Honda CBF1000

If you’re looking for an all-rounder with lots of comfort, optional luggage, upright riding position and a blend of power and handling that makes road riding that little bit easier, then the CBF1000 is a bike worth considering.

With an engine taken from the CBR1000RR, detuned and softened slightly, plus a nimble-handling chassis which features excellent brakes, the CBF1000 is so easy to ride that it could almost make an ideal first timers machine.

Alastair Walker rode the CBF1000 for a week.

One thing about Honda motorcycles, you generally know what to expect.

For decades now the world´s biggest motorcycle producer has been turning out well finished, easy-to-ride motorcycles, which have been aimed fair and square at the mainstream biker. Models like the CB250 Superdream, the CB750 KO of the late 60s and the even the Fireblade, were all designed to appeal to as many people, within a certain age range, or market segment, as humanly possible.

That´s still true today and machines like the CBF1000 prove that Honda are able to blend a successful formula. The CBF1000 may look a tad dull to some riders, but the way it performs is effortless, accomplished and ultimately very satisfying to ride. And it costs just six grand - bargain.

The heart of the bike is the CBR1000RR motor, but in a much softer state of tune, producing a claimed 96bhp at just 8000rpm. That´s lower than many multi cylinder bikes and as you might guess, the CBF1000 has plenty of midrange grunt and doesn´t need its slick 6 speed gearbox stirring as often as a sportbike would.

The motor breathes via Honda´s PGM fuel injection system, which has been around since the late 90s, when it appeared on the Blackbird. It is highly refined and there wasn´t a trace of snatchiness, or `surging´ that you might have got on some injected machines. The only fault I could level at the digital fuelling is that it seems to starve the motor at low rpm a little bit, making it a tad sluggish off the line initially (it´s not as bad as the GSR600 Suzy in this regard, but jumping onto my own 1998 VFR800 after the CBF1000 I couldn´t noticing how much more immediate, more raw, the throttle response was) the late 90s generation of bikes were the best for road riding in so many ways I think, not everything about modern motorcycles is genuine progress. Like old Fazer 600 vs new FZ6 for example, if you´ve ridden both you´ll know what I mean.

Grace under pressure

Once rolling the Honda CBF1000 loses its 220 kilo weight quickly and you find yourself thrumming through traffic, hustling around roundabouts etc with a very fluid, relaxed riding style. You sit up straight on the bike, the fairing takes most of the breeze off your shoulders and the transmission is just brilliant to use. It is very much a `Big Brother´ to the CBF600, and in some ways you could argue that the big litre model is still a decent `first timers´ bike.

The saddle has three positions to choose from, its height is just 795mm, the mirrors are set wide enough to see exactly what´s going on behind you and the brakes, even without ABS, are outstanding. You could despatch on the CBF1000 - it is an `all day´ motorcycle. Or tour Germany before next Friday.

So yes, I was impressed with the CBF1000 by the time I got back to Chester from Slough, which it almost did on one full tank of fuel by the way. The CBF1000 has a 19 litre capacity, another practical touch.

The luggage fitted was handy, although the top case had a fiddly lock and needed care to close it properly. The panniers were roomy, had inner straps and QD as well; one turn of the key and they unlocked from the bike. Easy.

The model tested had pillion grab handles, which looked Blacksmith forged, but had the benefit of being big `n´ beefy - you could ask George Foreman to ride pillion sure in the knowledge that his huge hands would fit the handles OK - he might grill some tasty sausages when you got home too.

The only area where the Honda is less than perfect is in its handling, which is compromised a little bit by the slightly soft suspension and the adapted CBF600 frame. On A roads, or motorways, the big Honda is fine, but once you push the bike a bit on bumpy B roads, its front end gets squishy and there´s no adjustment on the forks, so you have to live with it. The bike´s weight seems to `load up´ the CBF1000 when you brake hard then try and shift direction rapidly. But let´s be fair here, overall the CBF1000 offers a really nice ride overall, and in truth, you don´t expect firm, racetrack suspension on a budget all-rounder like this, this is a completely different animal to the CBR1000RR. You have to ride accordingly.

Details and Decisions

The linked brakes fitted to Honda machines are one of those solutions in search of a problem aren´t they? Bit like BMW´s separate indicator switches. Honda keep on with CBS braking, where the rear brake is actuated a little bit when the front comes on, but you don´t notice it. Mind you, as a VFR owner I´m used to it now and have only locked the rear a couple of times in the wet...

If you want it, there´s ABS braking, which is another 300 notes - perhaps that model would be the best choice for a novice rider, assuming they could afford the insurance on a 1000cc bike.

Big questions then; Is it worth the money, better than a Fazer, or more versatile than a BMW R1200GS? Well, yes the Honda is undeniable value at 6K on the road. The dashboard, the paintwork, the seating - it all oozes quality. Better than a big Fazer, or perhaps a 1200cc Bandit? Hmm, I don´t know, all big 1000-1400cc naked roadster fours are similar in terms of useable performance. I think that bikes like the GSX1400, XJR1300 or Kawasaki Z1000 all look much sharper, more distinctive than the Honda, which is bland to the point of being a despatch rider´s tool.

But styling is all personal taste, so if the looks of the CBF1000 please you, then you should get a test ride on one, because you´ll probably love it. Me, I prefer the raw grunt of a Speed Triple, the berserk Supermoto experience of the Aprilia Tuono, the retro cool of a Ducati GT1000 or the quirky charm of the BMW R1150GS. To me, those are bikes with real soul, a capacity for inspiring devotion from the owner.

The CBF1000 is terrific to ride, but for me, it´s about as inspirational as cold toast. It just lacks a bit of fire, drama, and raucous aggression - those were attributes which nearly every big 1000cc bike had when I was young. I guess that many leisure bikers will disagree with me, but that´s fine - having ridden many big roadster bikes I know this is one of the best around. It´s just not quite perfect for me.

Get Honda motorbike insurance for the honda cbf1000.

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