Honda CB900F
Encyclopedia
The CB900F is a Honda
motorcycle
. The first generation was produced from 1979 to 1983, and the second generation was produced from 2002 to 2007. The newer generation CB900F was called the Hornet 900 in Europe but went by 919 in North America, while the similar CB600F
was the Hornet 600 in Europe and the 599 in North America. The trademark for the vehicle name Hornet in North America was held by AMC
(owned now by Chrysler
) for their Hornet
car.
.
, and with the success of Honda's other models and mainstream, respectable marketing image, enjoyed dominant market share. But a decade later the single overhead camshaft (SOHC) CB750F2 of 1978 could not compete against double overhead camshaft (DOHC) fours from Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki, and Honda had been content to fall behind in performance features and in market share. After this period of devoting R&D resources to the car business, Honda returned its attention to motorcycles with a new DOHC roadster whose development roots lay in Honda's successful endurance racing in Europe, with the RCB-series RS1000, as well as suspension advances learned in motocross
racing.
The CB900F's design was aimed at European markets, rather than the usual focus on the United States, and it was not imported into the US until 1981. In Europe, it was known as the Bol D’Or, after the Bol d'Or
endurance race. Honda's advertising at the time proclaimed the bike, "A thundering Super Sports bike with devastating performance and an unwavering stamina that will be setting the pace for many years to come."
, and sharing many components with the Honda CB750
engine, differing mainly in a square 62 millimetre bore x stroke. The 901 cc engine is also closely related to the engines used in the short-lived CB1000C and the CB1100F/CB1100R
. It was similar to the exotic inline-6 CBX1000 in having a two stage cam chain, where a long chain drove the inlet camshaft, and from there a second, shorter chain drove the exhaust camshaft.
The CB900F was a high-performance motorcycle that built on the racing success of the DOHC CB750F. The CB900F produces 95 bhp @ 9000 rpm and uses a five-speed transmission and chain final drive. Though closely related, the CB900C produced in the same period uses a five-speed transmission with two-speed differential and shaft drive components. The twin downtube steel frame was conventional in design, but very strong. The strengthened frame, along with the improved suspension design made the CB900F, "arguably the best Honda had build for the street," perhaps one of the first Hondas ready to challenge European motorcycles not just in engine output but in handling.
It uses two front disc brakes and one rear, all outfitted with dual-piston calipers after 1983. The air-assisted fork was upgraded with the Honda TRAC (torque reactive anti-dive control) anti-dive system in 1982 or 1983. The bike uses the same bodywork (tank, side covers, tailpiece) as the preceding CB750F Super Sport and there are slight differences between the CB900F bodywork and that used on the CB1100F and CBX.
magazine test. Despite being out-displaced, the CB900F competed with other performance bikes of the time such as the Kawasaki Kz1000
, Suzuki GS1000, and Yamaha XS1100. The engine was tuned to produce mid range power rather than maximizing peak horsepower at the top engine speed, thus giving good acceleration from 4,000 rpm to the 9,500 rpm redline. At 90 mph (40.2 m/s) there was some vibration, but the relaxed riding position was comfortable at most speeds, except perhaps near the 130 mph (58.1 m/s) maximum where the high handlebars led to arm fatigue against wind pressure.
While the CB900F arrived years late to the market against these Japanese competitors, and could only just keep up with their performance, in 1982 competition from the CB900F was a problem for Harley-Davidson
. The 25 year old, 500 lb (226.8 kg), Sportster XLH was losing performance due to a lowered 8:1 compression in order to comply with environmental regulations and use low-octane fuel, resulting in under 14 second quarter mile times at 100 mph (44.7 m/s), and a 100 mph (44.7 m/s) top speed. In comparison, the 1982 CB900F did the quarter mile in under 13 seconds at 110 mph (49.2 m/s) with top speed of 130 mph (58.1 m/s).
