The International CBX Owners Association

The shocks on my restoration project bike are finished as the shock shafts are heavily corroded. I’ve read several posts on the forum that the CB1100F shocks work well and have a good spring rate for the CBX although the brake stay arm needs to be lengthened.

There is a pair listed by a parting out seller on eBay. Thoughts on if these would be worth the trouble to clean up/paint? I don’t believe they can be rebuilt.

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1983-83-HONDA- ... %7Ciid%3A1

shiskowd wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 13, 2020 9:12 am

The shocks on my restoration project bike are finished as the shock shafts are heavily corroded. I’ve read several posts on the forum that the CB1100F shocks work well and have a good spring rate for the CBX although the brake stay arm needs to be lengthened.

There is a pair listed by a parting out seller on eBay. Thoughts on if these would be worth the trouble to clean up/paint? I don’t believe they can be rebuilt.

It's a toss up whether they are functional, the only true test is to have them off the bike, fully compress them by hand then release them, if you hear a wooshing sound of the oil moving through the valves and reservoir, they should be okay internally!

Why would you want to spend any money on a shock that is a) 40 years old and b) just marginally better than what you have.
During all my life with the CBX (since 1978) I have never understood the obsession of some people with slapping on CB1100F parts on a CBX
One of the past ICOA Presidents/National Directors took this to the extreme and he and some of his close friends were big fans of CB1100F stuff.
Shocks, front forks and wheels. Swingarms. Always wondered why they didn't change the engine...

There are so many decent shocks available there for relatively little money and there are new.

shiskowd wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 13, 2020 9:12 am

The shocks on my restoration project bike are finished as the shock shafts are heavily corroded. I’ve read several posts on the forum that the CB1100F shocks work well and have a good spring rate for the CBX although the brake stay arm needs to be lengthened.

IIRC The brake stay arm doesn't need to be modified to use CB1100F shocks on a CBX, only if you're using the CB1100F swingarm and wider rim.
The eyelet grommets for the CB1100F shocks are still available through Honda if they are worn out.

EMS wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 13, 2020 4:14 pm

There are so many decent shocks available there for relatively little money and there are new.

I just want to find something that works. I've spent lots of hours and $$ sorting out suspensions on high end dual sport bikes and rarely does anything work properly out of the box. A 40 year old 550lb street bike is a different beast but I won't want an over sprung, over dampened (the general rule) setup that detracts the bikes potential. There's an IKON distributor close by who caters to vintage restorers, I'll see what they can come up with.

You only have a week or so before it closes but i would contact the guys at Restocycle for info on the Ikon line.
https://www.restocycle.com/

Yep, the high-end Ikons are great for the CBX. Just put a pair on my '79. Agree that buying old shocks is a crap shoot. When new(er) the 1100F shocks were indeed a huge upgrade over the stock US and Canada version rear shocks. I've put quite a few sets on various CBXs. Still have a couple of excellent sets here.

Unless you mount the shocks backward (OK, but looks a bit funky), you DO have to lengthen the brake arm so the shock reservoir clears the caliper. I've cut a small section from a junker stock arm and welded it in the middle of the arm I was using. Looks exactly stock and works fine.

Overall, I'd advise buying something modern, Ikons being top of the list.

Dave

daves79x wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 14, 2020 9:44 am

Yep, the high-end Ikons are great for the CBX. Just put a pair on my '79.

...Ikons being top of the list.

Dave - which model would you suggest, the 7610 or 7614?

I have the 7610 and am quite pleased with them. They don't look that far from stock, but work just excellently.

Dave

I had a set of icon installed and I am loving them !