A reader recently emailed us to ask what the CB in Honda’s renowned CB range of motorcycles stands for. Over the years, we’ve heard many justifications for the CB designation, such as “city bike,” “cross beam,” “citizen’s bike,” and even “chokusetsu baiku (personal motorcycle),” but none have ever been unambiguously acknowledged by the Japanese manufacturer. In order to find a definitive solution, we therefore made the decision to conduct some research.
The first person we spoke to was Jon Seidel, a longtime communications manager for American Honda. Seidel was of the opinion that the letters had no real significance, but he forwarded the query to Gary Christopher, a senior management at American Honda.
Christopher then went on to make contact with a number of people within the business to see if anything could be learned regarding the CB classification. He found the following.
Like Seidel, Christopher had been informed by numerous Japanese staff members over the years that CB was simply a model identification with no special meaning. For their opinions, he spoke with Mike Hishiki, a longtime test rider and part of the Honda R&D research team, and Bob Young, a former test rider and National Service Manager at American Honda who was also actively engaged in the creation and testing of the CB750.
Young and Hishiki assumed that the CB was simply the next logical step from the C-series (such as the C100 Super Cub) to the CA-series (such as the CA71) to the CB because they had never heard any specific phrases assigned to it. The two couldn’t recall a single instance in which Mr. O. Saito, the project lead engineer for the CB750, used terms like “city bike or “chokusetsu baiku, and there was no proof that Mr. Honda had used those terms.
According to Christopher, the CB was only the next in a line of model identifiers used at the time, even though following models may have been given special meanings in line with the model designations. Although it’s not a revolutionary revelation about sex, that’s probably the only reliable response we’ll ever get.
In This Article...
What distinguishes the Honda CB and CBR?
Technically speaking, not much separates them. The 649cc, inline four-cylinder motor on both bikes has been overhauled, and it now features a new piston shape, valve timing, a 1000 rpm higher rev ceiling to just over 12,000 rpm, and a new slipper clutch that, according to Honda, reduces operation load by 12 percent.
The two engines’ biggest differences are that the CBR has a ram intake for more top-end power and the CB has dual intake ducts as opposed to the F model’s single one.
With the pivot plate now stamped rather than forged, both machines share the same steel twin-spar chassis that is allegedly 4.2 pounds lighter than in 2018. While stamping the steel helps it become lighter, it also gives the metal a degree of flexibility that forging does not. Stamping the chassis rather than forging it is a more affordable and still efficient technique of manufacture because neither of these bikes are race bikes and are therefore not subject to heavy cornering stresses with rigidity being a significant consideration.
Honda also reduced the seat rail by 60mm and modified the engine hanger with a new cross pipe to move the rider’s weight closer to the motorcycle’s center of gravity. This is a key component of the new CB/CBR platform, which aims to make both motorcycles a little sportier. The ergonomics are now more aggressive due to slightly lowered bars, a sharper seat angle, and slightly rearward and upshifted pegs.
Showa provided the suspension, which consists of a rear shock with preload adjustment only and a 41mm Separate Function Fork (SFF) that is not adjustable. Both motorcycles share the same brakes, with Nissin forgoing its dual 310mm floating discs and four-piston radial mount calipers to stop five-spoke wheels that are reportedly one pound lighter front and rear.
The CB/CBR platform uses electronics, but not as extensively as other rivals. There are adjustable traction control, ABS, and a gear indicator in place of changeable riding maps, cruise control, and quickshifters. Honda’s Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) is a sort of traction control that you may alter on the fly by simply closing the throttle and depressing the switch on the left bar.
It’s interesting that both machines either have TC and ABS or neither. You cannot purchase a CB/CBR without TC or a TC without ABS. Both are included when you purchase one, and ABS is always on.
What is CB Shine’s CB stand for?
A:
The Combi brake system, as its name suggests, enables drivers to apply brakes simultaneously to both the front and back wheels on one brake pedal, reducing stopping distance and enhancing stability.
CBS applies the front and rear brakes when the rider depresses one of the brake levers. It shortens the stopping distance and increases stopping stability.
