MGL0779 - Honda CBX 1000 - 1047cc DOHC six cylinder - 5 speed – 85 hp at 6500 rpm. – 1978 - Japan

In the field of rapid changing competition in the mid seventies the position of Honda, with the first superbike ever, was changing with the arrival of the raw power of the Kawa 900 and the six cylinder of Benelli. To reclaim their position as ‘leading manufacturer’ Honda came in ’78 with this ultimate six cylinder: the CBX 1000. Being the fastest running production machine of it’s days with an abundance of power of 105 hp on paper, but in the earliest and lightest models of the range that was even closer up to 115 hp. Thereby attributing to the ban of bikes over 100 hp in Germany of those days.

The CBX is looking massive with it’s enormous engine, that’s surprisingly only 5 cm or 2 inch wider than a CB 750 engine. Honda managed this by positioning the alternator and ignition behind the cylinder block. The six cylinder block. Reaching back to the glorious racing heritage of the famous Honda six Cylinders from the sixties. A six cylinder that makes the CBX a very well constructed and smoothly running sport tourer.

Proofing the quality of the CBX 1000 is the story of Jürgen Hereth. A brand like BMW is renowned for its quality, emphasized by the BMW R90s that covered the distance of 368.000 kilometres to the moon. Well, the CBX1000 of the mr. Hereth covered the same distance as well as covering the distance of coming back and even some more. One million kilometres all together, mr. Hereth has ordered a new counter now, bespoke with an addtional digit.

Being the sensation it was in ’78, a few years later this position was reclaimed by even more powerful, lighter and cheaper machines as the likes of the Suzuki GSX 1100 and the Yamaha XJ 900 F, but the CBX 1000’s position as a dream machine has never been lost.

Motorbike is out of a private collection