Newbie and looking at CBF 1000 tomorrow

[BazzaBingo]

Hi all.

Dont have my CBF yet, going to look at a private sale 2008 tomorrow.  Sounds like its in good nick with loads of extras. 21000 miles on the clock and its just come back from a long tour to Portugal.

Just wondering if there is anything in particular to look out for.  The Stator recently was replaced with Electrex model which I gather is a known issue on some.

Good service history and the owner changes the oil every 2000 miles.

The only thing of concern so far is I dont think the valve clearance check has been done.  Reading some threads on here from a fair few years ago, some are of the opinion it should be done at 16000 miles and some say its a waste of money.  Im thinking maybe I should account for it and get it done but willing to take advice.

It may not be the bike for me but would like to be as prepared as possible.

[marky99925]

Hi Bazza
I bought my mk1 after 7 years with a blackbird which i thought i would never sell, 8 years later it's the best bike i've ever owned. 6 tours around Spain/Portugal with my wife and 1500 miles around scotland in May this year and never had a mechanical other than a tail light bulb in valladolid, so in over 12000 miles abroad i'll settle for that.
You're right about the stator, it's well documented on here, mine failed at 42k this year but changing it was very straightforward and i'm average with the spanners on a good day. Art has posted good stuff about stators and you can see it coming to some extent with regular easy checks. Electrex seem to be the stator of choice so if yours has been done recently with the receipts then you should be ok for a good while anyway. Other than that it's all the checks you would make on any other bike, if there is proof of oil changes every 2k that's a good sign of a careful owner and there is nothing like a decent shed/garage and an inch thick file of receipts.
I had the valve clearances done at both 16 and 32k and no shims needed, but i've got the receipts and the peace of mind, you pays your money etc. It seems a pity to neglect this on an otherwise well looked after bike, why wasn't it done?  And you will have the paperwork when you come to sell it.
I bought mine with 11k on it and now at 43k, ive got to that happy place where i do all the regular stuff on time, (although i only do oil and filter every 4k) and never really think about reliability, what more could you want?
I spent money on Maxton suspension but that's just to indulge an old man's TT fantasies.
The thought of an angry wife at the side of a desert road in Spain tends to focus my mind on servicing if enthusiasm starts to wane..
Its very torquey, detuned fireblade engine, whips up to everyday speeds and i'm comfortable for 300 mile days, im 6ft 2.
I've thought about trading in and recently looked at a versys 1000 but couldn't see what i was gaining for all that money except a newer reg plate, plus the bars felt so high and wide i felt like an extra from Easy Rider.
Only you know what suits you but for me the bike is an unsung hero.
Let us know how you get on

[BazzaBingo]

Originally Posted by marky99925

Hi Bazza
I bought my mk1 after 7 years with a blackbird which i thought i would never sell, 8 years later it's the best bike i've ever owned. 6 tours around Spain/Portugal with my wife and 1500 miles around scotland in May this year and never had a mechanical other than a tail light bulb in valladolid, so in over 12000 miles abroad i'll settle for that.
You're right about the stator, it's well documented on here, mine failed at 42k this year but changing it was very straightforward and i'm average with the spanners on a good day. Art has posted good stuff about stators and you can see it coming to some extent with regular easy checks. Electrex seem to be the stator of choice so if yours has been done recently with the receipts then you should be ok for a good while anyway. Other than that it's all the checks you would make on any other bike, if there is proof of oil changes every 2k that's a good sign of a careful owner and there is nothing like a decent shed/garage and an inch thick file of receipts.
I had the valve clearances done at both 16 and 32k and no shims needed, but i've got the receipts and the peace of mind, you pays your money etc. It seems a pity to neglect this on an otherwise well looked after bike, why wasn't it done?  And you will have the paperwork when you come to sell it.
I bought mine with 11k on it and now at 43k, ive got to that happy place where i do all the regular stuff on time, (although i only do oil and filter every 4k) and never really think about reliability, what more could you want?
I spent money on Maxton suspension but that's just to indulge an old man's TT fantasies.
The thought of an angry wife at the side of a desert road in Spain tends to focus my mind on servicing if enthusiasm starts to wane..
Its very torquey, detuned fireblade engine, whips up to everyday speeds and i'm comfortable for 300 mile days, im 6ft 2.
I've thought about trading in and recently looked at a versys 1000 but couldn't see what i was gaining for all that money except a newer reg plate, plus the bars felt so high and wide i felt like an extra from Easy Rider.
Only you know what suits you but for me the bike is an unsung hero.
Let us know how you get on

Many thanks for that detailed reply Marky.  The owner has many bikes I think and seems a bit meticulous about them but I agree about the Valve check although I just think he is in the camp that reckons it doesnt need doing so early but to be fair to him being a total CBF newbie I asked him are there any faults or things to consider on this bike and he pointed out the Stator and the valve check.  One approach I thought was to perhaps either nock £200 off the asking price (which is I gather is about the going rate for getting them checked) or get him to get it done. 

