1981 CB900F

The CB900F topped sport-riding wish lists all over America before it ever arrived here. Sharp eyes had seen it introduced to Europe in 1979 — a big brother to the DOHC, 16-valve CB750F. After a taste of that '79 750F, American riders knew the only thing better was more of the same. So when the 900F arrived stateside in 1981, that's exactly what they got.

Twenty years ago, Ronald Reagan had taken over as America's 40th President, Oakland beat Philadelphia 27-10 in Super Bowl XV, and the stage was set for a new Honda Superbike. Enter the CB900F: Superbike power in a sweet-handling package. That power came from a sporting adaptation of the 1980 CB900 Custom's engine, using a 530 chain instead of the C-model's shaft drive. A 32mm constant-velocity carburetor fed each 64.2 x 69mm cylinder through four valves. An oil cooler kept engine internals happy, while rubber engine mounts isolated the rider from vibration.

Adapting the successful 750F chassis to house Superbike-class horsepower, engineers added an air-assisted 39mm front fork and new remote-reservoir shocks. Honda's twin-piston brake calipers debuted in 1981 on the 900 and CB750F, applying pressure to the brake with two smaller internal pistons versus a single large one. The result, according to Motorcyclist magazine's April 1981 test, was "...the best production line brakes we've tried." Other aspects of performance earned high praise as well in one of the toughest Motorcyclist tests ever.

The magazine's CB900F had already covered the 1/4-mile in 11.84 seconds at 112.8 mph and inhaled bumpy, twisty roads more easily than its rivals. After 1,400 street miles, Motorcyclist's CB900F went to Southern California's Willow Springs International Raceway, where the fastest editors in the business ran it flat out for 24 hours. After flirting with its 9500 rpm redline for 1,690 miles and burning 77 gallons of gasoline, the verdict was remarkable, if anticlimactic. "Nothing had broken, which was a good thing, since the editor had to ride it home."

If cornering at 135 mph on the track and then riding home comfortably on the same motorcycle wasn't enough, how about doing it for $500 to $900 less than other 1981 Superbikes? The Motorcyclist guys seemed convinced. "The dream sporting riders had of the European CB900F is now here in real steel. The lines are already forming at Honda dealers, but you're going to have to wait behind some of us who have already put our orders in."