If you own one of these, then I hope it's nothing like mine was...

**Cruisin' Craig** · 25th January 2008, 15:26

Forum members, meet my old CBX550F. I owned one of these in the early-nineties. I shortly got rid of it because the handling, brakes and general stability were so bad that I thought there was something wrong with it.

Anyway, several bikes and a ten year motorcycling sabbatical later, I decided to get another bike, and was offered another CBX550F (the one pictured) at a very low cost.

Having owned two of them, and finding that the second one was, if anything, worse than the first, I can only conclude that this is the worst motorcycle that I've ever had the misfortune to ride.

As a demonstration, try removing both hands from the bars of this Honda for just a second, and you'll find yourself grabbing the bars again a split second later with your hear skipping a beat as the bike immediately starts going into a tank slapper. Now I can do that with my twenty three year old Suzuki and it just goes straight as an arrow without the tiniest vibration setting in. Now I know we don't all ride around with no hands on the bars, but how do you think a bike that does that is going to handle undulations in the road, or running over a pothole while leaning?

It weighs too much, it's top heavy, it's unstable, the brakes are hard to get at and don't stop well enough, and it's taken me a good few months of riding my Suzuki to get over the fear of leaning that this Honda has given me.

The frustrating thing is, the engine is so absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Power and torque all the way, sounds great, and silky smooth. What a shame they wasted it by putting it in such a terrible chassis!

Big apologies to anyone who owns one. I hope I've just had a couple of dodgy ones and yours is fine. That said, I suspect that if me writing this stops just one of you from ever buying one of these, then me registering with KB forum was a worthwhile exercise.

Cheers all. :-)

**MVnut** · 25th January 2008, 15:29

They're on my 'most dangerous bikes' list

**sidecar bob** · 25th January 2008, 16:08

A very similar flavour to the MVX 250 if anyone can remember that tragic piece of automotive excrement, Every one that was sold new in Tauranga was binned shortly after.
Fortunately, i believe none have survived.

**tri boy** · 25th January 2008, 16:19

If not binned, the centre cyl kept seizing until everyone gave up on them.

**Cruisin' Craig** · 25th January 2008, 16:34

Another motorcycling moment just sprang to mind. I remember riding this thing in really windy conditions, struggling just to stay in my lane on the motorway. My forearms were aching from gripping the handgrips so tightly as I fought to keep the bike pointing roughly in the right direction. Then this bloody Harley rider goes sweeping past me like I'm standing still, and looked to be having ABSOLUTELY ZERO problems with the wind! What's that all about? Wasn't my nice big protective fairing supposed to make ME more comfortable in windy conditions?

Still, in a way that's a point for the CBX 'cos I often had this satisfying feeling of accomlishment just for reaching my destination.

**mitchilin** · 25th January 2008, 17:31

Originally Posted by sidecar bob

A very similar flavour to the MVX 250 if anyone can remember that tragic piece of automotive excrement, Every one that was sold new in Tauranga was binned shortly after.
Fortunately, i believe none have survived.

You poor bastard.

I tried to test ride one when I was young and got told by the salesman "nah it's to fast for you, sonny ".I stank of "uni student".I fucking laugh now!

**sidecar bob** · 25th January 2008, 17:47

Originally Posted by mitchilin

You poor bastard.

I tried to test ride one when I was young and got told by the salesman "nah it's to fast for you, sonny ".I stank of "uni student".I fucking laugh now!

Oh no, i never owned one, i was quietly observing from the safety of a '71 CB750 4.

**lb99** · 25th January 2008, 17:51

Originally Posted by Cruisin' Craig

Forum members, meet my old CBX550F. I owned one of these in the early-nineties. I shortly got rid of it because the handling, brakes and general stability were so bad that I thought there was something wrong with it.

Anyway, several bikes and a ten year motorcycling sabbatical later, I decided to get another bike, and was offered another CBX550F (the one pictured) at a very low cost.