I chose it because it has the lower seat height setting. Im 5ft 10 but I suffer from really bad Arthritis in the knees (blue badge level) and when we went looking at all sorts of bikes in Lockdown 1 I couldnt get on most of them. Well it was more getting off!  It also looks like it would be good for Pillion and Im a bit rotund so take up a fair bit of space. We tried a BMW f650 with a top box and Mrs D was too scrunched up on it. In the end we settled for a Piaggio BV350 scooter with a Leo Vince exhaust. Dont laugh. Its actually a bit of a hoot but for longer trips it gets a bit tiresome and is always towards the peak of its power if I belt it across the A66 to the Lakes etc.   I just got bored of it really.

[Art]

 

That'll be an SC58 CBF 1000 an excellent choice for a Sports Tourer that ticks many boxes in its class. A big plus for me is the ease in which it can be serviced and maintained at home by the home mechanic without the need of any special tools or diagnostic equipment. If you’re allowed spanners and you haven't already, you may want to download the Honda Workshop and Owners Manuals here.

Some points to look for apart from the usual MOT history, service history, general condition, even tyre wear etc include

Corrosion in the bend of the swinging arm below the shock, in front of the rear wheel and below rear brake fluid reservoir.
Corrosion of the radiator fan bracket, difficult to see because it hides behind a rubber shroud behind the radiator but needs checking because if the bracket fails you'll most likely be looking at replacing the radiator and fan.
Clogging of the radiator fins from road fling especially if there is no front fenda extender is an indication of corner cutting in the maintenance schedule.
How clean is the brake and clutch fluid? There's an inspection window in the handlebar fluid reservoirs and the rear brake reservoir is clear.

Its a 15 year old motorcycle so pay particular attention to the condition of the coolant hoses, brake hoses, brake discs, throttle cables etc. A word of caution oil changes at 2,000 mile intervals are not necessary and in my opinion may be a clue to the owners lack of understanding of service schedule requirements.

Valve clearances can be left, assuming there is no rattling, clanging or banging from the engine. I left my valve clearances check until the 48,000 mile service and then only found 2 exhaust valves slightly tight.

Too much is made of stator failures and not just with the SC58's, I know of too many stators and regulator/rectifiers that have unnecessarily been replaced.

[BazzaBingo]

Originally Posted by Art

That'll be an SC58 CBF 1000 an excellent choice for a Sports Tourer that ticks many boxes in its class. A big plus for me is the ease in which it can be serviced and maintained at home by the home mechanic without the need of any special tools or diagnostic equipment. If you’re allowed spanners and you haven't already, you may want to download the Honda Workshop and Owners Manuals here.

Some points to look for apart from the usual MOT history, service history, general condition, even tyre wear etc include

Corrosion in the bend of the swinging arm below the shock, in front of the rear wheel and below rear brake fluid reservoir.
Corrosion of the radiator fan bracket, difficult to see because it hides behind a rubber shroud behind the radiator but needs checking because if the bracket fails you'll most likely be looking at replacing the radiator and fan.
Clogging of the radiator fins from road fling especially if there is no front fenda extender is an indication of corner cutting in the maintenance schedule.
How clean is the brake and clutch fluid? There's an inspection window in the handlebar fluid reservoirs and the rear brake reservoir is clear.

Its a 15 year old motorcycle so pay particular attention to the condition of the coolant hoses, brake hoses, brake discs, throttle cables etc. A word of caution oil changes at 2,000 mile intervals are not necessary and in my opinion may be a clue to the owners lack of understanding of service schedule requirements.

Valve clearances can be left, assuming there is no rattling, clanging or banging from the engine. I left my valve clearances check until the 48,000 mile service and then only found 2 exhaust valves slightly tight.

Too much is made of stator failures and not just with the SC58's, I know of too many stators and regulator/rectifiers that have unnecessarily been replaced.