For its time, the CB900F was called, "the ultimate statement of the old air-cooled technology Honda had done so much to create," to be followed by the larger displacement CB1100F of 1983, before moving on to water-cooled inline fours with the CBR1000F
of 1987. In anticipation of the 2002 model, one reporter reminisced that the original, "was a powerful machine, if a bit heavy. All gas tank and engine, stable on the highway, middle-of-the-road good looks and hound-dog reliable." Rod Ker, however, writes that it, had "two bad habits," that, "it dropped out of gear, and — sometimes as a direct result — broke con-rods
. This was a great pity, because it was a good bike until it broke, blessed with a frame and suspension that showed the Japanese were catching up with the Europeans in chassis technology."
engine but with a more upright seating position and revised engine and gearing, providing performance and comfort between a typical sport bike and a cruiser. In some ways the concept dates to a 1994 design study created by American Honda's R&D chief product evaluator Dirk Vandenberg in cooperation with Cycle World
magazine, a streetfighter
-like one-off custom based on the Honda CBR900RR
, with the fairings removed, high, tubular handlebar, and tuning and gearing modified to boost low-end torque. Vandenberg saw a market in the "older sportbike crowd" who are seeking high performance without an awkward riding position or racetrack style bodywork.
It was introduced in 2002 and its last model year was 2007, after which it was replaced by the CB1000R
. After compliance with tightening emissions regulations became untenable, it was replaced by the more performance-specialized CB1000R. In 2006, Motorcyclist
recommended used 919s as a good buy, saying of the new bike, "at $7999, it wasn't exactly cheap, and saddled with a coat of flat-black paint called Asphalt, it was less than visually electrifying," however, in the used market it became a great value. In the US market, the 919, like the 599, was expensive, because, being intended for the European market, they were made in Italy, and so had to be imported to the US against unfavorable Euro
exchange rates.
The Daily Telegraph welcomed the new bike, saying, "the new CB900F Hornet leaves your knees in the breeze and your smile full of bugs as it reintroduces you to a feeling of undemanding, rewarding two-wheeled fun that has been missing from the market for a long time. " Comparing it to the Hornet 600, the bike was reminiscent of the standards of the 1970s, sometimes called universal Japanese motorcycles.
engine, developed by Tadao Baba
, one of Honda's Large Project Leaders. The motor is a transversely mounted, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 919 cc in-line four-stroke, four-cylinder DOHC engine that produces around 100 hp. The engine has cast camshafts and pistons instead of the more expensive forged versions on found on the CBR929 and later
. For greater midrange torque, the CB900F's camshaft lift is lower, and compression is slightly lowered. Four 36 mm (1.4 in) fuel-injection throttle bodies take the place of the CBR900RR’s 38 mm (1.5 in) carburetors. Redline is 9500 rpm. The bike has a cable-actuated clutch, a six-speed transmission, and a chain final drive.
A steel, square-tube backbone frame supports the engine as a stressed member. In front, a cartridge fork (adjustable beginning in 2004) guides the wheel, while a single Showa shock, adjustable only for preload (and rebound damping beginning in 2004) connects with the aluminum swingarm
and carries the weight in back. Its brakes are dual-disc in the front and single-disc in the rear.
Instrumentation consists of an analog speedometer and tachometer and basic indicator lamps, incorporated under a tinted window, and a single tripmeter. While it normally was equipped with a centerstand, California models did not have room for one due to additional emissions control equipment.
The rake is 25°, trail is 98 mm (3.9 in), wheelbase is 1460 mm (57.5 in), and seat height is 800 mm (31.5 in). It has a tested dry weight (minus fuel only) of 455 lb (206.4 kg) and a tested wet weight of 485 lb (220 kg). The chain drive is a 530 chain with stock gearing of 16 tooth front and 43 tooth rear sprockets.
A 599 cc carburetted
version exists in the form of the CB600F
, known as the Hornet 600 in Europe and the 599 in North America.
