Any inline 4 fans

[f6john]

Saw this for sale near me. Looks fairly complete but I’m not looking to add the the cramped space I have available.



https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1137137233972498/?ref=browse_tab&referral_code=marketplace_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks

[sandy]

I drooled for one of these in ‘83. Due to separation and divorce, I was never able to get one.

[Jack B]

Those are great bikes remember those well. I wanted one back then. A few friends of mine had them. I know the 900 cc had the transmission with low and high so that gave you 10 speeds, you had to make sure you timing chain? was tight.

[Pluggy]

I purchased a CB900C in January, 1981 and till ride it regularly.  A superbike engine with a minibike alternator, LED's all around sure helps.  84 HP.   I like the way it handles.  Rarely use the low range on the subtransmission and the lever for it is not easy to reach when riding.  There are a few OEM parts still available, but mostly we go to eBay.

One misunderstanding for buyers and sellers:  A lot of people assume that CB900C and CB1000C have a lot of parts that interchange with the more popular CB750C.  The bikes share similar styling, but not many parts interchange.

The bike for sale is missing a seat rail, but has an original exhaust.  An original exhaust is like solid gold as most rusted out years ago.  That's a fair price on that 1000.  If you want a 1980's bike that's one to get.

[Serk]

My very first street bike (My Valk was my 2nd) was a 1980 Yamaha XS11 Special (Inline 4)... Fun little bike, if a bit contankerous...

(Dang I was so young!)



And for many MANY years I drove Toyota MR2's, both a '88 NA and my beloved hotroddded by ATS Racing '93 Turbo, both of which were inline 4's, does that count?

[csj]

Ya look like a Great Dane humpin a chihuahua.

[Serk]

Ya look like a Great Dane humpin a chihuahua.

 

I've been told I can make a Golgwing look like a Grom...



And me on a CBR600rr looks like a monkey attempting to get amorous with a football...

[scooperhsd]

Brian - my wife agreed with your comments about your pictures   Our collective comment is that it is good that you can poke fun at yourself.

[f6john]

Ya look like a Great Dane humpin a chihuahua.

 

I've been told I can make a Golgwing look like a Grom...



And me on a CBR600rr looks like a monkey attempting to get amorous with a football...

You would probably have to have a CDL to ride a bike that’s”fit” you!

[bassman]

My very first street bike (My Valk was my 2nd) was a 1980 Yamaha XS11 Special (Inline 4)... Fun little bike, if a bit contankerous...

(Dang I was so young!)



And for many MANY years I drove Toyota MR2's, both a '88 NA and my beloved hotroddded by ATS Racing '93 Turbo, both of which were inline 4's, does that count?

LOVED my XS Eleven Special.  Thought is was really fast at the time and could easily lift the front wheel. 

[Louis]

I don't have a picture(proof )but I had a 1983 Honda 1000 Custom. A one year model, I guess. I had it from 1988 until 2000.

[scooperhsd]

I wouldn't mind having this, but
1. Finding the money for it.
2. Getting it home from KY.

[f6john]

I wouldn't mind having this, but
1. Finding the money for it.
2. Getting it home from KY.

That’s a recurring theme around my house too.

[98valk]

'83 CB1000 Custom is a one yr model.  Same engine as the '80-'82 900s except it was punched out to 1000cc. still has the 10 speed and the lower hwy rpms that the '82 had compared to the '80-'81. '83 had some type of fork anti-dive which the other yrs didn't have.  Reviews slammed it for the strange buckhorn handle bars that seemed to never provide a comfortable hand grip position and feel. some parts from the GL1100s interchange esp., the fairing, saddle bags and trunk.
I still have my '81 in the shed. one day I'll get it back on the road.
Only thing I didn't like and some reviewers state same was the small fuel tank, esp., when fully outfitted with the fairing and saddle bags. many reviewers stated it was just better to spend a few hundred more and buy the GL1100.
only problem with the '80-'83s is the potential major jacking effect of the shaft drive. for some reason Honda designed that out of the GL1100s but not the CB Customs.
When working on one of the navy ships years ago I met a Naval Chief in the parking lot near the ships in San Diego while I was looking at his '81.  He said he had 239k on it and it still ran like it was new.

[Pluggy]

'
only problem with the '80-'83s is the potential major jacking effect of the shaft drive. for some reason

Hello Mr. 98.  In 43 years of CB900C ownership I never noticed such a thing.  Never heard another owner mention it.  How would it happen on a CB900C and not a GL1100?   The final drives of both motorcycles are identical.

Pluggy

 

[98valk]

'
only problem with the '80-'83s is the potential major jacking effect of the shaft drive. for some reason

Hello Mr. 98.  In 43 years of CB900C ownership I never noticed such a thing.  Never heard another owner mention it.  How would it happen on a CB900C and not a GL1100?   The final drives of both motorcycles are identical.

