Honda Cb1000 Big One Review

Used Buyer Review

The CB1000 Big One is Honda's bruiser from the early 90s that never quite got the respect it deserved. That big air-cooled inline-four pulls hard from low down and sounds properly meaty when you crack it open. It's not sophisticated — there's no fancy electronics here — but that's exactly why people love them. Dead reliable if maintained, and Honda built these things to last forever. Used examples vary wildly. Check the cam chain tensioner religiously — it's the known weak spot and a noisy one will cost you. Forks leak on high-mileage bikes, and these things are heavy enough that worn suspension makes itself known fast. Look for full service history and avoid anything that's been standing for years without being properly recommissioned. Riding one today feels genuinely old-school. Upright position, decent grunt, zero fuss. It won't embarrass you on a twisty road but it won't flatter you either — it's honest in a way modern bikes simply aren't.