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Late in 1978, Honda uncorked a knockout punch onto the world of motorcycling with the incredible six-cylinder CBX. An early-release 1979 model, the CBX was created with
the inspiration and experience derived
from Honda's all-conquering
six-cylinder RC166 250cc Grand Prix
road-racing motorcycle. Both the RC
and CBX were the brainstorms of
Shoichiro Irimajiri. When Honda
unveiled the CBX, it simply exploded
conventional notions of what a
high-performance motorcycle could be.
With six cylinders fed by as many
carburetors, and double-overhead cams
operating 24 valves, the air-cooled
1047cc CBX engine pumped out 103
horsepower at the crankshaft.
Class-leading 11.55-second
quarter-mile times came easily to the
CBX. It was the quickest, most
powerful production motorcycle the
world had ever seen, and an
unbelievable technological
achievement. With a sweep of its hand,
Honda once again established total
performance supremacy.
Apart from the awe-inspiring
powerplant, the original CBX was
fairly conventional in execution, but
no less exceptional. A steel backbone
frame, along with telescopic fork,
twin-shock rear suspension and
triple-disc brakes, provided handling
prowess that equaled that of the era's
best big-bore streetbikes. But, of
course, it was that engine, with its
amazing power, ethereal smoothness,
unforgettable exhaust note and sheer
visual theater that made the original
CBX such a showstopper.
The American press were overwhelmed by
the CBX. Cycle magazine, which
published the first road test, had
this to say: "The bike is more than
fast; it is magic. The exploding
glitter of its technical credentials
lights up the sky. To know the
motorcycle is to know the only rules
Honda follows are Honda's own ... it
is uncompromised and utterly
self-assured, and it is the most
exotic, charismatic motorcycle we have
ever tested.
"The CBX is an immensely flattering
bike with perfect elegance and total
class, and history will rank it with
those rare and precious motorcycles
which will never, ever be forgotten."
Ebullient praise? The CBX deserved
every word, and to this day a ride on
the CBX is every bit as awe-inspiring.
The CBX had but a short four-year
production run, the first two years as
a pure sports machine, and the last
two as a sport-touring model with
fairing and saddlebags. Despite its
excellence, the world wasn't ready for
a six-cylinder motorcycle quite
yet. That would come later, with the
introduction of the six-cylinder Gold
Wing in 1988, and the Valkyrie in
1997.
It was the original 1979 CBX, though,
that demonstrated once again the sheer
audacity of Honda's engineering.
Building a six was one thing, but
putting one into mass production, one
that lived up to Honda's standards of
performance, durability and ease of
use, was a marvel. The CBX is one of a
long line of Honda motorcycles that
amounted to a thrown gauntlet, a
two-wheel dare that said, "Top this!"
To this day, nobody has.
Today, the International CBX Owner's Association (I.C.O.A.), formed in the early 1980's, and "dedicated to the preservation of the CBX motorcycle", boasts over 1200 members world-wide. A quarterly magazine, "CBXPress", mailed to current members of the association, contains editorial features, letters from members, tech tips, rally
write-ups, "Eye Popper" photos of unique CBX motorcycles owned by I.C.O.A. members and last but not least, the Want Ads.