, and the wide, high handlebars ease quick turning and make cornering enjoyable. The suspension of the early versions was criticized, but after the upgrade to an adjustable fork, the complaints died down. Cycle World
saw the 919 as a practical solution to the real-world problem of imperfect roads and traffic, rather than a mere compromise between a sportbike and a commuter or touring ride.
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
. The first generation was produced from 1979 to 1983, and the second generation was produced from 2002 to 2007. The newer generation CB900F was called the Hornet 900 in Europe but went by 919 in North America, while the similar CB600F
Honda CB600F
The Honda CB600F is a standard motorcycle manufactured by Honda. It is powered by a liquid-cooled inline-four engine, originally a detuned version of that in the Honda CBR600 sport bike, which currently produces around...
was the Hornet 600 in Europe and the 599 in North America. The trademark for the vehicle name Hornet in North America was held by AMC
American Motors
American Motors Corporation was an American automobile company formed by the 1954 merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company. At the time, it was the largest corporate merger in U.S. history.George W...
(owned now by Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
) for their Hornet
AMC Hornet
The AMC Hornet was a compact automobile made by the American Motors Corporation in one generation beginning with the 1970 model year and continuing through the 1977 model year. The Hornet replaced the compact Rambler American marking the end of the Rambler marque in the American and Canadian markets...
car.
First generation
The first generation Honda CB900F was produced from 1979 to 1983. It was only sold in the United States in 1981 to 1982 and was replaced in 1983 by the CB1100FHonda CB1100F
The CB1100F is a standard motorcycle that was made by Honda, based on their line of DOHC air-cooled inline four engines. It was only available in 1983...
.
Background
Honda introduced the superbike to the world in 1969 with the CB750Honda CB750
The Honda CB750 is a motorcycle built in several model series between 1969 and 2003 and 2007 that is recognized as a milestone for Honda's successful introduction of a transverse, overhead camshaft inline four-cylinder engine that has ever since been the dominant sport bike configuration...
, and with the success of Honda's other models and mainstream, respectable marketing image, enjoyed dominant market share. But a decade later the single overhead camshaft (SOHC) CB750F2 of 1978 could not compete against double overhead camshaft (DOHC) fours from Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki, and Honda had been content to fall behind in performance features and in market share. After this period of devoting R&D resources to the car business, Honda returned its attention to motorcycles with a new DOHC roadster whose development roots lay in Honda's successful endurance racing in Europe, with the RCB-series RS1000, as well as suspension advances learned in motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
racing.
The CB900F's design was aimed at European markets, rather than the usual focus on the United States, and it was not imported into the US until 1981. In Europe, it was known as the Bol D’Or, after the Bol d'Or
Bol d'or
The Bol d'or is a motorcycle endurance race, held annually in France. Originally, it was an automobile as well as motorcycle race. The automobiles were limited to 1100cc engine capacity until the 1950s when the limit was raised to 1500cc, and later to 2000cc...
endurance race. Honda's advertising at the time proclaimed the bike, "A thundering Super Sports bike with devastating performance and an unwavering stamina that will be setting the pace for many years to come."
Design
The CB900F uses a 901 cc four-cylinder DOHC engine, essentially the same as in the Honda CB900CHonda CB900C
The Honda CB900C is a "custom"-styled standard motorcycle produced by Honda from 1980 to 1982. The slightly modified and larger displacement CB1000C was produced in 1983 only. It is a derivative of the DOHC CB750K at the supposed requests of the American consumer, according to Rider Magazine, March...
, and sharing many components with the Honda CB750
Honda CB750
The Honda CB750 is a motorcycle built in several model series between 1969 and 2003 and 2007 that is recognized as a milestone for Honda's successful introduction of a transverse, overhead camshaft inline four-cylinder engine that has ever since been the dominant sport bike configuration...
engine, differing mainly in a square 62 millimetre bore x stroke. The 901 cc engine is also closely related to the engines used in the short-lived CB1000C and the CB1100F/CB1100R
Honda CB1100F
The CB1100F is a standard motorcycle that was made by Honda, based on their line of DOHC air-cooled inline four engines. It was only available in 1983...
