Honda CB-1

Honda CB-1

Manufacturer	Honda
Also called	CB400F, NC27
Production	1989–1990
Class	Naked bike
Engine	399 cc (24.3 cu in) liquid cooled DOHC four valves/cyl. inline-four
Bore / stroke	55.0 mm × 42.0 mm (2.17 in × 1.65 in)
Compression ratio	11.3:1
Top speed	190 km/h (118 mph)
Power	55.2 bhp (41.2 kW) @ 10,000 rpm (claimed)
Torque	29 lb·ft (39 N·m) @ 9,500 rpm (claimed)
Transmission	6-speed, chain drive electric starter
Frame type	Steel perimeter
Suspension	Showa. Front: 41 mm telescopic fork, non-adj. Rear: single shock w/7-way preload adj.
Brakes	Single disc front/rear
Tires	Bridgestone Front: 110/70-17 Rear: 140/70-17
Rake, trail	25.5 degrees, 99 mm (3.9 in)
Wheelbase	1,370 mm (54 in)
Dimensions	L 2,035 mm (80.1 in) W 705 mm (27.8 in)
Seat height	775 mm (30.5 in)
Weight	179 kg (395 lb) (dry) 187 kg (413 lb) (wet)
Fuel capacity	3.3 US gal (12 l; 2.7 imp gal)

The Honda CB-1 is a small, light naked sport bike with a 399 cubic centimetres (24.3 cu in) straight-four engine, called by Cycle World "a reincarnation of the standard motorcycle ... the sort of bike everyone rode before sporting riders went replica racer crazy. The Honda model code is NC27. In contrast to all other models of the Honda CB series, the name is written with a hyphen. In some countries it was sold as Honda CB400F as an attempt to connect the model with the original CB400F of 1975, with which it has virtually nothing in common other than the fact that it has a 4-cylinder transverse-mounted 400cc engine.

The bike was first introduced in 1989 and built until the end of 1990. Originally developed for the Japanese market, the CB-1 was also officially sold in the USA and Canada. Called a "great motorcycle that never found an audience" and "victims of a difficult market" by Cycle World, the final model year 1990 CB-1s available as leftover stock were offered in 1992 at a $600 discount, for $3700 in the US, which in current money would be $6,053 accounting for inflation.

The CB-1 engine is similar to the early NC23 models CBR400RR, with changes to the port lengths and angles as well as smaller valves and lower compression ratio; changes in the primary and secondary gear ratios reduced the 60 mph (97 km/h) first gear down to around 30 mph (48 km/h), making the slightly less powerful CB-1 feel much quicker from a standstill than its sportier sibling, All engines derived from the NC23 block carry the NC23 ID code in the engine number; this includes the NC27, 23, 29, 31 etc., including the VTEC models with chain driven cams. Like many of its stablemates, the CB-1 has straight gear-driven dual camshafts with self-silencing gears to reduce whine.

Cycle World measured the acceleration from 0 to ¹⁄₄ mile (0 to 0.40 km) as 13.17 seconds at 99.16 miles per hour (159.58 km/h) and a top speed of 118 miles per hour (190 km/h). Braking distance from 60 to 0 miles per hour (97 to 0 km/h) was 124 feet (38 m).