HONDA CB1000R... oddball?
Discussion
As per the title I've been vaguely looking at these to pass the rainy days and they seem to be a lot of bike for the money. Great engine, chassis seems to be well regarded, looks a bit marmite, very colour dependent and the std can pretty horrendous. But I don't know anyone who's had one or even test ridden!
Has anyone on here got any experience or thoughts on these before I spend another evening hunting for the prefect spec, cheers!
Has anyone on here got any experience or thoughts on these before I spend another evening hunting for the prefect spec, cheers!
Stevemtb said:
Fair points, although 16.2 litres should be enough for 150 miles so that's fine and cornering ABS I've never had so probably wouldn't miss it..it's still on the possible list then, test ride needed!
Feedback needed after the test ride please? I've been looking at these as my Hornet 900 is nearly 20 years old now, so possibly should be pensioned off. These are one of the few bikes that remain a good looking naked IMO. Strangely I think the black edition looks worse than the standard, although that looks best in black too which could get confusing..... Even the exhaust looks more tolerable in bare metal (looks like a big ugly exhaust) than black (looks like a wheelie bin), and will probably be easier to keep clean too. Hmmm...maybe I should be test riding....A couple of weeks ago a Honda dealer in Herts. had a black Plus model with the Quickshifter and heated grips for <£7K, the silver trim panel on the front mudguard on the NS had a little dent, but they come off of the mudguard assembly and are easily replaced. They've not appealed to me from new, but seeing one up for <£7K had me doing a bit of research and it seems the main criticism from owners if the paint and finish can be a bit soft and flaky, the headlamp could be better, an owner on the NSC owners forum had put rectangular LED strips vertically in the radiator shrouds, another had put additional lamps below the headlamp. There's a British guy who lives in Europe who's done YouTube videos on them and he criticised the headlamp performance trying to show how little of the road it lights up at night.
The throttle mapping seems to have been updated with the 2020 model year revisions.
I think I was also looking as Crescent had a used one in silver that looked quite good from the advert, though I think that was up for £7.5Kish. The Neeves MCN launch video also sounded good.
I like the crud catcher number plate assembly but it's unsprung weight and ditching that saves quite a bit of weight. I am one of those odd people that doesn't like tail tidies. I almost bought a 4 month old Trident 660 in the Autumn as the price seemed good, I was happy with the trade in offer and it still had the original crud catcher in place.
A Plus model with low mileage on it for the same price as a new Hornet appeals to me even if a Hornet is more suited to my abilities and the riding I do. At £7K they appeal to me. At £10K other bikes are vying for my attention.
The throttle mapping seems to have been updated with the 2020 model year revisions.
I think I was also looking as Crescent had a used one in silver that looked quite good from the advert, though I think that was up for £7.5Kish. The Neeves MCN launch video also sounded good.
I like the crud catcher number plate assembly but it's unsprung weight and ditching that saves quite a bit of weight. I am one of those odd people that doesn't like tail tidies. I almost bought a 4 month old Trident 660 in the Autumn as the price seemed good, I was happy with the trade in offer and it still had the original crud catcher in place.
A Plus model with low mileage on it for the same price as a new Hornet appeals to me even if a Hornet is more suited to my abilities and the riding I do. At £7K they appeal to me. At £10K other bikes are vying for my attention.
Edited by carinaman on Thursday 30th March 11:35
A plus model in black for less than £7k was a bit of a bargain and bar a bit of flaky paint of the sump, the bogging std exhaust and poor headlamp there's a lot to like about them imo..Oddly enough if they weren't so suspiciously cheap I'd be less concerned!...test ride once this rain stops I think. A pair of SW Motec panniers and it should be a fun bike for Euro hoonage.
I've got a late 2020 Plus version in gloss black. Had it 2.5 years and have to decide whether to keep it when the final payment falls due in September. I'm currently leaning towards keeping it.
I follow Facebook groups for more 'characterful' bikes like Hypermotards, KTM 1290s and 890s, and see lots of niggles, moans and TLC requirements, whereas the CB just needs oil changes and feels indestructible.
