Honda CB1000F
- 1,000 cc
- 91 kW
- 1 variant
- 8 models from 124 to 1084 cc
- Cruisers: Rebel 1100 and Rebel 500
- Scrambler: CL500 with 34.3 kW
- DCT on the Rebel 1100, E-Clutch on the Rebel 500
- A1: Monkey, Dax ST125, Super Cub C125
- CB1000F with 91 kW in the style of the CB750F
Custom bike, cruiser, café racer, scrambler: the styles
Many riders group several styles under the term retro. Custom motorcycles and cruisers sit low, have relaxed handlebars and stand for leisurely cruising rather than lap times. At Honda, the Rebel range embodies this style.
A scrambler is a road motorcycle in the style of early off-road motorcycles. In 1962 Honda launched its first road scrambler, the CL72, and the CL500 follows on from it. Café racers stand for slim, sporty classics – an idea taken up by the Neo Sports Café design of the CB650R. Classic roadsters are the CB1000F and GB350S.
Choosing a classic bike: licence, handling and seating position
Which retro and custom motorcycle suits you depends first on your licence. For subcategory A1, the Monkey, Dax ST125 and Super Cub C125 are options, all with 124 cc. Rebel 500 (CMX500), CL500 and GB350S can be ridden with restricted category A – the class called A2 in EU countries. For the CB1000F and Rebel 1100 (CMX1100) you need category A.
Many retro models are low and easy to handle. For the GB350S, Honda mentions a low seat height, low weight and a low centre of gravity, and the Rebel 500 has a lowered design. This makes manoeuvring easier, as well as getting back into riding after a long break. With the cult models, note the small tanks: the Dax ST125 holds 3.8 litres, the Super Cub C125 3.7 litres.
On the Rebel 1100, Honda has made the seating position more relaxed: the handlebars sit higher and closer to the rider, the footpegs further forward and the seat 10 mm higher. This is intended to bring more comfort and safety.
Honda classics, cruisers and cult models at a glance
The CB1000F brings back the lines of the CB750F: round headlight, muscular tank, 1000 cc and 91 kW. The Rebel 1100 (CMX1100) is the large cruiser with a twin-cylinder engine, 1084 cc and 65 kW; it is available with dual clutch transmission (DCT) and as a Touring version. The Rebel 500 (CMX500) brings the custom style to the mid-range with a twin-cylinder engine, 471 cc and 34 kW, also with Honda E-Clutch.
The CL500 is the scrambler of the range: a robust, compact chassis and a twin-cylinder engine with 471 cc and 34.3 kW. The GB350S is a retro roadster with an air-cooled single-cylinder engine (348 cc, 15.5 kW) and wide handlebars, made for town and weekend tours.
The Monkey (124 cc, 6.9 kW) is so compact that, according to Honda, it even fits on the back of a motorhome. The Dax ST125 is a child of the 1960s, now with more power and an improved frame, suspension and brakes. The Super Cub C125 is the current edition of a retro-style scooter that has existed for more than 60 years, with an air-cooled engine and 7.2 kW.
The models also show character in their engines: according to Honda, the GB350S has its own beat and a distinctive sound, the Dax ST125 an eager-revving engine and light steering. The CL500 invites you to customise it to your own taste, and the Super Cub C125 has stood for user-friendliness, economy and durability for decades.
Test ride, getting back into riding and courses
With retro models in particular, feel is decisive: seating position, sound and weight. Whether the cruiser posture or the upright roadster position suits you better becomes clear on a test ride at Honda Motorrad Zürich, Honda's official partner in the region.
After a long break, a course helps you get back into riding. The MX-Academy has dedicated offers for female beginners and women returning to riding; riding takes place off the road, so no licence is required. The taster course and the complete packages come with a rental motorcycle and protective clothing.
Frequently asked questions: Retro and custom motorcycle
What counts as a retro motorcycle?
A motorcycle that takes up style features of earlier decades – such as a round headlight, a classic tank or simple lines – and combines them with current technology. These include roadsters, cruisers, custom bikes, scramblers and café racers.
Which Honda cruisers are there?
The Rebel 1100 (CMX1100) with 1084 cc and 65 kW for category A and the Rebel 500 (CMX500) with 34 kW for restricted category A. The large Rebel is also available with DCT and as a Touring version, the small one also with E-Clutch.
Is the CL500 a scrambler?
Yes. Honda places the CL500 in the tradition of the 1962 CL72, the brand's first road scrambler. It has a twin-cylinder engine with 471 cc and 34.3 kW and thus stays below the limit of restricted category A.
Which classics can be ridden with subcategory A1?
Monkey, Dax ST125 and Super Cub C125. All three have 124 cc; holders of restricted category A or category A may also ride them.
Do I need a driving licence for an MX-Academy course?
No. The courses take place on closed-off grounds, where no licence is asked for. You are provided with a rental motorcycle and protective clothing in the taster course just as in the complete packages.