Opinions: CBR1000f

mups has one. The Fatblade ;-)

They are subject to the Honda camchain caution, aren't they? Apart
from that, wibblyflip from me ...

 

Assuming I've got a licence next week, I've seen a clean looking 1989
CBR1000f in a dealer up the road for £1,600. We haggled and agreed a cash
price of £1,400. Insurance is cheap, too as it's now a classic and I wanted
to know if anyone's ever owned one or fixed them etc.

From a quick inspection, the fairing panels look very slightly ill-fitting
on the top RHS , also there is a tiny mark on the RHS by the indicator so I
assume it's been dropped at very low speed and this is what's caused it. The
suspension also feels very hard. Is this what they're like or was the
suspension on my badit just fucked and that's what I got used to. He said I
could have a test ride but need valid insurance to do it and he wouldn't let
it out of the shop even with a full cash deposit but said it came with three
months' warranty.

So, anything I should look for especially? Anything go wrong on them
especially? I've not found much of any help on Google.

Cheers

 

On Sat, 20 Sep 2003 15:05:43 +0100, Whinging Courier wrote:

It doesn't cut it as a sports bike, but they make good fast tourers.

If there are ill-fitting panels, it sounds like something's bent. Make
sure you check that it's not an insurance right-off. Get the full details
of the drop, and get him to take the panels off so that you can see how
badly damaged it is. As best you can, check that everything is lined up
correctly. Turn the bars to each side and check that the clearance is
the same on each side.

If he doesn't know about the drop, be sure to note the details of the
previous owner and if you have a chance, contact them and see why they got
rid of it. How long has the current owner had the bike?

 

I've had mine for about 4 years now. Big, a bit bouncy and only Honda could
make a 150mph+ bike feel quite so bland. If some of the panels look a bit
out you want to have a good poke underneath as all that plastic can hide
all sorts of nastiness underneath. The suspension shouldn't be hard it
sounds like the preload has been wound right up to hide the fact the
damping probably stuffed.

Good points, Build quality is superb, engine is pretty bullet-proof apart
from the cam chain[1] and in the right hands can be made to hustle along at
a rapid rate of knots. Oh and their dead comfy too.

Bad points, Bland, heavy, that cam chain, the brakes are crap and they've
been hit the ugly stick a few times.

Apart from the usual stuff the only thing which has gone on mine is the
fork seals only seem to last about 10,000 miles.

A good cheap bike. Just don't expect it to be a fireblade on the cheap.

[1] Mines done 40,000 and the cam chain is just about shot. It's a cams out
job to replace the chain and tensioner.

 

Had my '87 model for about the same length of time and tend to agree.
Good for long distance though.

Better to take it all off and get the nastiness out in the open. Paint
the fucker matt black while you're at it!

Likely - wind the preload back a 1/4 turn and the swingarm will probably
hit the can(s) over small bumps.

Plus the annoying habit of rolling off the sidestand on the slightest
downhill slope. The front brakes benefit from setting up as two separate
lines rather than the crap split system. The back is just shite.

Sounds about right.

gary

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, mups said:

A bit bouncy? The suspension wasn't actually *hard* but didn't give much
when sat on. It was like I sat on it and that's where it stayed IYSWIM.

I want to have a good poke about with it and won't part with any cash if
I'm not satisfied. I've contemplated getting an AA inspection done on
it. I'm sure the guy doesn't want to sell a bike with any bits that need
doing on it, not if he wants me to buy it anyway.

I was going to go for an old FZR1000 for around the same money but was
drawn the the "flying fridge" simply because it's a Honda and I wanted
it to take me places in relative comfort, take me there quickly and not
fall to bits in five minutes. I didn't know about the cam chain thing
though. Maybe another haggling point?

I'm aware of the ugly stick thing but I have an idea to rat the thing

He's going to let me out for a test ride so I guess I'll find out.
Having said that I've not ridden a bike now for nearly two months,
having driven a van and I know for a fact I'll not get anywhere near the
limits in half an hour.

I imagine that getting all that plastic off will be the hardest part
about replacing a cam chain