Advice on potential CB-1 purchase

[MiamiMig]

Hi everyone, I'm a new member hoping to get your advice on a potential CB-1 buy.

I have known these bikes and I have always liked them. I found one for around $1,000 (US).

The bike has not run in 3 years but it only has has 3.2K.  The owner told me that 3 years ago it started by spraying starter fluid into the headers and with a charger.  He tells me that at the time it ran well an it has no problems other than from not being run. The bike has been stored inside but it needs tires, battery, seat recovered and grips. 

Any potential problems specific to CB-1's come to mind?  I need this bike to be reliable for me since this will be my transportation for > 1 year.

I aside from replacing the parts I listed what do you think it will take to get it running. I imagine that aside from replacing all the fluids and filters I will have to deal with the old gas in the tank and carbs. 

So what do you think?

Thank you for your advice

Miguel
 

[ptlcb1]

Welcome Miquel,
     Can you get any pics of the bike to post on here?  Does the bike have 32,000 miles on it or 3,200 miles on it?  Does the clocks have miles on it or kilometers?  If it has kilometers then its origin is not from the US.  Im assuming your in Miami because of your screen name.  Was this guy the only owner of this bike?  Three years is a long time for a bike to just sit.  You say he said, he started it 3 years ago.  Whats unfortunate about him stating that is that there is no way to prove this.  I personally would need for him to start it in my presence before I considered my money potentially changing hands.  It may take a while to start and thats understandable, but if it doesnt start, then I am no longer looking at spending a grand for it.  My offer would be much less. 
     

[WhistlerFish]

The first owner of my bike had it sitting around for many years (15?)without starting it. According to the receipts that came with the bike, the second owner spent $1500 just getting it going and sorted out because of that. Just something to keep in mind. Fortunately it was in great shape again by the time I bought it.

[clarkdw]

This bike in Florida?

You are potentially looking at $1700 with tires, battery, grips and seat recover. If you can't do the work yourself to fix the carbs, tank, fuel system etc. you may be looking at another $1500.
If you do the work yourself and can wait patiently for deals on the hard parts you need then the bike MIGHT work out to be a good deal. It also MIGHT be a nightmare.
 My feeling is to look for another CB-1 that is a runner to start with.

If this is to be your only transport and you need a reliable vehicle, as much as I love the CB-1 I would look for something else a little newer and less rare. Parts are getting very hard to find unless it is the very common spark plugs and a few other interchangeable things. The newest CB-1 is at least 20yrs old. Bikes that are much newer, more reliable and common can be had for much the same money.

[a_morti]

This bike in Florida?

You are potentially looking at $1700 with tires, battery, grips and seat recover. If you can't do the work yourself to fix the carbs, tank, fuel system etc. you may be looking at another $1500.
If you do the work yourself and can wait patiently for deals on the hard parts you need then the bike MIGHT work out to be a good deal. It also MIGHT be a nightmare.
 My feeling is to look for another CB-1 that is a runner to start with.

If this is to be your only transport and you need a reliable vehicle, as much as I love the CB-1 I would look for something else a little newer and less rare. Parts are getting very hard to find unless it is the very common spark plugs and a few other interchangeable things. The newest CB-1 is at least 20yrs old. Bikes that are much newer, more reliable and common can be had for much the same money.

I tend to agree with this. I bought a non-running fireblade a few years ago and it was a PITA. Once I solved the electrical fault in the starter circuit, I cleaned the carbs 4 times before I realised the fuel filter was no good. Even then it never really ran properly. And the chain was no good, the aged tyres lasted only a further 1k miles (during which they were horrible to ride), and the bodywork was a mess... etc. etc. Non-runners are typically money pits which should only be bought if you are an enthusiast, or very competent at spannering, and they are cheap. Really cheap. Even just the basics like tyres, chain, oil and filter, plugs, battery, brake and coolant fluid, soon makes a significant part of the price of a better bike, before you put a value on your time for fixing it.

All that said - I now have a CB-1 for my only bike (again) but parts are easier found in the UK and I was only considering runners. I know that if I ever need a fuel tank or rear cowling I will be waiting a while. On the other hand bits like the starter clutch cover, clutch, clutch gasket are common / compatible to CBR600F1, and there are lots of other bits which are shared through the honda range (fork seals + bushes VTR1000F; brake and clutch levers, oil filter, CBR900RR CBR600F, etc. etc.).

[clarkdw]

Afterthought.
If this is the bike I am thinking of with the speedo indicating 12,xxx mi and supposedly having been changed there is at least one more possibility to consider. It may have been crashed and that is why the "speedo stopped working" If it is a genuine 3,200 miles then much of it's storage time must have been out in the weather for it show as much wear as it does. (I have seen a pic) When I saw the ad the asking price was $1300 and that or even $1000 is way overpriced for that bike.

You may be better off with:

http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/mcy/2117188890.html (probably the best bet)

or
 
http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/mcy/2088450596.html

or

http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/mcy/2086664834.html

Neither of which is actually a 91 as they were not made that late for North America.

[ptlcb1]

   Its interesting that the last bike listed, only has rear view pics, and they are not very good.  They dont show anything.  I wonder why that is.....  It surely aint original.  That color blue was never sold here in the States.  It also does not have the stock exhaust system on it... And the guys english isnt very good either.  Beware... 

[Daveontheedge]

I agree with the rear pics, it is a little strange, but a lot of people are just really clueless on posting for sale ads! "the guys english isnt very good either"...In all fairness he does say he speaks Spanish so he is most likely Cuban. Was that blue not available in Japan? It could be an import.

Depending on where you are located the first bike sounds like a pretty good deal. As Morti states though, be prepared to order hard to get parts from the boys in the UK or possibly Japan.

[ptlcb1]

There was a blue similiar to that in Japan, but its hard to tell without seeing a side view of the bike.  Are the original tank stickers still on there?  Who knows?  Those pics are taken on the street, which would lead me to believe that the bike is in running condition, and it also has a license plate on it.  He is looking for a running bike, for less than 1 year.  In that sense, this may be the one...

[clarkdw]

The rear pic bike is North American. Signals, rubber footpegs and black instrument cluster give that away. Non stock mirrors, exhaust and non factory paint means that I would be checking very closely for further crash damage.

[ptlcb1]

That could be the reason as to why he only put up rear pics...

[ptlcb1]

Here is the link to the bike that Miquel is interested in.  That bike looks pretty rough!  Its been painted, missing a mirror, needs grips, dent in the tank, and new guages...I dont understand the statements regarding the clocks.  It states the bike only has 3200 original miles on it, and that the clocks stopped working at 600 miles???  I have never heard of anyone having a clock problem at the first 600 miles.  My first impression is that the bike has been crashed. 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1989-Honda-CB-1-3200-Miles-CB1-/270681854970?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item3f05e553fa

[Bubba1982]

Looks very beat up and tired for only 3200 miles on the clock to me...

[91cb-1]

i'd stay well clear of that and my bike was a beat up wreck  i got for 500 euro

[Samuichris]

Me too, it looks like a right rotter!
If that mileage is genuine, it must have been stored at the bottom of a lake..