Is this specimen worth it?

[Jonesy]

Hey all,

I should pretext by saying I'm living abroad (Taiwan) and recently came across this bike for sale:

http://www.epochsy.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/cb1_g.jpg

Sport bikes 600cc+ are LUDICROUSLY expensive over here because they're just starting to lower the taxes on everything, so kinda limited options.

SO - Guy selling it claims 2 owners incl. himself. He wanted 1400$US, but I got him to 1000$; cond. is 'ok' at best. Took it for a test drive and everything seemed to be in good working order. Engine sounds great idling or otherwise and it certainly hasn't lost any of its horses along the way...mileage/km's is anybody's guess; shops over here screw with Odometers all the time.

Painting the engine silver or black is common enough (in TW), for both damage cover-ups or aesthetic appeal, and though it looks like it might've been put down at one point, it didn't appear to have anything critical.

My Q's:
1.) Worth it? It's only for weekend joy-rides around the island (no city driving), though I'm sure I'll have to replace something down the road. Noticed a lot of you cats have some mint-looking customs and rebuild projects on here (=props!). But knowing the CB1's relative rarity = often hard to find/expensive replacement pieces. Any common age-related problems?

2.) Where might the VIN be? Couldn't find it when I was checking out the bike (frame neck?) and google yielded no clues. I'd like to check the CB-1 registry (though I don't hold out much hope, it being Taiwan owned and all)

I'm guessing its an '89 because it only has the honda 'wing' logo on the tank and the '400' stamped into the frame near the seat. Y/N?

Cheers!
-Jonesy

p.s. I'll post up some better daytime pics of both sides in a week or so.

[theplumber]

well from what i know of mine which is an 89 the vin is on the top of the frame opposite side of your pic by the wing. the sticker doesnt look stock to me, seeing as the frame was painted so might have been the tank (and the vin # too). it does look good though from the one pic you do have. im not too sure what else to say, im sure others will post their thoughts as well. ttyl.
theplumber.

[kneepuck]

Really really hard to say from that picture. There is not enough detail. As with any bike purchase

> Check the steering head bearings. Force teh handlebars forward and back while turning from side to side. If there is any front and back motion while doing so they will need to be replaced.

> Check fork seals

> Look at the head stock. If there is damage in there it has likely been in a crash.

> Make sure you start it from COLD! Don't let him warm it up before you get there.

> Check wheels for nicks in the rim - make sure they are straight and true.

> look at  brake pads and wear. Even wear is good.

> Check tires for nice even wear - expect to replace them - i've never bought a used bike that had tires I thought were even close to acceptable.

> Check for oil leaks, they may have painted the engine for a reason (other than aesthetics).

> Pull the dip stick and see the oil condition. I usually ask when the last oil change was before i do this.

That's most of it. Good luck!!

[Jonesy]

Cheers guys - any info is good info, especially when its the informative kind! 

Hopefully will buy in a coupla weeks....

Thanks again!

[Xestenz]

At $1K, you could likely part it out and make most of that money back, so this seems relatively low risk to me given the details you have provided.

[Jonesy]

Definitely. Good point X!

And now that I've found the link for the orig. shop manual (stoked!), I think this will become my first real tinker-toy as well. If all goes kaput, I'd love to deconstruct and see what's what...

[Drewski]

If it's not too late, check the upper engine mounts for tiny cracks around the weld, (could be disguised by the paint) On the whole, they're excellent bikes, great to ride around town and are very reliable with bullet-proof motors, (unless abused, as is the case with most bikes). some parts are getting hard to find now, esp clocks and a good tank but all the consumeables are still available AFAIK.