Honda CB1 Specs and Information (1989 to 1990 – aka CB400F NC27)

10 thoughts on “Honda CB1 Specs and Information (1989 to 1990 – aka CB400F NC27)”

1. I got a 1990 with 13k miles – love the bike. Great info! What were your reference sources for the specs?

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   1. Reference sources are…..
      -Me (I’ve owned a few of these over the years)
      -Collection of old service and spec books
      -And there is a service manual available online for this bike (there’s a link to at at the bottom of the above article) 🙂

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   2. I was 16 when I saw this at the dealership. I still want it and have been getting kinda serious about. Being 5’10” I wonder if it would be a good fit. Comfortable enough for longer rides. Any opinion?

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      1. I have one. Im 5’11”. Im ok on the bike, but its more a fun bike than nice touring bike. My previous bike was a Vstrom 650 2014 that was very good bike for long traveling. Ilove my CB1 for short run…1h30 max. I can use all the power at full throtle and the feedback of the screaming 400cc 4 cylinder is like my older GSX750r when I was young! But not dangerous or fear to lost licences.
         I keep my CB1 for what it is….a litle very funny bike that can surprise many biker. I owned many sport and touring bike…but I can sold my CB1. Its like a toy, easy to ride, and there is nothing that sreaming like a 4 banger carburated a 13 500 tr/min lol.

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      2. I am 5′ 10′ and have owned these bikes for years . Never a problem in fact , it’s an advantage -You’re tucked in more like being part of the bike and the with smaller height it’s quite wonderful with town use and being able to put your feet flat to the ground. The handling on these bikes is second to none , they are so well balanced- Even these days with modern bikes I have never felt the ability of the bike to be out classed by new machinery . Long rides , well this summer with almost every day being a biking day my long rides they were very long indeed . How about an average of 200 miles every day and never ever feeling the effects of any type of back ache or wrist ache … I have owned 100 plus motorcles since 1969 and will say in all honesty that there have only been very few bikes that have been able to outclass them in any way . Yep they aren’t the fastest bike out there but in all reality you don’t need that massive top end . I’ve owned bikes that can do 170 mph plus and always got frustrated that I couldn’t ever use that power ( only when I lived in Germany was I able to open the bikes up) but really after you do that a few times , that novelty wares off )…No the real rush is between 50 and 80 which is just perfect for these UK roads …One thing be wary of getting one of the old dispatch riders bikes , they were very popular in the early 90’s with the London boys who would thrash them around the city …Top tip . When on tick over that engine should sound sweet , because they don’t have a cam chain ( Direct drive Cam GearDrive ) so no rattles . Try if you can to get one of the MK1’s , they were built for the JDM and are of much higher quality re- alloy’s with a full factory made stainless steel system . The DVLA have confirmed to me that there are only 57 in total in the UK . Many of these being the USA/ Canadian model that were produced in 1991 . All bikes that came into the UK get reg as on a 1989 plate for convienience . They had a production run of only 22.000 and that was split into three batches . 10.000 -1989- 8.000 -1990 and the final year of production 1991 with only 4.000 made and these were for the USA/ Canada. These are the MK2 versions with a steel exhaust system , steel passenger foot rails. Black headlight surround , reflector strips on the forks and their clocks will be in MPH. As of summer 2022 there are only 7 MK1’s reg for the UK roads of which I own 3. They are rare and going up in value quickly , you will be hard pressed to find the MK1 . Back in Novemeber 2021 Classic Motorcycle Magazine did a main page review of the bike, with cover photo and up to that point you could get one in superb condition( original ) not restored for £1.500 because I did and was pleasantly surprised to find a few months later that the value of the bike had gone up by more than 100%. They are now worth on the classic scene a min of £3000 plus . They have to be original nothing changed ,no resto 100% factory spec . I have been lucky enough to find another one for my collection only last week – I now own 3 of the current 7MK1’s on UK roads so I can sell for what I like . There is no actual market value and they will only go up in value . I could sell my collection of all 3 for at least £9000 min . So good luck in finding one they are getting rarer and rarer as each year passes . Remember you will have to be able to fork out £3000 for a good one or you could get a MK 2 for less . The MK 2 just doesn’t cut itin the looks dept , in fact it looks like a different bike altogether . All the best Simon .

