Anyone with 1979 CBX 1000 experience here? I need some advice;

[p6x]

I found a CBX 1000, and this is one of the bikes I always dreamed to own. It is not in perfect shape, and the owner says it blows blue smoke. I am thinking about going to look at it. it's red, so it is even more appealing to me.

I checked a guy who does work on Honda and BMW's of that era, and he was really enthusiastic about working on a CBX 1000, even if never did. But he said it should not be much different from working on CB750, which he does all the time.

However, he is not cheap. $175/hr.

Here's the bike, and some photos. If you have some experience with those, please let me have your thoughts. As you can see, I suspect the guy got the bike in a project shape. He did work on it to flip it. I have included the compression test. This was a dry test. He did not do a leak test.

[audiomick]

My experience with the CBX 1000: a bloke I shared a house with in the early nineties had one. It was in pretty good nick, and I was able to ride it a number of times. My bike at the time was a 1976 Kawasaki Z900, so as you know what I was comparing to, but I rode a lot of different bikes belonging to various friends at the time, so I wasn't "one-eyed". Incidently, the bloke with the CBX also had a Le Mans 850 III, and it is predominantly his fault (for letting me ride that as well) that I now own Guzzis.

 

Anyway, the CBX is big and heavy, and has a late 70's japanese frame. 'nuff said.

And it is an enormous amount of fun. That motor is absolutely fantastic.

Although the motor looks enormous, it actually isn't any wider than the Z900 motor. I know this for certain. I measured them.

The one in the photos: I reckon you're right about the "buying it as a project". Either he's done a "pimp my ride" on it to turn it over, or he started in on renovating, and has given up for some reason. The photos indicate that he got into the carbs and brakes, not purely cosmetic things, so maybe he really intended to finish it off.

If I had the readies to get it finished, I would buy it. I reckon a CBX in good nick must be like hen's teeth, and if you do find one, it is likely to be astronomically priced. I'd be inclined to take the risk. When it is finished, you know what you've got. The risk is that there is something in there that needs doing and might break the bank. But then you might not, and at the end of the day you would have a brilliant bike.

 

EDIT: if you buy it, throw away those stupid handlebars immediately, and put something useful on there. The ones in the photo would undoubtably turn a reasonably sporty bike, according to the standards of the time, into a heavy pig.

[Lucky Phil]

Seems decent with 1 cylinder low on comp for whatever reason. Looks like the guy who's selling isn't an "engine guy" more a chassis aesthetics guy so isn't prepared to go inside the engine. Your question isn't answerable without knowing what the asking price is. Also you haven't mentioned the mileage believable or not. As for $175/hr labour well that's in the luxury/rich persons bracket isn't it? I had to laugh at the working environment, budget quality tools and cheap old rusty compression tester, working outside in the dirt. Probably best he left the engine alone. I often look at the background more than the item to get an idea of whats on offer. A plus is he hasn't been inside the engine but the reality of old bike restos is if you need to farm out the engine work to someone else the risk is high and your pockets need to be deep unless you are exceedingly lucky.

At your mechanics rate i'd estimate a simple top end flex hone job with new rings and valve seat lap and re assemble would be 8 hrs work at least plus parts. So you can see how the costs can blow out if anything else crops up. 

Phil   

[p6x]

21 minutes ago, Lucky Phil said:

Your question isn't answerable without knowing what the asking price is

The guy wants 10k, negotiable. Based on his assumption, the valves are the problem of the blue smoke. But there is no certainty to that.

But your estimated time to rebuild the top end is actually very helpful. $1400 + spares should bring the total to about 2k. That gives me a base for negotiation.

I also saw there is a lot of rust everywhere on that bike. Rust, I should be able to take care of.

That mechanic I spoke to has never worked on a CBX 1000 before. I may be able to negotiate his hourly rate, or maybe find somebody else that has experience on a CBX. I asked him that very question this morning, how much to rebuild the top end, and he managed to not answer that question directly.

I should see the bike this Sunday.

 

 

 

[audiomick]

2 minutes ago, p6x said:

The guy wants 10k,

Seems a lot for a bike that is a bit ratty. Have you looked at the prices that are being asked for a good CBX, assuming there are any at all on offer?

[p6x]

8 minutes ago, audiomick said:

Seems a lot for a bike that is a bit ratty. Have you looked at the prices that are being asked for a good CBX, assuming there are any at all on offer?

There was an auction in Houston, two weeks ago. There was one CBX 1000 in top shape for sale, it went for 30k. Kaplan cycles had one, 2 weeks ago, but I don't know how much it sold for.