. It was similar to the exotic inline-6 CBX1000 in having a two stage cam chain, where a long chain drove the inlet camshaft, and from there a second, shorter chain drove the exhaust camshaft.
The CB900F was a high-performance motorcycle that built on the racing success of the DOHC CB750F. The CB900F produces 95 bhp @ 9000 rpm and uses a five-speed transmission and chain final drive. Though closely related, the CB900C produced in the same period uses a five-speed transmission with two-speed differential and shaft drive components. The twin downtube steel frame was conventional in design, but very strong. The strengthened frame, along with the improved suspension design made the CB900F, "arguably the best Honda had build for the street," perhaps one of the first Hondas ready to challenge European motorcycles not just in engine output but in handling.
It uses two front disc brakes and one rear, all outfitted with dual-piston calipers after 1983. The air-assisted fork was upgraded with the Honda TRAC (torque reactive anti-dive control) anti-dive system in 1982 or 1983. The bike uses the same bodywork (tank, side covers, tailpiece) as the preceding CB750F Super Sport and there are slight differences between the CB900F bodywork and that used on the CB1100F and CBX.
Performance
In most magazine tests, the CB900F normally clocked low to mid 12 seconds in the quarter mile and as low as 11.84 seconds in a MotorcyclistMotorcyclist (magazine)
Motorcyclist is a motorcycling magazine in the United States. The magazine is headquartered in Los Angeles, and is published by Source Interlink Media. The current Editor in Chief, Brian Catterson, was formerly Executive Editor at rival Cycle World....
magazine test. Despite being out-displaced, the CB900F competed with other performance bikes of the time such as the Kawasaki Kz1000
Kawasaki Kz1000
The Kawasaki Kz1000 is a motorcycle manufactured in Japan by Kawasaki released in September 1976 as a 1977 model to replace the KZ900. It has an in-line 4-cylinder engine and a 5-speed transmission, in a 'one down and four up' configuration...
, Suzuki GS1000, and Yamaha XS1100. The engine was tuned to produce mid range power rather than maximizing peak horsepower at the top engine speed, thus giving good acceleration from 4,000 rpm to the 9,500 rpm redline. At 90 mph (40.2 m/s) there was some vibration, but the relaxed riding position was comfortable at most speeds, except perhaps near the 130 mph (58.1 m/s) maximum where the high handlebars led to arm fatigue against wind pressure.
While the CB900F arrived years late to the market against these Japanese competitors, and could only just keep up with their performance, in 1982 competition from the CB900F was a problem for Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
. The 25 year old, 500 lb (226.8 kg), Sportster XLH was losing performance due to a lowered 8:1 compression in order to comply with environmental regulations and use low-octane fuel, resulting in under 14 second quarter mile times at 100 mph (44.7 m/s), and a 100 mph (44.7 m/s) top speed. In comparison, the 1982 CB900F did the quarter mile in under 13 seconds at 110 mph (49.2 m/s) with top speed of 130 mph (58.1 m/s).
For its time, the CB900F was called, "the ultimate statement of the old air-cooled technology Honda had done so much to create," to be followed by the larger displacement CB1100F of 1983, before moving on to water-cooled inline fours with the CBR1000F
Honda CBR1000F
Launched in 1987 the Honda CBR1000F, also known as the Hurricane, is a sport touring motorcycle manufactured by Honda from 1987 to 1999. It is powered by a liquid-cooled, DOHC, 998 cc, 16-valve four-cylinder, it crossed the barrier and is capable of .- History :Manufactured from 1987 to late...
of 1987. In anticipation of the 2002 model, one reporter reminisced that the original, "was a powerful machine, if a bit heavy. All gas tank and engine, stable on the highway, middle-of-the-road good looks and hound-dog reliable." Rod Ker, however, writes that it, had "two bad habits," that, "it dropped out of gear, and — sometimes as a direct result — broke con-rods
Connecting rod
In a reciprocating piston engine, the connecting rod or conrod connects the piston to the crank or crankshaft. Together with the crank, they form a simple mechanism that converts linear motion into rotating motion....
