Honda CB900 Custom.

[John Schmidt]

Anybody have experience with them? It's the one with the dual range tranny, gives you 10 speeds. I found one with 51k on it, needs some TLC per owner but the price is OK. Seems like it would be a good ride for buzzing around town, running errands, etc.

Any thoughts? It would have to be a resto but waiting for pictures to see how big a project.

Update: Have one pic. Has a fairing, leather(?) bags, passenger backrest, cargo rack behind sissy bar. Asking $1100 or B/O, supposedly ready to ride but needs attention. Had it for sale for a while so I might see just how bad he wants to sell.

[Dougger]

John,
I had one back on 84, Came of a Kaw 650. Told the wife it was for her, heavier bike and better seat. She got to liking motorcycling, the next year it was traded for GW.
It was a good riding bike for the short trips that we did. But we didn't have it very long

[Gunslinger]

I've had two, great bikes. I still regret getting rid of the first one. If you end up with it let me know as I still have a brand new clutch kit that I never got around to installing and couldn't find when I sold the last one.

[bigfish_Oh]

I had forgot all about that one, that's what sugar_cookie needs

[MacDragon]

My brother had one years ago and still had it as a basket case when he passed away... I let it go and probably shouldn't have... Had a lot on my plate at the time, taking care of arrangements.  I now ride his Valk that he bought new in 2000.

[T.P.]

I  had a two tone blue one from 1982 to 1987, it was a fast bike off the line in the lower range. if I remember correctly it had 84 hp vs 89 hp for the 900f model.

[98 T]

I had a 1983 CB1000custom with the factory fairing... I loved it.  I put about 30,000 miles on mine.. bought it in 1993 and  sold it in 2000.

I had the hi/low range tranny too.  Around town, leave it in low or if you were traveling two-up heavily loaded... then click into  5th high and it's like having a 6th gear or overdrive.  I seem to recall it dropped the RPM's about  400 or maybe 500 going into high range.

Bullet proof bike... I miss mine a lot! 

$1100 sounds fair unless "TLC" means a total makeover.

[Jabba]

I had an '81 before the Valk.  Squealy inherited it when I got the Valk.  I put about 5K on it.  He put 20K or so on it.  PO had been to Alaska on it, and Maine twice.

They are tall.  They feel like a mini bike compared to the Valk.  The handle bars are REAL close together.

They are pretty solid.  They ONLY Achilles they seem to have is the top end if the RPM's are abused. Well, that and charging system.  Seems ALL bikes of the 1980 vintage have issues witht he electrical systems.

Jabba

[solo1]

I had two 900F's, same engine.  The coils on the F were weak.  Wouldn't start easily on cold days or after setting.  I'm not sure if the electrical was the same.  The 900 C is one nice looking bike.

[Rowdy]

  I still have mine an 81
I've always enjoyed the ride - of course now it gets back seat to the Valk 
I get her out occasionally had it since 82 
Fun to ride on short little rides - use to take her out of state into West Va all the time 

[Squealy]

I had Jabba's old '81 CB900C and rode it for 6+ years.  All and all it was a decent bike, the electrical system on them is suspect.  Keep that system up to par and it'll be a good second bike to have around.

Like others have said, they are TALL, so if you are short legged it might be tough on you to ride. 

Replace the stock coils with Accels, add a Super brace to the front forks, keep the oil changed and valves adjusted and they are pretty nice to ride.   

here's a picture of mine in the smokies....



Neil

[¿spoom]

Like everybody else said, plus those Comstar wheels mean no brittle old spokes to replace. You can still get most parts for them at reasonable prices, not a lot of collector interest driving them up.

[BradValk48237]

I had an 81 CB 900 Custom, the brown/bronze color..... Loved it.. made several long trips on it and always kept up if not in the front...

The dual range was great for whatever you wanted.. Superslab or sportin' around town...

Wished I still had it... sold it to buy a wing.....

Jabba, Squealy.... that bike is set up EXACTLY as the one I had..... Grips, trunk, crash bars, Windshield, Mustang seat, Does it have a throttle lock on it?????? LOL.. only thing wrong is the color!

Brad

[Jabba]

All I'll say is it's a GOOD thing that one has crash bars on it... 

And that the windshield and truck come off so easy.

"Hey Jabba, why are you taking THAT stuff OFF?" 

Jabba

[Squealy]

Jabba, Squealy.... that bike is set up EXACTLY as the one I had..... Grips, trunk, crash bars, Windshield, Mustang seat, Does it have a throttle lock on it??????

Yep it had a throttle lock..... 

LOL.. only thing wrong is the color!