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2. cb1 400cc 1990 can you tell me how to check engine oil level exactly dip stick screwed in or screwed out
   best regard

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   1. Screwed out, 100%

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3. I got problem with my valves,I just replaced new engine head .but how to set the timing gears

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4. I own two CB1’s both manufactured in 1989 . these are the MK 1 models which were also produced for 1990. The MK2 series was produced for the USA / Canadian market . Subtle differences for the two bikes . The alloy billet for the MK1 , pillion footrests not steel like the MK 2 . Stainless steel exhaust system for the MK1 was replaced by a mild steel all black system, black plastic headlight , reflectors on the front forks MK2 …Total production 22.000 world wide . 1989 -10.000-1990-8.000 – (MK2 -1991 -4.000- for the USA/ Canadian market) I have been in contact with Honda Japan Hammatsu via their messenger service and talked with a very helpful Japanese lady who spoke English . She confirmed the details and she sent me ( In Japanese ) the total production figures for every Honda CB1 -400 made in Japan and I have had the info translated into English . Bikes with the KM clocks were made for JDM and some other Pacific rim countries. ( JDM =Japanese Domestic Market). Some found their way to Australia and a few went to Hong Kong the Hong Kong bikes will have mph clocks like one of mine . I have two bikes from the same monthly production run in 1989. Rumour has it that in 1989 Honda tested the waters in Japan with 500 CB1’s with the CBRR 400 engine prior to changes they made with the gearing …For reference the 3rd gear on the CB1 is the Ist gear on the CBRR 400 . They are very sought after , I have contacted the DVLA and as of summer 2022 there are only 57 CB1’s reg for the road – 7 are the MK1 1989 JDM models and the remainder are the MK2 version …That doesn’t mean there aren’t more, possibly on sorn waiting for rebuilds . resto’s or just sitting around in garages… Hope people find this useful ?

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5. Max power of 57bhp reached at 10.000 rpm – warning don’t bury that needle into the red for any length of time , it could overload the cams and you might get into a situation with valve bounce , meaning it will be reving so high that they hover and can’t actually close because the engine is spining so quickly …These engines were race derivedd so are needing to be used , they perform better when above 6.000 rpm and can easily reach 80mph pretty damn quick . For reference the 3rd gear if used properly can do 0-to 75 in one gear , That was the 400 R’s first gear . all Honda did was a re- gear configeration for road use , so you have a short shift to get to 30 pus in 1st- 2nd all the way up to 50 , then if used like a race bike full on until 75-80 -I’ve done it many times , then with the 4th gear it’s just extra until you reach 5th around that mark you will be hitting max power of 10.000 rpm . 6th gear will be stable at top speed of a max around 118-120 Wrongly stated in the blog as being a different engine as the CB400R , the engines are exactly the same and will have a stamp on the right side of the engine , where the clutch cable sits , pull back the cable and you find NC23E.( all CB1 400 ‘s will have a classifiaction of NC27 that is for the frame and running gear, handle bars etc. The NC23 E denotes the same engine as the CB400R the difference between the engines on both bikes is the gearing , with the R having that very tall 1st gear . Made for racing in Japan’s race series at the time . If you need any more information please feel free to contact me ok .I am in contact with Honda’s headquarters in Hamamastsu in Japan . I have in my possesion the listings. codes, production runs , the amount of bikes made , details of years of production and the list gives me every single Japanese bike manufactured from 1966 until the present day . This for the JDM only ( Japanese Domestic Market) doesn’t include bikes made under the Honda name built in other coutnries .Ths list doesn’t even include the CB1-MK2 variants because all Honda did was ship over the engines from Japan and the rest of the M2 was built in Honda’s USA plant …It was the American arm of the Honda company that decided on not supplying the MK2 with steel exhausts , steel footrest hangers and other bits . mainly to do with cost , they were testing the waters with the US model to see if it would sell and it didn’t do well ( there were only 4000 models built in the US . One reason was the bike cost more to manufacture than the then current ‘Jelly Mould CB600 F’ sales seemed to go to the 600 and not to the 400 as was expected . The world wasn’t ready for a naked ‘cafe racer styled bike at that point , all people wanted was the race look which was all popular in the late 80’s early 90’s …Many despatch riders bought these bike that were either shipped over from Japan or the US by container , I know because I was one of the importers ..haha.

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