. This was a great pity, because it was a good bike until it broke, blessed with a frame and suspension that showed the Japanese were catching up with the Europeans in chassis technology."
Second generation
The second generation Honda CB900F (also called the 919 in North America and Hornet in Europe) is a standard or naked motorcycle based on a sport bikeSport bike
A sport bike, also written as sportbike, is a motorcycle optimized for speed, acceleration, braking, and cornering on paved roads, typically at the expense of comfort and fuel economy in comparison to less specialized motorcycles...
engine but with a more upright seating position and revised engine and gearing, providing performance and comfort between a typical sport bike and a cruiser. In some ways the concept dates to a 1994 design study created by American Honda's R&D chief product evaluator Dirk Vandenberg in cooperation with Cycle World
Cycle World
Cycle World is a motorcycling magazine in the United States. It was founded in 1962 by Joe Parkhurst, who was inducted to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame as "the person responsible for bringing a new era of objective journalism" to the U.S. and is now the largest motorcycling magazine in the world...
magazine, a streetfighter
Streetfighter
A streetfighter is a sport bike that is customized by removing the fairing, and making other changes that result in an overall more aggressive look. Beyond simply removing fairings, specific changes that exemplify the streetfighter look are a pair of large, round headlights, tall, upright...
-like one-off custom based on the Honda CBR900RR
Honda CBR900RR
The Honda CBR900RR, also known as the Fireblade, is a large displacement sport bike introduced in 1992 by Honda. It was the first of the Honda Fireblade models and was designed by Tadao Baba.-CBR900RR:...
, with the fairings removed, high, tubular handlebar, and tuning and gearing modified to boost low-end torque. Vandenberg saw a market in the "older sportbike crowd" who are seeking high performance without an awkward riding position or racetrack style bodywork.
It was introduced in 2002 and its last model year was 2007, after which it was replaced by the CB1000R
Honda CB1000R
The Honda CB1000R is a naked bike manufactured by the Honda Motor Company. It was unveiled at the Milan Bike Show on 6 November, 2007 as a replacement for the Honda CB900F Hornet ....
. After compliance with tightening emissions regulations became untenable, it was replaced by the more performance-specialized CB1000R. In 2006, Motorcyclist
Motorcyclist (magazine)
Motorcyclist is a motorcycling magazine in the United States. The magazine is headquartered in Los Angeles, and is published by Source Interlink Media. The current Editor in Chief, Brian Catterson, was formerly Executive Editor at rival Cycle World....
recommended used 919s as a good buy, saying of the new bike, "at $7999, it wasn't exactly cheap, and saddled with a coat of flat-black paint called Asphalt, it was less than visually electrifying," however, in the used market it became a great value. In the US market, the 919, like the 599, was expensive, because, being intended for the European market, they were made in Italy, and so had to be imported to the US against unfavorable Euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
exchange rates.
The Daily Telegraph welcomed the new bike, saying, "the new CB900F Hornet leaves your knees in the breeze and your smile full of bugs as it reintroduces you to a feeling of undemanding, rewarding two-wheeled fun that has been missing from the market for a long time. " Comparing it to the Hornet 600, the bike was reminiscent of the standards of the 1970s, sometimes called universal Japanese motorcycles.
