Museum Quality 1982 Honda CBX
Now that is a collection of Honda CBXs. The seller clearly has a thing for one of the most significant motorcycles of the 1980s, and you can’t blame him for that – the CBX was a game-changer when introduced, and quite desirable now. Packing an inline-six cylinder generating an impressive 105 horsepower, the CBX remains an impressive performer today, and the seller notes his has just over 2,000 original miles, described as a “museum quality” bike and offered here on eBay with no reserve. Bidding is currently over $10,000 with two days left, and the CBX is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
What always amazes me about older performance bikes is just how blisteringly fast they were. We always tend to look at improvements in performance numbers as being tied immediately to the current time and place – in other words, the best performing cars and bikes are available right now, not thirty years ago. And this is certainly true with automobiles, as the malaise era was decimating to performance standards and 2021 features some of most daily driver friendly supercars we’ve ever seen. But motorcycles? They were producing absolutely scalding performance machines in 1982. What a wonderful time to be alive as a motorcycle enthusiast.
The CBX could run down the quarter mile in under 12 seconds, going on to a top speed of 130 miles per hour. Trap speed was almost 118 in the quarter, making it just ridiculously fast when introduced and still impressively quick by modern standards. As you can see in the details with this example, it truly is a time capsule, as the orange gauges and needles still look as vibrant as ever, and there are no scratched or other defacements on the cluster glass or plastic shroud beneath. The seller reports he last drove it in 2008 and that the CBX has been parked in his climate-controlled collection ever since.
The CBX presents well with excellent paint and lenses, and comes with the optional saddlebags. The seller notes that prior to parking it in 2008, he serviced the forks and carbs, added new tires and brakes, and changed the fluids. Still, given how long it has been sitting, he recommends installing a new battery, servicing the carb, and flushing out the fuel system. Photos show that the decals are in excellent shape, and all factory stickers and labels remain affixed. Polished surfaces still present as new, and really, even if a general servicing is needed, this looks like one to buy, refresh, and preserve. Have you ever driven a CBX?
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Comments
I always get a kick out of these people with storage barns full of toys, and none get ridden. CBX was an okay bike, we’ve been over this before. As usual, Jeff makes a great writeup, and me coming from that era, it was more, who had the biggest stick, and Honda said, “that’s it, try and top this”! It did one thing well, stretch the operators arms out, but poor in every other respect. Usually after, what’s the miles, 2200? People found out, it was all novelty, not to mention soiled underpants, and they were parked in a corner, as seen,, and a more suitable cruiser was obtained. Better places to spend $10g’s, unless you want it sitting in a corner for all your millionaire buddies to ooh and ahh over. Don’t forget, there’s SIX carbs to mess with,,,4 on my POS GoldWing was a nightmare. As finicky as those vacuum Keihen’s are, this thing will never run right, except under full throttle, and unless you live on the Bonneville Salt Flats, they were poor motorcycles.
I don’t know…along with the Gold Wing, Honda offered a Tour-Pak for these and the CB900 and the V65 Sabre for those who wanted a little “sport” in their touring. In 1982 the touring market belonged to Craig Vetter and the touring accessories he made for bikes like the Suzuki GS1100, the Yamaha XS11, and the KZ1100.
Howard, I wish you knew what you were talking about. These bikes are as bulletproof as any I have ridden or owned. I have one with 72K miles and it still looks new. Only carb work was done when stage 3s were added at 25K miles. It is and always has been super reliable.
Gross bikes for the wind-suit, gold chain and C4 Corvette fellas. Those of us who know these bikes laugh at the old guys plonking down big money for them.
As I remember it the dealers had a hard time selling these. In fact I seem to remember seeing them selling in their transport crates. A good friend at the one dealer I worked owned one and would ride it to work sparingly. Seemed to run really well for him. If you were not looking when he pulled up you had to when you heard the exhaust note.
Yes, I recall the same thing. Berg Pearson Honda in Madison WI had leftover CBXs in crates they were selling for $2500 and they still had a hard time moving them. I did test ride one that a local motorcycle mecha was selling, and he had those 6 carbs synched to perfection! I remember it being silky so, and the exhaus exhaust t note was incredible. I ended up with an ‘81 Kawasaki GpZ 1100. Much faster, and a better bike in every way, and fuel injected so no carbs to mess with.
I haven’t had a desire to own another motorcycle in decades, with one exception; the Honda CBX…
A friend had a CBX with a six into one. The only way to describe the exhaust note is ‘the sound of tearing silk.’
Speaking of the exhaust note, I recall reading in Rider magazine, that when these bikes were being developed, the Honda motorcycle engineers recorded the sounds that jets produced when taking off. They then went back to their labs and developed exhaust pipes that would replicate the sound. When the Honda top brass heard the sound, they squashed the idea. Oh well.
I don’t know what you guys are talking about, my 79 CBX ran like a raped ape stock, even better with the six it to six exhaust and rejetting the carbs. Scary fast bike then with skinny rear tire. Sold it after my wife passed, I didn’t want my 10 year old daughter to become parentless if something happened to me on it. Wish I hadn’t now. A guy I know has a 79 he bought with a turbo and Holley four barrel that is a absolute beast.
I also had the 105 bhp CBX with a six into one exhaust system and never had any sort of trouble with the six carbs as it was serviced according to the Honda suggested dates. Maybe if you ignored the service dates, or tried to work on them yourself, then maybe you would have a problem.
One problem with those circa 1982 hyperbikes was common to all. They did not like sun. Everything faded or shrank or hazed over or got brittle or tarnished in little to no time, seat covering split, you name it. But boy or boy, they were fast when they were running right. And six carburetors to rebuild if you neglected them had to have been extra fun!
I had a friend that was a Honda dealer. He let me take one of these out for a test ride. Seriously scary! I bought a 900 Custom instead.
I don’t know about millionaire buddies but cool retro to generate conversation vs covid!!! I like it!
I bought a new 79 CBX and it was crazy fast, for that time. Later bought an 81 grey equipped like these and it ran good but was not fast like the 79. People should be aware they detuned the CBX for the 1980 year, and magazine tests confirm that. 81’s get all the touring bags and stuff and we’re a bit slower yet.
Steve you’re right I had a 79 and it would make a believer out of you. Well balanced and the sound!!!!
Fun bike! I still own my 81 I bought new from Harders Honda in Janesville Wi. I jumped from my 71 FX to that CBX. Wow, the luck of the Irish! Ran like a top. Maybe see it posted here this summer. My buddy had a 79 with a turbo. Plus he owned a tavern, yes, he survived.
I guess going from a slug Harley to a 6cylinder Honda might be quite a difference? as a punk; i went through a buncha’ 1000 cc Kawis’ went the other way. been riding my 1974 FXE for 31yrs. sure. i work on it every winter. I put 4piston PM brakes on it right away! every time i fix one oil leak;another pops up! such is life.
You need to do what I did to my 1974 FXE. Primary belt drive and a dry clutch. Didn’t leak a drop.
The original owner likely decided to sell right after he finished synchronizing the carburettors correctly for the first time. No one would ever do that job twice. Trust me, the middle ones cannot be reached by any known human hand and training primates is no longer socially acceptable. But this motor had an exhaust sound that cannot be described.
ACZ. only thing worth living through Chicago winters is toying with my Sluggo. and drinking! besides keeping my 2 stroke snowblowers running to annoy my neighbors. Peace.
I gave up on Chicago winters in 1977.
Ended:Apr 11, 2021 , 7:00PM
Winning bid:
US $15,935.00
[ 50 bids ]
Thanks leiniedude. A great service.