Same year, same ugly handlebars, by the way. Once I get into the nitty-gritty of where the owner got it, then I will know.

 

[audiomick]

10 minutes ago, p6x said:

 There was one CBX 1000 in top shape for sale, it went for 30k.

Ok, so maybe 10k is not too unreasonable, and maybe you can talk him down a bit

For what it is worth, I just had a look here on one of the bigger platforms. There were some CBXs on offer. The ones that I might consider start at around €10,000. The highest was a low-mileage, original, very clean from a dealer in Holland for a bit over €22,000

[guzzler]

G'day.

I also had a mate with one and got to ride it back in the 80's.

His one is still going strong too I believe.

Mate there is a thriving owners club here in Oz but also very active clubs for them overseas so maybe contact them for advice.

From what I know they are or can be EXPENSIVE to restore and like anything have their foibles so maybe specialised advice may save you $ ??

Try CBX world and ICOA both seem USA centric?

Cheers 

[audiomick]

Another thought: I'm not all that rapt about the tyres in the photos. The profile looks good, but...

This is them:

https://www.bridgestonemotorcycletires.com/en-us/product-results/spitfire-s11#

The blurb seems to be biased towards "cool" more than performance. And H-rated.

Top speed 210 km/h according to here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tire_code#Speed_rating

and the bike can allegedly do about 220 km/h according to here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CBX

and here

https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/Honda/honda_cbx1000_79.html

 

Ok, you're not going to be hammering something like a CBX at top speed all the time, but still, the tyres are slightly underrated for the bike. It would be interesting to know if the load-rating is appropriate, particularly in respect to the hot conditions you have in Texas.

[p6x]

11 hours ago, guzzler said:

but also very active clubs for them overseas so maybe contact them for advice.

I did. Actually, I knew of them a long time before I came across this particular CBX. https://www.cbxclub.fr/

They balked at the 175/hr labor price, for a guy who isn't even a CBX specialist. I don't know what is the given rate for mechanics at dealerships; 100/hr?

I am looking for alternatives.

[p6x]

11 hours ago, guzzler said:

specialised advice may save you $ ??

The advice I got from the CBX club, is to do the top end myself; if not, I would be better off purchasing a CBX that does not require opening the engine first hand.

Even if I think that I am technically able to do it, I do not have the setup to be able to take up such a task. Doing very simple housekeeping on the V11 is already strenuous enough, owing to the temperature and humidity. 10 minutes of work, and you are completely drenched in perspiration. I can't leave the engine in pieces lying around, when I already have no space in my garage. You need an elevator table, some kind of crane to lower the engine, a bench with a vice and tools. I have none of that.

I am going to check with the mechanic I found, if I help him, maybe he can lower his hourly rate.

[guzzler]

G'day mate.

Did the club (s) mention any other reputable mechanics in your area who might be able to do it?

$175 an hour sounds pretty expensive even down here and as LP mentioned... the workshop doesn't exactly, er inspire confidence.

Good luck though.

Cheers Guzzler

 

 

[gstallons]

Hmmm.

1 Don't buy ANYTHING you can't fix yourself . Get a bunch of biker buddies that own and work on their own bikes and hang out w/them too.

 2 A great mechanic doesn't negotiate prices. a greater mechanic may let you watch them and instruct you on what they are doing , why and what you can DIY . A good mechanic will explain why they do something and what you can do . 

3 Just because you want one doesn't mean you need one. I will have to quote a saying my Momma used to have "you need that like you need a possum with a red asshole".

4  If I didn't know as much as I do (especially joining THIS forum) , I would have regretted this bike . 

 

[p6x]

2 hours ago, guzzler said:

G'day mate.

Did the club (s) mention any other reputable mechanics in your area who might be able to do it?

$175 an hour sounds pretty expensive even down here and as LP mentioned... the workshop doesn't exactly, er inspire confidence.

Good luck though.

Cheers Guzzler

 

 

That club is in France, unfortunately. However, I went to MPH Cycle today, and Davey says he worked on those before, and he may know someone that may know someone.... Indeed, 175/hr is really expensive, especially for someone who never worked on a CBX before.

[guzzler]

G'day mate.

Honda CBX world and ICOA are both USA centric CBX forums as far as I can tell....

It may be worth a look?

Our ole V11's are pretty basic bikes but they sure as hell have some foibles that this forum is brilliant at sorting!

The CBX forums may possibly be handy for same or if only pointing you to someone reputable?

Cheers