Blue was the faster color.....

[Squealy]

All I'll say is it's a GOOD thing that one has crash bars on it... 

And that the windshield and truck come off so easy.

"Hey Jabba, why are you taking THAT stuff OFF?" 

YEP...  I had i down a few times during my learning phase.....

[Fla. Jim]

I had a 83 before my first Valk. My reentry back into the wonderfull world of riding. I liked it a lot, was comfy and quick for what it was. Had air front and rear shocks that worked well. The two speed shifter was a gas! I regret getting rid of it . Sold it in 98 for a grand. book price then was under $750.00                                        

[Momz]

Unless the maintenence schedule was strictly adhered to and the tires are in good shape and the alternater brushes have been replaced on a regular basis, then $1100.00 is way to high.

They are good bikes but they do develop a multitude of problems after they reach 55K -60K miles. I have worked on quite a few of these (900C & 1000Cs).

If you really like this bike,...offer $750.00.

[John Schmidt]

Unless the maintenence schedule was strictly adhered to and the tires are in good shape and the alternater brushes have been replaced on a regular basis, then $1100.00 is way to high.

They are good bikes but they do develop a multitude of problems after they reach 55K -60K miles. I have worked on quite a few of these (900C & 1000Cs).

If you really like this bike,...offer $750.00.

Momz, great minds wander in the same circles.    That's exactly what I was thinking, take my trailer and that amount of cash in one pocket....see how serious he is about his OBO. It's been listed for a month now, kinda wish it had about half that mileage though. That might be a point of discussion.

[Normandog]

different strokes for different folks. Seems all others here who had/have one like it.
I bought one 12 years ago when I decided to get back into riding. Kept it one month, put 1200 miles on it and was glad to get rid of it. I didn't care for the handling. The bike felt awkward to me. Thought it was me 'til I rode a friends V65 Magna and then purchased an 1100 Shadow ACE. Liked both of those much better than the CB900. Then I bought my first Valk.

[John Schmidt]

Went to see the bike, like the owner said....ran OK!  But....I wasn't looking for a restoration project. The pictures looked acceptable but must have been taken a long time ago. It looked nothing like it in person....and would have needed a lot of work. Plus, the rear end felt really loose, said he had never had it apart. That's enough for me....g'bye!

So....I'm moving on. Thanks for all the input.

[John Schmidt]

Hey, John.

I still have the '80 CB900C I bought it in January 1981.  Vetter gear looks great on it, and they used that bike to advertise their Windjammer luggage.

AGM battery and a trickle charger is help for the weak generating system.  And, keeping the rear brake hydraulics clean is important, as that brake can lock up otherwise.  Besides that, I have never had any trouble.  I never even had the carbs apart.

Speaking of carbs, some guys work modifications to them that they say helps performance.  The result is sub-Valkyrie economy.  I just keep them clean.

You know i live in Apopka, and someday I'll bring it around for your examination.

Another month and it will be cool enough to ride regularly. We'll have to get together for a breakfast ride to the Mason Jar on the north side of Eustis. Good food but no class, reminds me of the old truck stops of years past. I usually go through Apopka on my way, go out Park, wind around and go through Mt. Plymouth, end up on SR44. Using the country roads keeps me out of the way of all the "cue-tips" around Mt. Dora. Funny...my wife tells me at my age I'd better be careful about calling anyone a cue-tip now. 

[Slyk Willy]

I had the '83 1000, great bike, very strong. a good find if it's in a condition you can deal with. agree that they are a tall bike, you'll have to have legs to handle it. very comfy on the road, I rode from mid mi to Columbus Oh and back more times than i care to remember.

[bigfish_Oh]

nother month and it will be cool enough to ride regularly. We'll have to get together for a breakfast ride to the Mason Jar on the north side of Eustis. Good food but no class, reminds me of the old truck stops of years past. I usually go through Apopka on my way, go out Park, wind around and go through Mt. Plymouth, end up on SR44. Using the country roads keeps me out of the way of all the "cue-tips" around Mt. Dora. Funny...my wife tells me at my age I'd better be careful about calling anyone a cue-tip now. 

Do you ever go to Motorcycle Night at Porkie's in Apopka?  It is on Thursdays, and a couple of guys often bring CBX motorcycles.  When that CBX first came out, I wondered who would want such a large bike.  Look what we have now.

When I first got my Valkyrie a year ago after not riding for 13 years, I wasn't impressed, I still had memories of my '82 CBX. .....Then we both went for a ride, that made all the difference, then the Cobra's. If she gets to be an able rider, another CBX is in our future.(really, I'm getting one anyway!)