With just one lever, the Combi Brake System on Honda two-wheelers lets you operate both brakes.
A Honda CB is what kind of motorcycle?
The Honda CB750 is an air-cooled, transverse, in-line four-cylinder motorcycle with an upright or standard riding position that was produced by Honda across various generations for year models 1969–2003 as well as 2007. It is frequently referred to as the first Universal Japanese Motorcycle (UJM).
Although the transverse, overhead camshaft, inline four-cylinder engine configuration was marketed by other manufacturers and had been used in racing engines before World War II, Honda made the configuration popular with the CB750, and it later took over as the standard sport bike engine configuration.
Honda still produces the CB?
The Honda CBR500R sport bike, CB500F naked sport bike / streetfighter, and the CB500X adventure bike that we’re covering here are all 500 cc models from Honda. The CB500X is returning for 2016, as it should be as it’s been one of the best sellers. When the CB500X was initially unveiled in 2013, I must admit that I was a little taken aback to see Honda adding some enhancements &…
Is the CBR650R a quality motorcycle?
The CBR650R is ideal for you if you enjoy riding your bike every day. Although it’s not the most comfortable for extended tours, you can certainly use it for daily commuting. You will actually enjoy yourself on your everyday commute. Simple and non-aggressive ergonomics are used. Your feet are comfortably positioned behind your knees, and there isn’t much weight on your arms. The suspension is not at all rigid, and the seat is plush. You may ride the bike all day long at either an easy or hard pace because the overall ride quality is good for city roads. It handles nicely in traffic and is rather light. Because of this, the Honda CBR650R is the ideal supersport motorcycle for everyday use. You can use it whenever you need to, and riding it will always be enjoyable. And it has a superbike-like appearance.
The CBR650R sports bike, which has a starting price of $9,699, has everything you might want in a motorcycle. While the CBR650R does not have much of an excitement factor, it does have easy engine performance, precise handling, and most significantly, a pleasant, confident-inspiring riding experience. Four-cylinder sport bikes are a unique species. You will receive the same attention as a superbike because it definitely outshines the competition in terms of aesthetics. Owning a CBR650R is a bike you’ll never regret.
Is a CB650R a decent touring bike?
This bicycle is a fantastic choice for that. This bike can and will be used for everything from commuting to weekend adventures. It can also be used for touring, but you’ll want to look at aftermarket seat choices because comfort suffers on long trips.
What does the acronym Honda CL mean?
Honda’s scrambler series was designated by the “CL model prefix, with engines ranging in size from 50cc to 450cc. Typically, the CL model was a scramblerized version of the corresponding street vehicle with a “CB designation.
How does r relate to motorcycles?
When anything ends with “R,” it typically refers to racing or reproduction. Even in the automotive business, the R abbreviation stands for essentially the same idea, with the RS suffix short for Rennsport in German. I mean, the racing. Because of this, RR can stand for Race Replica or even Race-Ready.
What does SP in Honda Shine mean?
Honda’s enhanced smart power technology, sometimes known as “sp,” increases output and fuel efficiency by lowering friction.
What exactly does SP 125 mean?
How well does the Honda SP 125 perform? Honda’s version of eSP (Enhanced Smart Power) technology is used in the 125 cc fuel-injected engine that powers the SP 125. This essentially reduces friction between the moving parts of the engine, maximizing both efficiency and performance.
Honda Shine: Is it a good bike?
Short riders will benefit from it. The rider shine would be a better choice for you if you are not busy and are seeking for a bike with decent mileage and the ability to manage speed in a cheap price range.
Although the SP Shine is a wonderful bike for daily commuters, its chain sprocket needs to be replaced every six months. Other than that, it is trouble-free.
I’ve been driving a CB Shine bike for the past 1.5 years, and I adore its speed and powerful engine. I got 56 kmpl, so you should close your eyes and buy Honda shine.
CB shine is only effective over the long term; otherwise, the suspension is fragile, and the engine cannot go over 40 mph without overhaul. The weakest link is the rocker. Average is deplorable.