The Forgotten Four
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics|August 2019

40 years on from its debut, our old mukka Jon Bentman —returned to CMM — argues that the Honda CB900FZ deserves full icon status...

Jon Bentman
The Forgotten Four

Happy 40th anniversary Honda CB900F! Yep, this time 40 years ago, the CB900F was the new king. Not that then, as now, everyone was ready to admit that, but most definitely when the CB900F arrived in 1979 it raised the bar for superbike performance, significantly if not massively.

Whether there’s anything new to add to the story of the CB900F… well, there probably isn’t. But how we tell the story, how we place the participants, how we interpret the facts, the details – there, arguably, we have an opportunity to look at the story again. And we should, for it seems this amazing bike hasn’t entirely been accorded the respect it deserves, and it was a game changer.

So how did the CB900F change the superbike world in 1979? In two ways: Firstly, it was the first 16-valve four-cylinder production bike (although not the first four-valve per cylinder Honda, as the CBX1000 was that, all 20 valves of it, in 1978) – opening the door to a whole new level of engine performance. And secondly, it brought a new level of chassis integrity and handling. Nine kilos lighter than the nearest opposition (Suzuki GS1000) it took the GS’s revered stability and added superior agility.

Now it’s sometimes reported that the CB900F evolved from the works RCB endurance racers that dominated the Coupe d’Endurance series in the 1970s (probably on account that Honda claimed exactly that in their advertising). But that’s not exactly true, for the RCBs really were hand-built works racers that featured perimeter-type frames that wrapped around the engine, while the engines – in a constant state of development – featured gear-driven primary drive and gear-and-chain driven cams, and alternators positioned behind the engine block (as with the CBX1000).

This story is from the August 2019 edition of Classic Motorcycle Mechanics.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the August 2019 edition of Classic Motorcycle Mechanics.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE MECHANICSView All
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Honda VFR750R - RC30

If there’s a more worshipped V4 out there, we’ve yet to see it: welcome to our reboot of the awesome VFR750R RC30…

time-read
2 mins  |
September 2021
Mountain tension!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Mountain tension!

Award-winning motorcycle engineer!

time-read
5 mins  |
September 2021
Fazer set to STUN!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Fazer set to STUN!

What do you get when you mix CRK’s lovely café racer kit to Yamaha’s budget middleweight and the recently-retired Martin Fox? Well, one helluva foxy Fazer!

time-read
6 mins  |
September 2021
Project Suzuki 1984 RG250 part 4 BRUNO BARES ALL!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Project Suzuki 1984 RG250 part 4 BRUNO BARES ALL!

This month, while we wait for backorder engine parts, we strip the chassis back to the bare frame, assess what is needed and plan the reassembly…

time-read
6 mins  |
September 2021
Project Kawasaki Z900 Stocker part 2 Ralph has a blast!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Project Kawasaki Z900 Stocker part 2 Ralph has a blast!

For the best finish on his Z900’s motor Ralph wants the best, so he visits Stephen Smethurst Casting Renovation to find out how it’s done properly.

time-read
10 mins  |
September 2021
Project Suzuki TS400 Part 8 Loom with a view!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Project Suzuki TS400 Part 8 Loom with a view!

We’re getting down into the nitty-gritty this time with component testing and loom building. What could go wrong?

time-read
6 mins  |
September 2021
Project Yamaha TX750 Part 12 A question of balance…
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Project Yamaha TX750 Part 12 A question of balance…

Only The Beach Boys had good vibrations… so what’s Mark been up to, to sort out the bad ones coming from his TX750?

time-read
6 mins  |
September 2021
Splitting links
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Splitting links

Ralph Ferrand works with tools all day long – he sells them too at bikerstoolbox.co.uk so he knows what works.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 2021
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

STAVROS: PRINCE OF PRANKSTERS!

It’s probably fair to say that Stephen JamesParrish’s persona and overall levity throughout his life have muddied the waters as to just how good a bike racer he was back in the day.

time-read
1 min  |
September 2021
Metal magic!
Classic Motorcycle Mechanics

Metal magic!

Ralph Ferrand works with tools all day long – he sells them too at bikerstoolbox co uk so he knows what works.. .

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2021