Honda have been making big 1000cc bikes for a few years now, but this latest model fuses the highly civilised Fireblade engine with a sweet-handling chassis that lets the rider relax and simply get on with the job of having lots of fun.
The motor is detuned from its Fireblade spec of course, but still produces 96bhp at relatively low revs. It has more torque than the average big four cylinder bike, so you can trundle along in top gear and whiz past traffic without changing down a gear if you feel like it. That said, the six speed gearbox is one of the best features about this bike, and just so easy to operate.
You soon feel at home on the CBF1000 and the way it steers and stops encourages you to hustle along A roads, but in an understated kind of way. The CBF1000 weighs 220kgs dry, but it carries that weight very well, and you can move the bike around with ease.
The model I tested was equipped with top case and panniers, so you could tour on this machine, commute, or just go steady along some country lanes. The bike also has two huge grab handles so the pillion will feel safe.
The CBF1000 has a well laid out dashboard, with a clock included, and an immobiliser as standard. It comes with a two year warranty and costs £6000, or £6300 for the ABS braking version. I reckon that's top value for something this well made and so easy to ride - apart from its `Plain Jane styling the CBF1000 is an amazing motorcycle. More at www.honda.co.uk
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