Greetings from West Australia

[Aussie_Rock]

Hello fellow CBX fans,
My name is Rock and on Thursday I pick up a bike I have been looking for for a long time. A 1981 Honda CBX(B) 1000.
Whilst this is my first CBX, it is not my first experience with this bike. When I was 13, my father bought a near new bike exactly the same as I am about to buy. The original owner had only had it a short while, and was intimidated by it so my dad bought it for a good price. For me it was love at first sight. He owned that bike until the late 1990's, when he sold it at his new wife's behest (without offering to me first). I owned a Ducati 851 and a Honda RC30 at the time.

Over the last few years, I have been keeping my eye out for one exactly the same - but its either been sold before I could get hold of it, or it was residing in the eastern states and it was too much drama to get it over here. A few nice '78 models have been for sale...but I didn't want a '78...so being patient I have waited...and waited.

Then, out of nowhere, the right bike turned up - and only a few km from where I live. It has only done 18000kms (around 12000 miles), and is in near showroom condition. It has an aftermarket Corbin seat (with the original included), panniers etc, plus the original owners handbook and toolkit.

My intention is to ride it on sunny days and show it at bike shows here in West Australia. Hopefully I will be able to maintain it in its present condition.

My main ride is a BMW K1300S - which is a superb motorcycle for eating up the big country miles there is to be had here. Previous rides include the previously mentioned Ducati 851 and Honda RC30, plus a 1998 Suzuki TLR1000, 2001 Yamaha R6, 2008 Suzuki Bandit 1250S, Suzuki GSXR1000K9, and another K1300S previous to the one I have now (it was stolen).

I am a big fan of Irish Road Racing. I have attended the Isle of Man TT in 2011 and last year, and intend going again next year. I am a Chief Petty Officer (we don't have Senior Chief/Master Chief here) with 28 years service in RAN Submarines and destroyers.

I am hoping to learn as much as I can about the CBX from learned gentlemen (and ladies) such as yourselves!

Attached is a pic of the bike, minus panniers, which I can't wait to get into my garage.

[steve murdoch icoa #5322]

Welcome to the site, Rock.
Nice looking Prolink.
What kind of pipes are those?
For me ownership of an RC30 is out of the question, but even a ride on one is on the bucket list.

[Aussie_Rock]

I believe that they are Australian made 'Staintune' mufflers. They sound pretty good.

[NobleHops]

Greetings Rock, and welcome! Your bike looks fantastic. May you enjoy many miles together.



N.

[Mello]

Great intro and I'm sure you will enjoy the forum.

[daves79x]

Yes, a nice non-US version with the 'sport kit' from the factory. The way they all should have come. Welcome!

Dave

[Aussie_Rock]

Hi all,
Well I picked it up last night and tucked it into bed at home. Got it out of bed first thing this very cool winters morning to give it a run into work. Started first kick from cold, rode it to a servo, filled it up and gave it a good run into work. She's a bit grumpy at low revs until everything is warm, but once warmed up it purrs like a kitten, even the gear shifts are smooth enough. Everything works, the brakes are good enough, the suspension feels nice and firm (haven't checked the air pressures yet). Will be popping into the local Honda dealer on the way home to get a blank key so I can get another cut.

The engine number is SC03E2304925, the Vin number is SC062302054. If anyone can shed any light on what those numbers equate to with the origins of the bike, that would be much appreciated.

[NobleHops]

Funny, we just did cover this in another thread, your timing is excellent. Pick it up in this topic:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3058&p=70256&hilit= ... der#p70256

N.

[EMS]

The VIN number breakdown in the thread that Nils refers to, only applies to North American bikes. All other markets had a slightly different VIN number structure, beginning in 1981:

The JH2 to designate Japan origin is missing. The model designation only says SC06, not SC060. The check digit is missing and so is the year and the manufacturing plant code. Instead, they added a "2" in front of the 30XXXX for the 81 and 40XXXX for the 82 to make the VIN serial number correspond with the engine serial-number (23..., 24...)
Essentially, all non-U.S. and -Canadian bikes have the model designation (SC06) and the serial number. This basically follows the structure of previous years (CB1, SC03)
The engine number structure is the same.
Your VIN No of ..2054 is right out of the middle of the 81 model run, probably built in March of 1981. The engine number ..04925 is unusually high for that VIN. But maybe that is not uncommon for non-U.S. bikes, I cannot say.

[Aussie_Rock]

Thanks for the info guys. I took it for a decent run on Friday afternoon and she goes great. So different from the K1300S.
I went to my local Honda dealer to attempt to get a blank key. Not possible as one has to buy the entire barrel assembly to get the key blanks. They suggested a local security store just down the road, ended up getting a key cut for $8.50. Means I can put the original key away.
I checked the air pressure in the suspension. The rear had 42psi and the forks had nothing, so I used a bike pump and put two pumps into them which measured as 10psi.
Next step will be giving it an oil/filter change and a tune just so I have a reference point. The plugs, battery and coils are all new.

Looking forward to putting some cruisey miles on the beast.

[wes1964]

Hey Aussie_Rock welcome aboard, your bike looks fantastic and I am sure you will enjoy every mile. If you are ever in Vic shoot me a message and would like to catch up, you can see my bike under new member forum G Day from an Aussie.
Cheers Wes.