Alright, let me tell you about my time with the Honda CBX Super Sport. It wasn’t just some bike I bought; it was more like chasing a ghost for a while.
I first heard that sound, you know, the six-cylinder howl, way back. Probably at some vintage bike meet or maybe just roaring past me on the highway. It stuck in my head. Not like anything else on two wheels. Sounded more like an old F1 car than a motorcycle. For years, it was just this cool thing I knew existed, this unicorn bike.
Getting the Itch
Then, maybe five, six years ago, I got the real itch. Sold off a bike I wasn’t riding much, had some cash burning a hole in my pocket. Started properly looking. Man, finding a decent CBX, one that hadn’t been messed with too much or wasn’t just a pile of rust, that was tough. Scoured classifieds, old forums, asked around. Most were either museum pieces asking crazy money or total basket cases needing everything.
Found one eventually. Not perfect, mind you. Bit rough around the edges. Paint wasn’t original, had some questionable aftermarket bits bolted on. But the core was there. The engine turned over, and crucially, it wasn’t seized. The guy selling it, older fella, knew what he had but also knew it needed work he couldn’t do anymore. We haggled a bit, shook hands, and I trailered it home. Felt like I’d captured something wild.
Living with the Legend
First thing was getting it running right. And let me tell you, six carbs… six. Synchronizing them is an art form, or maybe a dark magic ritual. Took me ages, lots of fiddling, lots of reading old manuals I dug up online, lots of cursing in the garage. But when they finally lined up? Oh man.
- That engine smoothness is unreal. Like electric, almost, but with this deep growl building underneath.
- The sound… yeah, it’s everything they say. Nothing beats winding it out on an open road.
- It’s heavy, no doubt. Feels like a tank maneuvering it around the garage. But once moving, it carries its weight pretty well.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Parts are a nightmare. Some stuff you just can’t find. Had to get creative a few times, modify things, haunt eBay for weeks hoping something would pop up. Found a mechanic eventually who actually remembered working on these back in the day, thank goodness. He saved my bacon more than once. Cost me a fair bit, keeping it on the road. It’s not a cheap bike to own, not by a long shot.
The Ride is the Thing
Despite the headaches, every time I took it out, it was special. People would stare, ask questions at gas stations. Bikers would give nods of respect. It felt good. It wasn’t the fastest thing compared to modern bikes, not the best handling either. But the experience? Totally unique. It’s got character dripping from every fin on that massive engine.
I remember one long trip, up the coast. Just me and the bike. Had a small issue with the charging system, had to limp into a small town and rig a fix with some basic tools. Part of the adventure, right? Made getting home feel even better.
Did I keep it? Nah, sold it a couple of years back. Needed the space, needed the funds for another project. Sometimes I regret it, especially when I hear a bike that sounds almost like it. But I had my time with the legend. Went through the hassle, enjoyed the ride, learned a ton. It was a proper experience, owning that CBX. Glad I did it.