Amid the global Coronavirus pandemic, Honda was forced to change its plans and reveal its new CB-F Concept motorcycle in a show that existed entirely online as a ‘virtual motorcycle show’.
The new Honda CB-F Concept has been presented purely as a preview of what might be coming in the near to medium term, although the Japanese firm is not being drawn on when or even if this bike might make it to production. Honda is one of the few manufacturers without a strong heritage range and, as past Honda concept bikes have surfaced in the showrooms a few years later, including what eventually turned out to be the X-ADV and CB1000R, there’s a good chance that the concept gives an insight into the Big H’s future plans.
The CB-F Concept is a retro-modern take on the CB Series; which reached its sixth decade last year since the original Honda CB750F was shown for the first time.
The new concept clearly harks back to the Honda CB900F raced by Freddie Spencer which, thanks to being raced in the American AMA Superbike Series in the late 1970s and early 1980s, became an iconic bike for Honda.
While the styling has one foot in the past, the engineering of the bike is firmly rooted in the present with a 998cc, water-cooled, four-valve, inline four-cylinder DOHC motor used in the current Honda CB1000R model.
That modern engineering means around 140bhp and the same rider aids as the standard Honda CB1000R which has the usual ABS, rider modes and traction control expected on modern motorcycles.
The CB-F Concept’s chassis is a lightweight, high-tensile steel mono-backbone structure.
Honda’s press release explains: “The CB-F Concept is the result of revisiting the CB series’ history, which reached its sixth decade last year, and thoroughly exploring what to preserve, and what to evolve with the company’s flagship sports bike.
“Its 998cc water-cooled, four-stroke, four-valve, inline four-cylinder DOHC engine eases through its rev-range and provides ample torque. Its inverted front fork suspension provides excellent road-holding capabilities over urban and winding roads alike, and realizes a superior riding feel. The rear suspension is a lightweight aluminium single-sided Pro-Arm configuration.”
This concept bike was planned to be launched at the 36th Osaka Motorcycle Show 2020 and the 47th Tokyo Motorcycle Show but with the global Coronavirus pandemic being battled across the world, large gatherings have been banned in many countries so a virtual bike show was run instead.
Who is Freddie Spencer?
American racer Freddie Spencer was one of greatest racers of the 1980s.
Born in Louisiana, like many Americans he started out racing on the dirt tracks before switching to the asphalt. As a teenager, he was signed to Honda America’s factory superbike team, and gave the brand its first win in the series in 1980.
In that same year he came to international prominence when he defeated both Barry Sheene and Kenny Roberts, then the top two riders in the world, at Brands Hatch in the Transatlantic Trophy, a summer race series featuring teams of riders from the UK and the USA.
In 1981 he stayed with Honda and raced in the British 500cc Grand Prix at Silverstone alongside his American commitments, although his four-stroke NR500 was no match for the two-stroke competition. The following season saw Honda make the move to two-strokes, with the three-cylinder NS500, and he became a full-time Grand Prix rider. He won twice and finished third in the championship, becoming the youngest ever premier class race winner at the time.
A monumental 1983 season saw Freddie take his first championship, defeating Roberts by two points, although he wasn’t able to successfully defend his title as he worked to develop Honda’s fierce four-cylinder NSR500 in 1984.
Spencer is probably best remembered for his 1985 season, when he took on both the 250cc and 500cc championships and dominated both – making him the first, and only, rider to win the two classes in the same year.
That success did not come without consequence though, and he would not stand on a Grand Prix podium again. Spencer started two just Grands Prix in 1986 but failed to score a point as he suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome. After missing most of the 1987 season, he took a year out in 1988 and had a mediocre comeback season in 1989, riding for old rival Roberts’ Yamaha team before retiring again after a mid-season dismissal.
Some respectable years in the AMA American superbike championship in the early 1990s led to a final attempt at 500s with Yamaha France in 1993.
A practice crash in the opening round in Australia saw the then 31-year-old miss the first 10 rounds of the championship, and the comeback lasted just two more races before a crash in practice for his home round at Laguna Seca brought an ignominious end to a once glorious career.
Following his (final) retirement from racing, Spencer set up a highly regarded riding school. These days he lives in London and attends all MotoGP races as chairman of the stewards panel.
