Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127655
ed open from the fully closed position. This is especi all y b othersome while 1eaned over in a comer when you want to add some power, and it takes a seriously concentrated effort and delicate wrist work to prevent this "herky-jerky" motion from happening. We ended up using the clutch a lot to prev ent the slap. On paper, the CBlOOO appears quite big with its 60.6-inch wheelbase, 516pound claimed dry weight and 5.8-gallon gas tank, but on the road these figures d on 't r eflect th e C B very well at all. Instead , the CB feels quite nimble and responds qui ckly to the rider's demands. It's a w ell-balanced motorcycle, but it does feel a little top heavy, especially after topping off the hu ge tank. (Abo ve) Comfort Is one of the CB1000's best qualities, though we didn't care for the flat-bend handlebars. (Left) The excellent quality of craftsmanship can be seen with the CB's huge sw lngann and passenger footpeg brackets. (Below) Except for a few changes, the CB1000's awesome engine is the same mill that powers the CBR1000F. Despite its weigh t, the CB is no slouch when it comes to the turns. At speed, the CB feels remarkably agile; it rolls into the turns nicely and ho lds its line like it sh ou ld . Howev er, we weren't as impressed with the CB's low-speed turning ability. Here, the front end felt heavy and it took significan t p ress u re on th e inside handlebar to keep the wheel from tucking in on itself. The CB feels best jus t cruising along in a s tr ai gh t line. It's so m ew h a t h ea v y weight makes it feel extremely stable, and the suspension does an excellent job soaking up the bumps. The fork is a tad on the soft side for aggressive riding, b ut just fine for casual cruising. We had no complaints whatsoever with the dual p iggyback reservoir shocks, whi ch are mounted to a h uge 40 x 90mm, extrudedaluminum, box-section swingarm - the biggest swingarm on any Ho nda model We have nothing good to say about the CB's wide handlebars. We didn't like the fla t bend one bit, and one of our testers had problems with his finger tips going numb after long stints in the saddle. This problem was amplified when using thick, cold-weather gloves. Despite the handlebar bend , the CB is comfortable, thanks to its wide seat, lowmounted footpegs and roomy layou t The levers are w ithin easy rea ch and the instruments can be read at a glance. We loved the CB's large-capacity fuel tank. We usually managed to squeeze out about 175 miles before sw it ch in g to reserve, which would then carry us well over the 200-mile mark before having to pull into a gas station. The fuel on /off/reserve switch is easily accessible while still in motion. As far as appearance, the CBlOOO is an attractive motorcycle. It has a simple yet eye-catching look, and the quality of craftsmanship is about as good as you can get - have you ever in your life seen prettier passenger footpeg brackets? Check 'em ou t They're made out of forged aluminium, as are the triple clamps, brake an d shift p ed als, headlight mounts, instrume nt brackets, engine mounting plates, rear brake mount and the passenger grabrail. Adding to its appearance are cleanlooking, three-spoke, black-painted, 18inch cast aluminum wheels, that are fitted with wide, low-profile radial tires. O verall , it's n o w on d er to us that Honda decided to add this motorcycle to its lin e up . It has an a w es o me an d already-prov en motor, which is encased by a solid chassis and suspension pa ckage. Jus t do n' t let the CB's standard or conventional look fool you, this moto rcycle is a performer and - in our opinion - a a looker, as well. Honda CB1000 uble-cradle, tubular, steel ' n .., . 43mm , cartridge, telescopic fork Rear Dual remote-reservoir Shocks w /spring preload adj. Wheel travel Front 4.6 inches Rear .4.6 inches Swingarm 40 x 90mm box-section, extruded aluminum Front (Above) The 'f ront brake system Is identical to that of the CBR900RR. (Right) The wide seat Is very comforteble. While Cycle News beleves theforegoing test relii able, it is the opinion o the reviewers only and f should not be relied upon in determining the per[ormance or safety of the tiehicleis), The reader should rTUlkehis or herown investigation