One goal and Four Honda CBXs Later
Owner and photographer: Victor Van Tress
Year, Make, and Model: 1981 Honda CBX
Location: Rockypeak, California, USA
Photographer: Rock Store Photos
I made a promise to myself never to crash a car on the street. After a few years I decided to up the challenge and include motorcycles on that promise. I first began riding a CBX while working as a salesman at a Honda/Kawasaki dealer. It was a demo ’81 CBX. Smitten, I put 24k miles on it in a year and after quitting, I bought my own 1981 Honda CBX. After 75k miles the bike was hit while parked and I immediately bought another ’81 CBX which I put 120k miles on.
Then I bought my fourth CBX which just turned 80K miles (the one pictured here). I’ll probably buy another. The 1981-82 CBX has been called ‘Honda’s Moon Shot’ [Editor’s note: in 1977, Cycle magazine praised Honda, calling the CBX a “breakthrough for the Japanese motorcycle industry”]. When Harley guys ask “How do you keep all those carbs and valves adjusted?” I answer, “First off, do nothing. Then every 15K miles, do nothing but every 50K miles make sure you do nothing.” Basically, if the clutch basket doesn’t rattle, don’t touch it. Just remember–it’s a Honda.
Called a SuperSport, it’s a 24-valve air cooled six-cylinder and Honda’s first “Pro-Link” rear suspension bike with chassis mounted fairing and suit cases. I love that it is dead smooth yet has a stressed member mounted six-cylinder.
I ride this bike 24/7, hot, cold, wet, or dry. I take it everywhere. Being a race driver, I naturally have had many an occasion to chase other bikes with the CBX and have had many chase me. CBXs are not known as road racers but then again, has anybody else run one as hard for so many years?
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