New Member from NH

[CLCB]

Good morning ICOA Administrators, experts and members,

I currently own a 1970 Honda CL350K2 and a 1969 CB750 and would like to add a CBX as the 3rd and final bike to my small high-quality rider collection.

Since a CBX is a historically significant, complex and unique bike and it's a "buyer beware" world, I would like to become as informed as possible when buying the bike.

I have been using a local vintage bike shop, ICOA as a guest and Bring a Trailer as information resources thus far.

Although I do not own a CBX at this point, I thought joining ICOA be a great additional resource to find a correctly restored, well maintained, reliable red 1979 or 1980 CBX and to maintain it after..

Are there any other resources that you can suggest for purchasing, restoring and maintaining a CBX?

I would also like to thank the experts here that have made insightful posts on BAT. They are very informative to those who love learning about these bikes and even more helpful to bidders.

Thanks,
Bob

[tevan]

Welcome to ICOA. You probably seen a few of my cbxs I restored on bat. In the last couple years. I have a couple more available if you are really interested. I do these for a hobby. Message me and I can answer some questions you might have. There is a bunch of valuable information on this site. Unlike facebook information is on this site about everything on a Cbx. There are several folks that will be glad to guide you along.

[daves79x]

Welcome Bob! If you have been following the black '80 right now on BAT, I'd pass on that one. Unless it goes for a very cheap price, and I think there is a reserve, so that's not happening. It is just too incorrectly restored and absolutely nothing done to the engine, even tune-up stuff. Lots of miles too.

Dave

[Jeff Bennetts]

You have come to the right place, how long have you been actively searching for the right CBX? Seems you understand BaT, the comments can be useful if you’re following the right commenters. Prices can be somewhat inflated which is good for us owners, not so good for potential buyers.

Hopefully by now you can discern between a solid original CBX and a tarted up wannabe. A mostly original stock bike that hasn’t been just glossed over to look good but has been maintained over its life is a good choice. I’m always skeptical of sellers who need to ask their mechanic for an answer to your or someone else’s questions, it just gives me the willies.

[CLCB]

Welcome to ICOA. You probably seen a few of my cbxs I restored on bat. In the last couple years. I have a couple more available if you are really interested. I do these for a hobby. Message me and I can answer some questions you might have. There is a bunch of valuable information on this site. Unlike facebook information is on this site about everything on a Cbx. There are several folks that will be glad to guide you along.

Thanks tevan, What is your BaT username?

[CLCB]

Welcome Bob! If you have been following the black '80 right now on BAT, I'd pass on that one. Unless it goes for a very cheap price, and I think there is a reserve, so that's not happening. It is just too incorrectly restored and absolutely nothing done to the engine, even tune-up stuff. Lots of miles too.

Dave

Thanks Dave,

I'm not interested in the black ‘80 for the reasons you highlighted in your commentaries as well as the color.

I looked at the silver '79 in Turners Falls MA last summer because it was within driving distance. It was bought at an estate auction and being flipped. They were asking $28,000 after doing the minimum to get it running. Their goal was to get it running well enough to ride around the block while still preserving what they felt a collector would value in terms of its originality. The bike looked pretty good from a cosmetic perspective but there were many unknowns from a mechanical perspective. Also not red, so I passed.

The two bikes that appealed to me so far were:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1979-honda-cbx-49/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1980-honda-cbx-14/

I liked both of them but didn’t know a knowledgeable CBX expert to help with a prepurchase evaluation and felt I needed to learn more about the BaT auction system and the CBX from a mechanical perspective.

[CLCB]

You have come to the right place, how long have you been actively searching for the right CBX? Seems you understand BaT, the comments can be useful if you’re following the right commenters. Prices can be somewhat inflated which is good for us owners, not so good for potential buyers.

Hopefully by now you can discern between a solid original CBX and a tarted up wannabe. A mostly original stock bike that hasn’t been just glossed over to look good but has been maintained over its life is a good choice. I’m always skeptical of sellers who need to ask their mechanic for an answer to your or someone else’s questions, it just gives me the willies.

Thanks Jeff, I've been looking for about a year.

[Jeff Bennetts]

You don’t need to look any further for your resource of CBX knowledge, this forum has offered it to anyone willing to show their sincerity and willingness to participate for the last 30 years.

If you find something you’re interested in, just share it with the forum and they will help you evaluate it, that simple.

The link to the 80 you posted is a bike Terry/tevan\porkys just sold on BaT, a properly restored, but not over restored CBX.

[daves79x]

I would maybe work with Terry about buying one of his next restorations. He usually has two or three in queue. Then you'll know pretty much exactly what you're getting.

Dave

[tevan]

Welcome to ICOA. You probably seen a few of my cbxs I restored on bat. In the last couple years. I have a couple more available if you are really interested. I do these for a hobby. Message me and I can answer some questions you might have. There is a bunch of valuable information on this site. Unlike facebook information is on this site about everything on a Cbx. There are several folks that will be glad to guide you along.

Thanks tevan, What is your BaT username?

Porkys

Pm me and we can message privately. and if you want I will give you my phone number and we can talk. I do theses bikes as a hobby.

[CBX-tras]

I'm in the process of building 2 ProLink CBX's into naked versions that will be available in the spring.

Both are low mileage, 1200 and 4600 respectfully. Both will be Candy Glory Red and EVERYTHING is being addressed. It'll be like buying a certified pre-owned Mercedes from a dealer. I'm currently at 36 points on the build sheet check list. Some items better than what Honda offered new. (I.E. Carbs, brakes)

Current photos and a past build that resembles what they will look like.

Not restored but nice resto-mod nonetheless.

[Larry Zimmer]

Just a side note for you Bob: J.R. and Terry do NICE work. I can't/won't address prices. However, quality is there.

[CLCB]

Thanks for the welcome and helpful posts everyone.

I have been fortunate to talk to Dave and Terry. Both were great to talk to and a wealth of information.

I will be sticking with a restored original configuration ’79 or ’80 rather than a Pro-Link or custom resto-mod. I know there is a significant element of personal preference as well as some detail and facts as to the advantages of a ’79 vs ’80, so I’m interested in opinions as to other people’s experience and preference.

The one twist I will be adding to the original configuration of my bike, will be getting two sets of pipes. A Delkevic 6 into 2 original reproduction set and a set of Pipemaster 6 into 6 through Jan. The pipes are such a key part of the looks, sound and performance of a bike I want to secure both, since the are both available and may not be in the future.

Bob

[CBX-tras]

Once you hear the PipeMasters you'll regret paying for the Delkevics (nice, for the stock appearance and exhaust note).

My

[CLCB]

Thanks CBX-tras, experienced opinions are very helpful.

I plan on starting with the Pipemasters mounted because I like the looks a lot more and think it fits with what the bike is to me, much better than a 6 into 2. I see this bike as a performance bike not a quiet, comfortable, touring bike.

I also like what I have read about the louder sound from posts and what they sound like on sound clips. Not as good as hearing them in real life but the best info I have got to make decisions with at this point

I also want a high quality, as close to original as possible, exhaust set because they are available and will allow me to put the bike back into it's true original configuration. I went through a lot finding my CL350K2 pipes because they all rusted out in the same place (top / right cylinder, frame side, front bottom of muffler area). Finding a specialty welder then re-chromer who will redo used exhausts took me 2 years. NOS ones are extremely hard to find and if you can find them, very expensive.

Any thoughts on a properly restored ’79 vs ’80?

Bob