1981 Honda CBX 1000 Pro-Link

Honda changed the playing field with the first real multi-cylinder super bike with the CB750 in 1968, and develop the “4” until late in to the 1970s, chasing Kawasaki and Suzuki with increases in capacity and power. However, the firm developed a special project to one side, which could arguably be said to be the ultimate super bike. Six cylinders across the frame, 24 valves and double overhead camshafts, the spec is superfluous. It offered mind-numbing performance and an exhaust note to change the way you think about exhaust notes.

Motorcyclist magazine said of the bike, “The CBX Six demonstrated – once again, and with phenomenal clarity – that Honda could build anything it could imagine. In the process, the CBX reestablished Honda both as motorcycling’s unrivaled performance leader and its undisputed technological visionary.”

The concept of a 6-cylinder bike was not new to the firm. Honda developed hugely successful Grand Prix racers sporting 6-cylinders in the 1960s at the design hand of  Shoichiro Irimajiri.  Irimajiri then developed the 1000cc engine as seen on here. 100bhp+ gave 11-second ¼ mile performance straight from the showroom floor. The original twin shock model was succeeded by the Pro-link model, but after only four years it was retired due to the manufacturing costs.

The motorbike offered

The 1981 Honda CBX 1000 Pro-Link on offer here comes from a small Southern California collection looking to thin the herd. In the stylish dark silver livery, the bike is complete with twin panniers and an aftermarket seat with pillion backrest for comfortable high speed touring. With 47,000 miles on the odometer, the bike is fresh from a basic service to readt it for sale, including a check through the spark and fuel systems with a full carb clean.