The Plus version has a quickshifter, heated grips and a cover for the clocks. All worth having.
To me it feels like as powerful as I need on the road. The engine is super-flexible compared with a twin. You can dawdle in 6th in town if you want. The old Fireblade engine loves to rev and power just builds and builds.
I get 45 mpg easily on my commute. So I tend to refill at about 130 miles.
The electronics are behind the £15k+ bikes but it doesn't bother me. It has a button to quickly turn off the TC and allow wheelies. Otherwise the only time I tend to see the TC cutting in is hitting a pothole while accelerating.
The rear fender is a bit marmite. I get some spray up my back when it's wet but apparently it's much worse with a tail tidy.
There are some moans about the rear shock, I think it's OK but I found a lightly used Nitron shock on Facebook which is waiting to go on. I also put a Scorpian end can on, mainly to enjoy the view of the single sided swing arm which is hidden by the oem exhaust.
I've taken a bit of a beating on depreciation but the lightly used versions at £7k to £9k look a bargain.
My heart wants to try the more exotic naked bikes but my head knows the CB does everything I need reliably, cheaply and with some style....I'm still test riding a Hypermotard tomorrow though
.
I follow Facebook groups for more 'characterful' bikes like Hypermotards, KTM 1290s and 890s, and see lots of niggles, moans and TLC requirements, whereas the CB just needs oil changes and feels indestructible.
The Plus version has a quickshifter, heated grips and a cover for the clocks. All worth having.
To me it feels like as powerful as I need on the road. The engine is super-flexible compared with a twin. You can dawdle in 6th in town if you want. The old Fireblade engine loves to rev and power just builds and builds.
I get 45 mpg easily on my commute. So I tend to refill at about 130 miles.
The electronics are behind the £15k+ bikes but it doesn't bother me. It has a button to quickly turn off the TC and allow wheelies. Otherwise the only time I tend to see the TC cutting in is hitting a pothole while accelerating.
The rear fender is a bit marmite. I get some spray up my back when it's wet but apparently it's much worse with a tail tidy.
There are some moans about the rear shock, I think it's OK but I found a lightly used Nitron shock on Facebook which is waiting to go on. I also put a Scorpian end can on, mainly to enjoy the view of the single sided swing arm which is hidden by the oem exhaust.
I've taken a bit of a beating on depreciation but the lightly used versions at £7k to £9k look a bargain.
My heart wants to try the more exotic naked bikes but my head knows the CB does everything I need reliably, cheaply and with some style....I'm still test riding a Hypermotard tomorrow though
.Stevemtb said:
A plus model in black for less than £7k was a bit of a bargain and bar a bit of flaky paint of the sump, the bogging std exhaust and poor headlamp there's a lot to like about them imo..Oddly enough if they weren't so suspiciously cheap I'd be less concerned!...test ride once this rain stops I think. A pair of SW Motec panniers and it should be a fun bike for Euro hoonage.
The paint is OK on mine. The SW Motec panniers are great. I find the headlight OK. It's not the limiting my speed in the pitch back Cotswolds. Corners, deer and potholes are more of a concern.
3 years ago they were a good deal with 0% PCPs and at least £1k off RRP which may be why there are lots of cheap ones about at the moment.
Thanks bladerrw, some good points there and nice to hear from an owner of 3 yrs. Funny you're having a Hypermotard test ride, I've got a 939SP at the moment and an old Blade (1992) and was thinking this could be the one to replace both with,. that said I've only had the Hyper for 18 months and 6000 miles and love it to bits! Try and get a decent length ride on your demo as they are a bit different!..cheers.
I snoozed and I lost. Again. If it was still up for sale I'd have contacted them about it. The mileage wasn't bad, about 6-7K. I had a busy few weeks and couldn't allow myself to be distracted. A low mileage Z900RS for <£8500 with some extras that appealed to me has also gone from Autotrader.
The CB1000R looks better than the Hornet and looks good to me in the Silver or Red. I don't like black but at that price I'd put up with it, and if the paint finish is as bad as some made out I think the design is such that it could get away with a different colour tank with the pillion cowl being gloss black on the black Plus model.
