FAQ

This page is for frequently asked questions about the CB Custom motorcycles made by Honda in the late 70s and the early 80s.  The questions and answers contained herein are compiled from monitoring the Yahoo CB900 / CB1000 club which is linked below.

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How does the dual range transmission work and when is it OK to shift it?

The transmission can be shifted at any time when you pull the clutch, just like the normal transmission.  Generally, riders tend to use the subtranny like a 6th gear -- they start the bike moving in low range and 1st gear.  Then the rider shifts up through the gears to 5th gear and then click the subtranny into high range.  The subtranny is then generally left in high range until then bike is brought to a complete stop, although it is possible to launch the bike from a stop while in 1st gear and high range.

Common post: "I am looking for plastic sidecovers for my CB Custom"

No kidding, we all are.  The engineers at Honda didn't exactly think the mounting of these things through real well before producing the bike.  The things break easily during removal and installation and have a tendency to blow off in the wind while riding.  They aren't cheap to buy new from Honda, scarce in good condition used, and non-existent in the aftermarket.

My fork and handle bars vibrate or wobble at about 40MPH -- what's wrong?

This is a common occurance on this bike.  No one has been able to nail down exactly one definite cause for the problem.  Possible causes that have been investigated are: loose bolts, etc. on the triple clamps or the fork; bad bearings where the fork rotates on the frame; imbalanced tire and wheel.  The best explanation may be that the vibration is inherent to the bike just based upon the design of it.  It seems as though a lot of bike have this problem and no one seems to be able to nail down a cause...all the makings of natural frequency resonance.