History of Honda CB-1NC27

The Honda CB-1NC27 was the first naked street bike manufactured for Honda’s domestic Japanese market in 1989. As a result, it has an unusual displacement of 399cc, which is a size not commonly found outside Japan. However, the motorcycle was imported into both the United States and Canada, many arriving on the British coast as gray imports. Another unique quality of this particular Honda street bike is that it is surprisingly fuel efficient and designed for commuting. The CB-1 NC27 was praised by motorcycle critics and loved by riders, but it wasn’t as popular as other Honda motorcycles and was discontinued in 1990.

The Honda CB-1’s liquid-cooled 399cc engine produced 55bhp at 10,000rpm and performed as expected. This was more than enough to propel the 400-pound CB-1NC27 to speeds above 110 mph. The bike came with a 41mm telescopic front fork and Pro-Link monoshock components at the rear. While these worked great to provide a fast and comfortable riding experience, the 70-17 tires came with disc brakes for safer handling and stability.

Riders also loved the lower seating position of the Honda CB-1NC27, which is very similar to the larger Honda CBR600. The 1st and 2nd gear ratios are also more in tune with the larger bikes, giving CB-1 owners an advantage in taking off from a standstill. Equipped with a typical Honda 6-speed racing gearbox, the Honda CB-1NC27 was a fun and exciting ride. One of the unique points is that despite its sporty performance, this Honda bike showed a high efficiency of 50mpg depending on the riding conditions. With a 2.7 gallon fuel tank and great efficiency, the CB-1 is a great touring bike.

One of the important points is that the Honda CB-1 was also sold under the name CB400F in some countries. However, this was a marketing decision in a particular export market to connect to the original CB400F (1974). If you look closely, the 1989-90 CB400F bike is actually the same as the CB-1NC27. Few CB-1 bikes remain in good condition today, and there is still demand from collectors and enthusiasts. In the UK, it is difficult to get genuine spare parts, except for a few specialized dealers. The air filter is especially important because the CB-1 NC27 engine tends to overheat if there is a leak in the intake pipe. However, the Honda CB-1 NC27 provides real power at a surprisingly low running cost. So if you get one, feel lucky.