually leave and come back when the grey haired parts guy is working...

when some of the younger moto reps at the cycle show asked me what I rode they'd stop talking while they trying to process the info :think: "CB-X?" after a few seconds :shock: they'd recall what it was ...when a younger guy 20-30's knows what the cbx is he's generally a moto gearhead...

not much point in honda making another cbx when fours, triples or twins can perform just as well, financially it doesn't make sense ...but then again making the retro CB1100 RS couldn't be that much more difficult than a 2019 cbx I doubt it would sell any better than our X's did...

Re: New CBX??????

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 2:17 pm
by EMS
I have always perceived the retro CB1100 as more reminiscent of the 1983 CB1100F or the earlier DOHC-Fours than the CBX.

Re: New CBX??????

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 2:47 pm
by wyly
DOHC in a SOHC 70s cradle? not quite an accurate retro experience...the CB1100RS has a family resemblance to the earliest pre-production cbx...minus two cylinders...

Re: New CBX??????

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 3:57 pm
by EMS
wyly wrote:DOHC in a SOHC 70s cradle? not quite an accurate retro experience...the CB1100RS has a family resemblance to the earliest pre-production cbx...minus two cylinders...
Not exactly sure what you're saying...DOHCs had a cradle frame. Before honda brought out the CB1100, they showed several concept bikes that were "reincarnations" of the CB1100R, the top-of-the-line DOHC Four. Interest was overwhelming, so they brought out the CB1100. It is definitely closer to the CB750/900/1100F than a CBX.

Re: New CBX??????

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 5:37 pm
by wyly
I guess what I’m trying to say in my muddled way is I don’t see 70’s retro as in soho cb750...you see it as 83 retro ( maybe the most accurate description) ...I see a 70’s shape, a transition from 70s to 80s...that tank imo is more Cbx inspired than 70s CB, tank plus fender/taillight combo plus dohc is more pre production Cbx than cb750...

Re: New CBX??????

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 6:11 pm
by EMS
I don't see it as a SOHC retro either. I don't think I said that. When I was talking "earlier" I meant 79-82 DOHCs, CB750F, CB900F. And I think this is what Honda tried to emulate with this bike.

Re: New CBX??????

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 6:59 pm
by Dynamohum
See any similarities?

Re: New CBX??????

Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 7:33 pm
by EMS
Yes, it has two wheels....and they are both red...

The SOHC had one front brake rotor, DOHC and CB1100 have 2.
The SOHC had a rear drum brake, the DOHCs and the CB1100 have a rear disc.
The SOHC has a 4 into 4, DOHC and CB1100 have 4 into 2
The SOHC is a SOHC inline 4, the DOHC and the CB1100 are DOHC inline 4s

Re: New CBX??????

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 8:22 am
by Rick Pope
The harsh reality is that many will tell a manufacturer what they want, but if it goes into production few pony up and purchase it. Lesson learned. Don't listen to the folks wandering the motorcycle shows, especially if they're geezers with spring loaded wallets. Like me. :o