Honda CBR1000F. I have owned 30 motorcycles over three decades, and i thought i may write somekind of blog about every one of them. Let's see how it goes.

Honda CBR1000F, the ultimate classic sport-touring bike. I have owned two. First one was that upper red one, 1991 model, originally sold in Finland when new. Odometer showed 70 000km, and i think it was on it's third way around, brake discs were badly worn out. Bike was pretty worn overall, alternator chain was very noisy and first gear slipped off under hard acceleration sometimes, and clutch kept slipping occasionally no matter i gave it new plates and tougher springs. Front end also vibrated uncomfortably above the ton. I still rode it over 10 000km though. Basic engine was still pretty sound, started fine and ran fine. I dismantled the upper fairing and repainted it to cover the sunburnt original color. It was rideable but not a rose anymore. Ixil racing can gave it quite spirited growl, and Corbin seat was comfortable.

Lower second CBR1000F i own now was imported from Germany 2007. It's 1993 model, last production batch before linked brakes and newer fairing. Odometer says 80 000km, and i dare to suspect it is on it's first way around, using the brake discs as indicator, example. Bike is pretty neat and feels still tight, stiff like new ones do. Camchain and tensioner has been replaced last year. Alternator chain gives some rattle when taking off from standstill, but is otherwise still quiet. Sixth gear made some noise when i bought it, but the noise has since surprisingly disappeared. Overall the bike is still in pretty damn good condition, likely because it's german import, which usually means low miles and good care. Alternator chain has to be replaced pretty soon if you want to keep it super quiet, purring like Honda. It is totally stock, original. Plastics are still very nice.

They don't make bikes like CBR1000F anymore. On CBR1000F Honda found perfect balance between the sport and touring. There are few things wrong, like cam chain tensioner and alternator chain tensioner, but so many things are just right. Riding position is very good, engine power band is very mid-rangey, and it looks great. Engine gives you a feeling of the engine that's cylinder head and cams are made to optimize mid-range flow. Red line is at 10500rpm, and it starts to run bit out of breath above the 9000rpm. It's not eager to scream on red. It pulls like a bull between 6000 and 9000rpm. That's where you stay when you want to ride it hard. It's not like the old GPZ900R, that just wants to scream it's heart out, it's mid-rangey bulldozer. Bit like turbo-diesel car engine. It's not super fast, but it feels muscular, powerful like some old american V8 car. A great big bike feel.

Honda CBR1000F is a motorcycle made for grown-up man. For a man between 40-60 years old.
It is heavy. European model of this year is 273kg wet. 50kg more than GPZ900R example. A man over sixty may feel his powers are not enough anymore to handle it on parking lots etc. Do not ever let it get it's head. It is very hard bike to pull on center stand, with that worn 180/55 rear tire that everybody uses on these and with old slightly compressed suspension. You have to give it all you've got. With new, stock tires it's propably bit easier. A man under forty may not respect it's touring nature enough. It's quite front heavy, eats more front tire than the rear. Not a bike for wheelies.

It's fairing says proudly SUPER SPORT, but it's not really, expecially by modern standards. It's a grand touring machine, a mile-eater, gentlemanly sport. Think about old Jaguar or Aston Martin. It's a sport-touring bike. It's not a touring-touring bike, it's not a sport-sport bike. Inbetweener. The frame is pretty unique design, a mix of old and new. It has modern E-box design and shape like Kawasaki's of the period, but it's steel! A modern E-box frame made of good old steel. That's where it's bulk comes, it is rigid like baserock. You can carry a buffalo and not notice. This type of frame also gives it very good cornering qualities in my opinion. It's a bike that feels at home on high lean angles. It's rock steady on high speed curves. It's one of those few bikes that make you lose your chicken strips without trying on lone country roads, it makes you confident. A perfect combination of sport and touring.

And a third one! I bought this a month ago. It's the best one of three i have had hands down. Engine runs sweet cold and warm without any rattles, and power is still there all the way. It does 250km/h with ease very rapidly. It would do more given a chance. My first two did not, they started to struggle above the 220 km/h. Clutch slipped a bit when i bought it. I replaced the clutch plates with Barnett kevlar plates and it grabs so well now it actually does not disengage completely well, neutral is sometimes bit hard to find but it's no biggie and i guess it goes away when those new plates start to wear. Kevlar plates rock, they grab like a hungry wolf. I did 4000km in a month with it now. Dual brakes are bit weird, i would prefer old conservative system.

And ladies and gentlemen, fourth one! Now i have to slow down. I will try to museum-register this one in spring.