Pluggy

 

magazine reviews talked about. I experienced it a few times. it happens as reviewers stated during hard on/off on the throttle at lower/mid-range speeds. it happens due to length of swing arm and shock geometry from what I read and supposively the GLs are different.  it was mentioned that other makes early shaft drives did it but not as bad. One article I read stated all shaft drives do it to some degree. It  happens with the Valkyrie and the GLs, but its very mild so usually not noticed. it seems Honda fixed the issues that causes it.  if u can find the articles from back then it is an interesting read on suspension geometry. from what I remember it also alluded to the effect many cars at the drag strip experience where the rear of the car rises during the take off. there are many fixes for the cars so they don't do that.  That's kinda of what I remember about it.

[scooperhsd]

There's a couple things they can do when dealing with driveshaft "jacking" on motorcycles.

I think it is minimized with a longer drive shaft, and can be adjusted with compression and rebound damping on the shocks.

If the driveshaft is on one side - it jacks up. If it's on the other, it squats.

[98valk]

There's a couple things they can do when dealing with driveshaft "jacking" on motorcycles.

I think it is minimized with a longer drive shaft, and can be adjusted with compression and rebound damping on the shocks.

If the driveshaft is on one side - it jacks up. If it's on the other, it squats.

ok Thanks.
that brings back to memory what I read cause they did say because of the hi/lo range secondary transmission the drive shaft was shorter than normal compared to the GLs and other makes shaft driven motorcycles.

[Savago]

I always wanted one (or alternatively the CB750), but it is near impossible to find a good one for a good price in my neck of the woods.

I had to make it do with the homage CB1100. Pros: cheaper, fuel injected, better brakes and suspension. Cons: None in my book.
 

[f6john]

I always wanted one (or alternatively the CB750), but it is near impossible to find a good one for a good price in my neck of the woods.

I had to make it do with the homage CB1100. Pros: cheaper, fuel injected, better brakes and suspension. Cons: None in my book.
 

Looking at your picture, the only thing that that caught my attention was the chain drive. A nod to the past to compliment the the other improvements.

[scooperhsd]

I've wanted one of those from the first time I saw it in Wake Forest Honda's showroom around the same time I bought my Valk !

[Savago]

Looking at your picture, the only thing that that caught my attention was the chain drive. A nod to the past to compliment the the other improvements.

Indeed! I lub the chain once each 300 miles and it should be good for 20K miles or so.

Kudos to mother Honda for including a center stand on pretty much all CB1100s, it makes servicing the bike so much easier.
 

[Jess from VA]

A center stand on the Valk would be... funny (watching someone try to get it up on the thing).  

Hernia time.  

[Serk]

A center stand on the Valk would be... funny (watching someone try to get it up on the thing).  

Hernia time.  

There's a cheat code for that...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUdQPe9bzOM

(But there are manual addon center stands for Valks... My 1800 Gold Wing has a center stand, it weighs more than the Valk and isn't hard to get up on the stand, it's just about technique...)

[Jess from VA]

When I had them, I'd just roll it backwards, stomp on the pedal and lift. 

At 5'9" I don't roll the valk around standing beside much (and feet, not yards).  I've (still) got decent upper body power, but lack leverage.  Same deal walking it from the seat (power's no good without reach).  I can move on level ground, but uphill fergetaboutit.  That's what the motor's for.

(sorry for the complete drift from Inline 4s)  (my only 4 was a Volkswagen)

[Louis]

Before I purchased the 1983 Honda CB 1000 Custom I had a 1978 Honda CB750K. I couldn't give the 750 away at the time so I traded it for merchandise at the local bike shop. The 750 was quieter, top heavy, and gave 53 mpg compared to a noisier (stock pipes) and 43 mpg 1000 Custom. The Custom sat lower which I REALLY liked and had shaft drive. Yes, the 1000 had the jacking issue going on. I believe the jacking is related to the geometry of the rear suspension, look up drag race car four link suspension. Both were rough riding, even the air ride (front and rear air adjustable) on the Custom, but better with a passenger. The 10 speed the Custom had was more novelty than useful for me. The Custom was kick start delete.

[Jess from VA]

I had the CB 750 K too, with a big Windjammer Vetter fairing (and radio), hard bags, luggage rack and tall adjustable (fore and aft) sissy.  I got rid of the nice looking 4 pipe exhaust, and put a 4 into one header to single muffler which ran better and dropped a bunch of weight.  Took it into the USAF with me, stored it while overseas, traded it for a FXRD (full dress) EVO 80" Harley when I came back to California at Riverside.  I didn't get much on the trade in.