Thats really helpful thanks.

Ill take all this info with me today. Going to see it around 2pm.

Im absolutely useless with mechanics and self servicing is just not an option for me really if for no other reason I find it too difficult to get down low and do stuff but I have a couple of local guys that can do most stuff.

Will try and tick through this list, thanks.

[marky99925]

laugh at a big scooter? no chance, i'm sure that's where i'll end up when the CBF gets too much, i know guys who have toured europe on maxi scoots and they seem just so easy to live with, they are everywhere whenever i go to europe, i think it's more fashion/ego that they havent caught on as much over here but that won't bother me.
A helpful drunk driver took my kneecap out years ago so i m totally with you on the comfort thing. My wife had never been on a bike in her life until 7 years ago but now really enjoys it, she has an airhawk but we can do 3 hours trundling around spain between coffee stops without complaint.
Good luck, i've always found the forum very useful, god knows what it's saved me over the years. Even if, as you say, you dont do the work you can get info to diagnose problems.

[BazzaBingo]

Originally Posted by marky99925

laugh at a big scooter? no chance, i'm sure that's where i'll end up when the CBF gets too much, i know guys who have toured europe on maxi scoots and they seem just so easy to live with, they are everywhere whenever i go to europe, i think it's more fashion/ego that they havent caught on as much over here but that won't bother me.
A helpful drunk driver took my kneecap out years ago so i m totally with you on the comfort thing. My wife had never been on a bike in her life until 7 years ago but now really enjoys it, she has an airhawk but we can do 3 hours trundling around spain between coffee stops without complaint.
Good luck, i've always found the forum very useful, god knows what it's saved me over the years. Even if, as you say, you dont do the work you can get info to diagnose problems.

LOL! Cheers. We have two scoots. The BV350 (I refuse to call it a Beverly FFS)  and a brand new Honda Vision (our second one). We carry the little Vision on the back of a motorhome. This summer the little bike did 5000 miles and the old one got toured all over Europe. To be honest we have had more fun on that little bike than any bike I ever had in the past. I just have this yearning for something that we can easily blast a hundred miles or so with ease.  I think its yet another mid life (well Im 56) crisis again.  Mrs D just isnt keen. She loves the little Vision and quite likes the BV350.  Certainly not a nervous passenger but she is dead against this one.  At the moment. She may love it.

[marky99925]

hi, it's the old thing about just cos you have a bigger bike you dont have to go any faster, we spend the tours trundling between little towns at 50 mph, avoiding motorways like the plague, but the bigger bike is more comfortable and if you do have to rush for a ferry etc. you have the power.
Same here, so much fun on little bikes....

[BazzaBingo]

Well we had a look but unfortunately having picked the one day where it wasn't forecast to rain it chucked it down so we never got a ride out on it. Although I did back it out of the drive and ride it back up and the good thing is I got on and off it no bother at all. In fact I might even get away with the seat up on the next level as the right brake felt awkward but it might just want lowering a bit.

Mrs D reluctantly put in an appearance, sat on the back, said it felt ok and then cleared off.

It felt a bit daunting to be honest. Just felt so powerful and big but I want to get out on it and ride it so will go back again when its dry and try again.

I tried to work through the list but didnt really know what I was looking for. It seems to me though that the owner has been pretty meticulous.  He had socks on the forks and rear shock which he showed me underneath and they looked like new, a radiator guard and he showed me the powder coated swing arm which looked fine to me.

Few scuffs and scrapes and I hated the tank bag (apparently its immaculate underneath). he even had dates written on his oil filter and a shelf with old oil filters on for all his bikes with dates on.  So I think there is little doubt he's a proper enthusiast. The large garage was like an Aladdin's cave of bikes of all descriptions and ages.

Dont know if these links of photos will work

[Art]

What you're looking at there is a SC58 CBF1000 A-8, it looks well presented and benefits from the addition of a front fenda extender, rear  hugger, DRL's, after market touring screen, USB and 12v sockets and hand guards etc. I'd be interested to know the make and model of the hand guards and if they've been fitted to the existing bar end weights?

Obviously its not possible judge real life condition from photographs other than it looks tidy and is well presented. If I had to find fault the footrest and gear lever pivots look as if they've never been greased which may be a sign of neglected maintenance but I may just be mentioning that because we've recently been talking grease.

As a private sale I expect it to be priced at around £3,000 give or take, a little more if it came with full luggage.