I'm soooo ashamed of myself...

[kneepuck]

I just picked up a completely stock CB-1 for $1000. The guy who I bought it from lost his job and needed the cash. I felt I was stealing it from him.

There's no official "hi" forum so here's my Hi. I have several bikes, but picked up the CB to be my 100% track bike. It is stock but will not be so for long. My mechanic has an old CB-1 non-running race bike in his garage at home that we are going to scavenge parts from. Fox shock, something with the front end (either F2 front end, or revalve spring with upgraded brakes) I'll leave the engine stock for now and do all the suspension stuff for now.

I live in Oregon - and had to get a new track bike as we now have a new race track opening close by. From what I hear it doesn't have a very long straight at all, lots of tight corners, lot of elevation change. This bike will be perfect for that.

I used to have a Hawk GT as a track bike and made the mistake of selling it. I'm hoping the CB will be as much fun on the track.

mark.

[ptlcb1]

Been racing my CB-1 since 2000.  You will have more fun on the CB-1 than you did on the Hawk! 

[cb1guy]

I concur. If I had to own just one, it would likely be my "1"

If you are taking it on the track, try to find banged up body and tank on ebay. Good clean bodies are getting very hard to find. You will suspension upgrades front and back, a stainless line up front, and a way to raise the pegs and you should be good to go. I made and sold a bunch of rearsets back in the day but don't believe I have any in addition to the ones on my bike. They are easy to create. If a group wanted to buy some, I might make another batch.

[kneepuck]

Thanks guys. The site has a low volume of posts - but pretty good considering it is a 20 year old bike. Even so I'll try to post up as we rework the CB1 with upgrades.

PTLCB1, are you running your bike with race bodywork? And if so - what did you modify to fit? I was thinking of finding some old F2 or F3 bodywork and trying that. I'm a little concerned with ground clearance. The pegs seem aweful low and may drag pretty fast. But I wont worry about that until we do the suspension - since it will probably lift the rear a bit anyway.

[ptlcb1]

I have an upper fairing that a guy made for his CB-1, back in the day.  He also raced.  For many years, I didnt run a lower fairing because I didnt need to.  WERA then made it mandatory, so I used an extra tz-250 lower unit borrowed from my older brother.  I had to do some cutting, and it aint pretty but serves the purpose of catching any fluids that may leak.  It gets me thru tech inspections!    The pegs are low and a rear shock will bring up the rear.  In places where I would normally scrape the pegs at my home track, Grattan, I no longer scrape, now that I have the 900RR shock on it. 

If you want I will send you pics of my bike to your email.  Im not that computer smart, which is why I dont have pics posted on here.  The pics that I had on here before, in the Photo Gallery, "My CB-1 Race Bike", were from another CB-1 website that is no longer available. 

[Drewski]

Mark,

           to give you an idea of what you're in for, this is a guy from the UK forum going around brands Hatch..............

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=aZnvLHVuKlY

[ptlcb1]

Hey Drewski,
     Nice find on that video!  I remember Stuart from the HondaCB1.com website.  Nice to see he put it on the track!  I still have goosebumps from watching it!  Depending on what group you are in on a track day, its exactly like that!  They motor you on any type of straight, but you can get them back on the brakes if you are close enough!  I need to have a camera mounted on mine this year!  That was nice!  I am surprised he does not visit this site...

[kneepuck]

OMG I love it. He never gets below 9K and spends most if his time just off the rev limiter. That boy has skills. He uses the whole track to get through and rails past the big bikes. I love it when he goes around the outside of a guy going around the outside.  Stu is my new hero.

[Drewski]

Hey Drewski,
     Nice find on that video!  I remember Stuart from the HondaCB1.com website.  Nice to see he put it on the track!  I still have goosebumps from watching it!  Depending on what group you are in on a track day, its exactly like that!  They motor you on any type of straight, but you can get them back on the brakes if you are close enough!  I need to have a camera mounted on mine this year!  That was nice!  I am surprised he does not visit this site...

Yup, allways worth watching - looks most enjoyable.

[Drewski]

OMG I love it. He never gets below 9K and spends most if his time just off the rev limiter. That boy has skills. He uses the whole track to get through and rails past the big bikes. I love it when he goes around the outside of a guy going around the outside.  Stu is my new hero.

He did say when he posted the Vid that he was in the slower group but he still does well. I guess track knowledge is a big plus.

[ptlcb1]

In order to run well on a race track with the CB-1, you have to ride it with the revs that high.  When Im on the track, I am between 10 grand and redline 90% of the time.  Even stock, above 9-10 grand is where the CB-1 makes its power.  Handling and braking is the CB-1s strong points on a track.  As you could see in his video, straight line speed, is not great on a CB-1 unless you got alot of power.  Even then, you are still not going to pull anything with 600cc and above. 

Usually, any new riders are ones that wear bright colored vests that signify, first time track riders.  There were a few in his video.  Its clear he knows Brands Hatch well.  He is very smooth with is lines, braking and down shifting. 

I have to check into mounting a camera on my bike now!!!

[clarkdw]

Just had to post a little off topic after seeing the track day video. Another example what lightness and good handling along with skilled riding can do. Not a CB-1 but an even more underpowered bike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU6xrs7SOCc

[kneepuck]

so we are narrowing down the updates to get track ready. They are a mix of maintenance and upgrades. First a fox shock was found. It is going out for rebuild at GP Suspension. While that happens, the swing arm is coming off to get new bearings. Wheel rear wheel gets new bearings too. And a metzler M3.

We also found a Kerker full system. First we will do a baseline dyno run. Then kerker goes in and jetting to match.

Still have not figured out the front end. Currently I'm thinking new springs, emulators, ss brake lines, new pads and new bearings for front wheel.

[ptlcb1]

Sounds like a solid plan to me.  I would say, go with what you are thinking for the front end.  I had a suspension shop do my forks, (Race Tech springs, oil and Race Tech Gold Valve Emulators), set up for road racing, and I have been extremely satisfied ever since!  Congrats on finding the Kerker system!  Im sure there are not many more around.