Honda CB-1

Honda CB-1

Manufacturer	Honda
Also called	CB400F, NC27
Production	1989–1990
Predecessor	Honda CBX400F
Successor	Honda CB400SF
Class	Naked bike
Engine	399 cc (24.3 cu in) liquid cooled DOHC four valves/cyl. inline-four
Bore / stroke	55.0 mm × 42.0 mm (2.17 in × 1.65 in)
Compression ratio	11.3:1
Top speed	190 km/h (118 mph)
Power	55.2 bhp (41.2 kW) @ 10,000 rpm (claimed)
Torque	29 lb⋅ft (39 N⋅m) @ 9,500 rpm (claimed)
Ignition type	electric starter
Transmission	6-speed chain drive manual
Frame type	Steel perimeter
Suspension	Showa. Front: 41 mm telescopic fork, non-adj. Rear: single shock w/7-way preload adj.
Brakes	Single disc front/rear
Tires	Bridgestone Front: 110/70-17 Rear: 140/70-17
Rake, trail	25.5 degrees, 99 mm (3.9 in)
Wheelbase	1,370 mm (54 in)
Dimensions	L: 2,035 mm (80.1 in) W: 705 mm (27.8 in)
Seat height	775 mm (30.5 in)
Weight	179 kg (395 lb) (dry) 187 kg (413 lb) (wet)
Fuel capacity	3.3 US gal (12 L; 2.7 imp gal)
Related	Honda CBR400

The Honda CB-1 is a small, light naked sports motorcycle with a 399-cubic-centimetre (24.3 cu in) straight-four engine, carrying the model code NC27. In contrast to other models of the Honda CB series, the name is written with a hyphen. In some countries it was marketed as Honda CB400F.

The bike was first introduced in 1989 and continued through 1990. Originally developed for the Japanese market, the CB-1 was also available in the United States and Canada. Called a “great motorcycle that never found an audience” and “victims of a difficult market” by Cycle World, the final model year 1990 CB-1s available as leftover stock were offered in 1992 at a $600 discount, for $3700 in the US, which in current money would be $8,291 accounting for inflation.

The CB-1 engine is similar to the early NC23 models CBR400RR, with changes to the port lengths and angles as well as smaller valves and lower compression ratio; changes in the primary and secondary gear ratios reduced the 60 mph (97 km/h) first gear down to around 30 mph (48 km/h), making the slightly less powerful CB-1 feel much quicker from a standstill than its sportier sibling, All engines derived from the NC23 block carry the NC23 ID code in the engine number; this includes the NC27, 23, 29, 31 etc., including the VTEC models with chain driven cams. Like many of its stablemates, the CB-1 has straight gear-driven dual camshafts with self-silencing gears to reduce whine.

Cycle World measured the time to cover a

1⁄4 mile (0.40 km) as 13.17 seconds with a final speed of 99.16 miles per hour (159.58 km/h) and the top speed as 118 miles per hour (190 km/h) Braking distance from 60 to 0 miles per hour (97 to 0 km/h) was 124 feet (38 m). — saying the bike was “a reincarnation of the standard motorcycle … the sort of bike everyone rode before sporting riders went replica racer crazy”.

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  CB1a
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  CB1