The CB500 or Hornet could be ideal for my needs and the riding I do but for Hornet money I'd talked myself into a big bike as a last hurrah. The Brit living in Europe who's done videos on it said it sounds great on the stock exhaust. I wasn't aware of the ex-Fireblade engine in the CB1000R and was more aware of the ex-K5 engine in the GSX-S750/950/1000.
Ignoring emotion and fasteners possibly going furry logic dictates an SV650 would probably be ideal.
The CB1000R looks better than the Hornet and looks good to me in the Silver or Red. I don't like black but at that price I'd put up with it, and if the paint finish is as bad as some made out I think the design is such that it could get away with a different colour tank with the pillion cowl being gloss black on the black Plus model.
The CB500 or Hornet could be ideal for my needs and the riding I do but for Hornet money I'd talked myself into a big bike as a last hurrah. The Brit living in Europe who's done videos on it said it sounds great on the stock exhaust. I wasn't aware of the ex-Fireblade engine in the CB1000R and was more aware of the ex-K5 engine in the GSX-S750/950/1000.
Ignoring emotion and fasteners possibly going furry logic dictates an SV650 would probably be ideal.
bladerrw said:
The paint is OK on mine. The SW Motec panniers are great.
I find the headlight OK. It's not the limiting my speed in the pitch back Cotswolds. Corners, deer and potholes are more of a concern.
3 years ago they were a good deal with 0% PCPs and at least £1k off RRP which may be why there are lots of cheap ones about at the moment.
Thanks for the headlamp feedback. I find the headlight OK. It's not the limiting my speed in the pitch back Cotswolds. Corners, deer and potholes are more of a concern.
3 years ago they were a good deal with 0% PCPs and at least £1k off RRP which may be why there are lots of cheap ones about at the moment.
Blade Abingdon have a black 2019 base model for £6.9k. 7k miles.
The quickshifter, heated grips, cowl, clock cover and assorted metal bits on the Plus version tend to add £1k.
Re colours, I think the red and silver look best. However, the Plus version was only available in silver and red 2018-20, in 2020 it was just white or black and then they moved to the all black style.
The quickshifter, heated grips, cowl, clock cover and assorted metal bits on the Plus version tend to add £1k.
Re colours, I think the red and silver look best. However, the Plus version was only available in silver and red 2018-20, in 2020 it was just white or black and then they moved to the all black style.
Probably of no interest to you for comparison to the later model but Ive had a 2014 CB1000R from new and its been the most natural bike to ride that Ive ever had. Enjoyable too and not slow..by my standard of riding.
Sadly, really i think I may be selling to switch to something lighter for garage manoeuvering ! Crap to be getting ancient...
Sadly, really i think I may be selling to switch to something lighter for garage manoeuvering ! Crap to be getting ancient...
bladerrw said:
Blade Abingdon have a black 2019 base model for £6.9k. 7k miles.
The quickshifter, heated grips, cowl, clock cover and assorted metal bits on the Plus version tend to add £1k.
Re colours, I think the red and silver look best. However, the Plus version was only available in silver and red 2018-20, in 2020 it was just white or black and then they moved to the all black style.
Not playing Internet points, but having done a bit of research after seeing that <£7K Plus in black and half the mileage of these, there are black Plus models on Autotrader:The quickshifter, heated grips, cowl, clock cover and assorted metal bits on the Plus version tend to add £1k.
Re colours, I think the red and silver look best. However, the Plus version was only available in silver and red 2018-20, in 2020 it was just white or black and then they moved to the all black style.
I’ve pretty much had the pleasure of most bikes, KTM 1290 Gt, gen 2 busas, ZZR1400 and various litre bikes. I got the standard one a year ago but missed a quick shifter and heated grips so went for the plus model. Off to Germany next week, 7 of us going including a few on here. I love mine. Very flexible engine, handles well, good for touring and plenty fast enough. I had a tail tidy on my first one but went for the standard set up on this one. Ridiculously good value for money. Try one, you may like it…..new in black, old one in red.
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