Having owned two of them, and finding that the second one was, if anything, worse than the first, I can only conclude that this is the worst motorcycle that I've ever had the misfortune to ride.

As a demonstration, try removing both hands from the bars of this Honda for just a second, and you'll find yourself grabbing the bars again a split second later with your hear skipping a beat as the bike immediately starts going into a tank slapper. Now I can do that with my twenty three year old Suzuki and it just goes straight as an arrow without the tiniest vibration setting in. Now I know we don't all ride around with no hands on the bars, but how do you think a bike that does that is going to handle undulations in the road, or running over a pothole while leaning?

It weighs too much, it's top heavy, it's unstable, the brakes are hard to get at and don't stop well enough, and it's taken me a good few months of riding my Suzuki to get over the fear of leaning that this Honda has given me.

The frustrating thing is, the engine is so absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Power and torque all the way, sounds great, and silky smooth. What a shame they wasted it by putting it in such a terrible chassis!

Big apologies to anyone who owns one. I hope I've just had a couple of dodgy ones and yours is fine. That said, I suspect that if me writing this stops just one of you from ever buying one of these, then me registering with KB forum was a worthwhile exercise.

Cheers all. :-)

I have a CBX400 and it has sweet handling (for its age) although it only has a single inbord disc on the frint, so the wheel assy is a lot lighter than the 550.
I find the you have to be religious with the air pressure in the forks and tyres, it makes all the difference.
Zero problems with wind (blows like fuck here) but I dont have that uglyass fairing to act as a sail on mine, heres a pic.

**sidecar bob** · 25th January 2008, 18:00

.............

**Smokin** · 25th January 2008, 18:01

Sounds just like an old XZ550 I had, Bloody horrible it was.

**MVnut** · 25th January 2008, 18:28

And there are people selling bikes like these now saying they are classics n wanting big money for em. My theory is 'if it was crap when it was new, it's still crap (just older crap)

**Wiki Drifter** · 25th January 2008, 18:43

Originally Posted by Cruisin' Craig

What's that all about? Wasn't my nice big protective fairing supposed to make ME more comfortable in windy conditions?

they act like great big bloody sails with side winds. I got a rude shock when riding in Welly, wasn't used to having the bike shifting lanes by itself

**Jiminy** · 25th January 2008, 20:17

Originally Posted by Cruisin' Craig

Then this bloody Harley rider goes sweeping past me like I'm standing still, and looked to be having ABSOLUTELY ZERO problems with the wind! (...) Still, in a way that's a point for the CBX 'cos I often had this satisfying feeling of accomlishment just for reaching my destination.

Let's face it: it's for those moments that you ride, isn't? Now you're gonna tell us you've just bought another one to live again through those glorious moments. You wouldn't even consider a comfortable bike, now, would ya?

Btw, how jealous were you of the HD rider?

Welcome on KB, Cruisin' Craig

**Cruisin' Craig** · 25th January 2008, 20:32

Originally Posted by Jiminy

Let's face it: it's for those moments that you ride, isn't? Now you're gonna tell us you've just bought another one to live again through those glorious moments. You wouldn't even consider a comfortable bike, now, would ya?

Btw, how jealous were you of the HD rider?

Welcome on KB, Cruisin' Craig

Thankyou for the welcome Jiminy.

I've got three things to say:

1) While I understand you are being tongue in cheek there, that's actually a really solid point about the reason we ride. It's often all to easy to get caught up in wanting better brakes, more grip, lighter chassis and more power, and hence losing track of where the real pleasure comes from.

2) That logic only works to a point however, and there ain't no way I'm getting another one of those dodgy handling pieces of rubbish. (Although that engine in a better handling frame would be marvelous. But then they did that didn't they. It's called a CBR600).

3) Third (and somewhat off-topic) a friend of mine has recently bought an M50 and gave me a ride on it. That is one good handling, smooth riding sweet running piece of comfort on wheels you have there! :-)