Design
The CB900F is powered by a retuned Honda CBR900RRHonda CBR900RR
The Honda CBR900RR, also known as the Fireblade, is a large displacement sport bike introduced in 1992 by Honda. It was the first of the Honda Fireblade models and was designed by Tadao Baba.-CBR900RR:...
engine, developed by Tadao Baba
Tadao Baba
Tadao Baba is a retired Japanese motorcycle engineer, the original designer of the Honda Fireblade.-Career:Baba joined Honda Motorcycles from High School in 1962, aged 18 - the company itself was only 14 years old. Working in the machinery section, he made crankcases and cylinder heads for Honda’s...
, one of Honda's Large Project Leaders. The motor is a transversely mounted, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 919 cc in-line four-stroke, four-cylinder DOHC engine that produces around 100 hp. The engine has cast camshafts and pistons instead of the more expensive forged versions on found on the CBR929 and later
Honda CBR series
The Honda CBR models are a series of sport bikes several of which are marketed as race replicas, having the suffix RR after the engine size designation. With the exception of the single cylinder CBR125 and CBR150, all CBR motorbikes have inline engines...
. For greater midrange torque, the CB900F's camshaft lift is lower, and compression is slightly lowered. Four 36 mm (1.4 in) fuel-injection throttle bodies take the place of the CBR900RR’s 38 mm (1.5 in) carburetors. Redline is 9500 rpm. The bike has a cable-actuated clutch, a six-speed transmission, and a chain final drive.
A steel, square-tube backbone frame supports the engine as a stressed member. In front, a cartridge fork (adjustable beginning in 2004) guides the wheel, while a single Showa shock, adjustable only for preload (and rebound damping beginning in 2004) connects with the aluminum swingarm
Swingarm
A swingarm, or "swinging arm" is the main component of the rear suspension of most modern motorcycles and ATVs...
and carries the weight in back. Its brakes are dual-disc in the front and single-disc in the rear.
Instrumentation consists of an analog speedometer and tachometer and basic indicator lamps, incorporated under a tinted window, and a single tripmeter. While it normally was equipped with a centerstand, California models did not have room for one due to additional emissions control equipment.
The rake is 25°, trail is 98 mm (3.9 in), wheelbase is 1460 mm (57.5 in), and seat height is 800 mm (31.5 in). It has a tested dry weight (minus fuel only) of 455 lb (206.4 kg) and a tested wet weight of 485 lb (220 kg). The chain drive is a 530 chain with stock gearing of 16 tooth front and 43 tooth rear sprockets.
A 599 cc carburetted
Carburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
version exists in the form of the CB600F
Honda CB600F
The Honda CB600F is a standard motorcycle manufactured by Honda. It is powered by a liquid-cooled inline-four engine, originally a detuned version of that in the Honda CBR600 sport bike, which currently produces around...
, known as the Hornet 600 in Europe and the 599 in North America.
Performance
Quarter-mile performance was 11.18 seconds at 120.7 mph (54 m/s) tested by Motorcyclist, while Cycle World measured 10.92 seconds at 123 mph (55 m/s). Having the lowest weight in its class and a good power-to-weight ratio, it stands well in comparison to bikes with greater output like the Yamaha FZ1Yamaha FZ1
The Yamaha FZ1 is a street motorcycle manufactured by Yamaha in Japan. Yamaha also produces a smaller 600 cc version of this motorcycle called the FZ6 and a 800 cc version called the FZ8.-Generation I :...
, and the wide, high handlebars ease quick turning and make cornering enjoyable. The suspension of the early versions was criticized, but after the upgrade to an adjustable fork, the complaints died down. Cycle World
Cycle World
Cycle World is a motorcycling magazine in the United States. It was founded in 1962 by Joe Parkhurst, who was inducted to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame as "the person responsible for bringing a new era of objective journalism" to the U.S. and is now the largest motorcycling magazine in the world...
saw the 919 as a practical solution to the real-world problem of imperfect roads and traffic, rather than a mere compromise between a sportbike and a commuter or touring ride.
External links
- Honda 919 - official press and photo releases
- CB900F(919) Specifications, Honda Australia