1980 Honda CB900

[Bminder]

The other two bikes I was looking at were a bust.
Here's a Honda CB900.
Anyone have any experience or opinions on these?
http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/mcy/4375093361.html

[rusjel]

I had a Bol 'Dor ( Sports tourer fairing) version of a 1980 CB900 back in the lates 80s.

Commuted 200 miles between Whayalla and Roxby Downs each week on it for 6 months, nothing fell off and it seemed fast and comfy at the time.

The only Honda roadbike I liked until I got Blackbirds. Hope that helps.   

[Bminder]

Thanks cobber.

[simi_ed]

I borrowed a buddy's 900F back in the 80's for a trip from LA to Laguna Seca.  It was a decent handling bike, but not  torque monster like an FJ.  This extended test ride helped convince me I wanted a FJ!

[Lotsokids]

My dad bought a CB900F Supersport new in about 1981. He loved it and rode it EVERYWHERE. No major issues at all. He had a ton of miles on it before he traded it in for a Gold Wing (in his 70's).

[oldktmdude]

The other two bikes I was looking at were a bust.
Here's a Honda CB900.
Anyone have any experience or opinions on these?
http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/mcy/4375093361.html

I had a 1980 CB900F just before buying my current FJ. I originally bought two that were burnt in a garage fire and rebuilt one using the best available parts of the pair. Had to repaint completely and replace all decals. Looked pretty respectable when I finished but I had made my mind up to look for an early FJ.
It was a good bike to ride and went really well. Handling was not up to par with my FJ but I was still running old school cross-ply tyres and standard suspension. Sold it to my brother a few years ago and he still loves riding it but he has always been a Honda man.
         
                                         
                                                                                                                                                                                    Regards, Pete.

[movenon]

Rode my brothers and it was a nice bike. Much like the FJ there is a pretty good support group and restoration information for them.  Cafe racers like them. Getting harder to find one in real good condition.  In the end it is what YOU like not anyone else.  No prefect bike and they are all expensive to work on.

When you wake up and have to got to work, the wife is on your ass, the kid threw up on you, the dog pissed on the floor and bit you,  when you open the door to the garage,  what puts a smile on your face ?.........
George

[ddlewis]

The other two bikes I was looking at were a bust.
Here's a Honda CB900.
Anyone have any experience or opinions on these?
http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/mcy/4375093361.html

I had one, an 81 - it was the C model.  Cushy ride.  Made a nice highway cruiser.  Mine had a dual range gearbox making it effectively a 10spd and shaft drive.  Compared to an FJ it is big, soft, floppy, but relatively comfortable.  FJ motor probably 50% more powerful.  The F model may be slightly sportier with it's sprockets etc. but still has the old style steel cradle frame.. and heavy.  all in all a cool bike though.

[markmartin]

The bike in the ad is a CB900 Custom.  Like Dan said 900 C model.  The CB900F and CB750F is what Fast Freddie Spencer was racing with in the early 80's.  I'd say they are totally different bikes. The F was the sport model and the C, a laid back cruise about deal that, like the 750 models, shared the same power plant as the F. --I never understood the reason or need for a quirky dual speed transmission on the 900C.

I owned 2 750F's from the same era.  They were dependable. Old school though.

[Bminder]

Can't find the article now, but I read the reason for the dual range wasn't a marketing gimmick, it was because they were using an existing tranny but the output was on the wrong side, so this was a clever engineering solution, and the hi-lo range was simple to incorporate, or something like that.

[mz_rider]

Honda built the CB1100R in the early '80s. Developed from the CB900 is was a limited edition to homologate the bike for racing. Sold in Europe, Oz, NZ, but not USA (I think) I snapped this one at a bike show a few years ago.

[ddlewis]

--I never understood the reason or need for a quirky dual speed transmission on the 900C.

Gimmick or a freebie - either way it was basically useless..  Kept it in low 95% of the time, the only hi-range gear I ever used was hi-5th - which would drop the rpm's by a small amount on the highway, maybe half or less as much as a normally spaced 6th gear would have.  The best thing about it was showing it off, "look I got 10 speeds".. 

[Bminder]

--I never understood the reason or need for a quirky dual speed transmission on the 900C.

Gimmick or a freebie - either way it was basically useless..  Kept it in low 95% of the time, the only hi-range gear I ever used was hi-5th - which would drop the rpm's by a small amount on the highway, maybe half or less as much as a normally spaced 6th gear would have.  The best thing about it was showing it off, "look I got 10 speeds".. 

From Wikipedia, here's why Honda did the 2 sp:

The genesis of the CB900C makes it a "parts bin" bike. Honda produced two shaft drive bikes previous to and concurrently with the CB900C. The GL and CX series of touring motorcycles of the time are the source of the final drive and rear suspension assemblies of the CB900C. The European model CB900F supplied the basic frame extended two inches for the sub-transmission, engine, and many other chassis components. Full Hondaline touring equipment (Fairing, Lower Leg Fairings, Saddlebags and Trunk were available from the Honda dealer to make the CB900C a complete Touring Bike.

The Sub-transmission is used as a "jack shaft". That is, in order for Honda to use the CB900F engine in conjunction with the GL swingarm and final shaft drive, power must be taken from the CB900F's left hand power take off and transferred to the GL's right hand side final drive shaft. The "Jack Shaft" was given 2 gear ranges at relatively low cost.[1] Most CB900C riders use the 2-Speed Transmission more like 6th gear overdrive. Leaving the bike in low range while shifting through the normal 5 gears, then shifting into high range once up to speed on highway, reducing engine rpm significantly at touring speeds.

[JCC]

Bought an 82 CB900F, brand new, leftover, in 85.
Incredibly smooth motor, think it was rubber mounted..
But when pushed hard, in high speed sweepers, I remember the frame flexed,
Uncomfortably so.  None the less, overall, a very nice ride.

In the summer, I used a bullet nosed fairing, in winter, a full shield.

Sold it just under 20K miles, been on FJ's ever since.
  Some 30 years & 250K miles & two hips later....

[Later]

 I have several Honda CB 900f`s  they are a lot of "old school" fun. Most have charging issues due to old/fragle rotors., Most have shot fork seals and dust boots, starter sylinoids, starterclutches, & ignition moduals. Like Yamaha  FJ owners they have a very good "Supersport website". LATER