Author Topic: What is CB? (Read 4930 times)

Stev-o · « **on:** October 13, 2010, 06:10:36 PM »

Everybody knows what SOHC stands for, but what about "CB"?!?

I know it's not "Chick Bike"!

MCRider · « **Reply #1 on:** October 13, 2010, 06:16:44 PM »

Quote from: meriggi on October 13, 2010, 06:10:36 PM

Everybody knows what SOHC stands for, but what about "CB"?!?

I know it's not "Chick Bike"!

You'll get all kinds of explanations, by the "occams' razor" reply is its simply a designation for US Street Bike within a certain criteria that Honda uses. It's not a literal abbreviation for anything. Or so I think. And i may be wrong about the "US" it may not be restricted to US models, IDK.

Now for the others...

PS: Its not just you who wants to know...

http://www.fireblades.org/forums/general-discussion/56796-what-does-cb-stand-for.html

Stev-o · « **Reply #2 on:** October 13, 2010, 06:19:12 PM »

Quote from: MCRider on October 13, 2010, 06:16:44 PM

Quote from: meriggi on October 13, 2010, 06:10:36 PM

its simply a designation for US Street Bike within a certain criteria that Honda uses.

Knew it was the street bikes and CL's are the scramblers.

weekend_junkie · « **Reply #3 on:** October 13, 2010, 06:20:45 PM »

I heard it was City Bike.

mick7504 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 13, 2010, 06:26:03 PM »

Don't know, but this a reply from elsewhere about the same question.

"CB purportedly stands for 'City Bike', but I have never seen this documented by Honda."

More than likely it is just a model designation by Honda.

lone*X · « **Reply #5 on:** October 13, 2010, 06:38:14 PM »

Always heard people refer to CB as City Bike as well. CL was supposed to be City and Lane or some such. Guess there were some pretty crummy lanes around in the 60, 70s.

weekend_junkie · « **Reply #6 on:** October 13, 2010, 06:41:43 PM »

Quote from: lone*X on October 13, 2010, 06:38:14 PM

Always heard people refer to CB as City Bike as well. CL was supposed to be City and Lane or some such. Guess there were some pretty crummy lanes around in the 60, 70s.

Uh, yeah there were. Post-WWII Japan had some serious fall out... pardon the pun.

MCRider · « **Reply #7 on:** October 13, 2010, 06:48:56 PM »

Yeah you'll never find a confirm from Honda on the CB=City Bike. Convenient, pleasant, but unfounded.

What does the NT on my NT650 stand for? Or my wifes ZL600? They are just letters without words. They do mean something, but it is a combination of characterisitcs that makes a bike a CB v CL v anyhting else. Not a spelled out name.

weekend_junkie · « **Reply #8 on:** October 13, 2010, 06:57:09 PM »

Nowegian Touring and Zophtic Luxury. Duh.

cobra2411 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 13, 2010, 07:05:22 PM »

I heard it was for Combustion Bike or at least the Japanese version of the word.

bender01 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 13, 2010, 07:09:37 PM »

I heard it was keeping someone you dont like from getting some action

DH · « **Reply #11 on:** October 13, 2010, 07:16:51 PM »

I've read it was the designation for the "super sport" series of Honda motorcycles in the earlier years.

SOHC Digger · « **Reply #12 on:** October 13, 2010, 07:25:18 PM »

I know there is some dispute, but I believe CB stands for Cross-Beam as in the crankshaft sits cross-ways in the bike frame. I seem to recall that I read this in Mick Duckworth's book, but I will verify it.

DavePhipps · « **Reply #13 on:** October 13, 2010, 07:27:02 PM »

Quote from: MCRider on October 13, 2010, 06:48:56 PM

Yeah you'll never find a confirm from Honda on the CB=City Bike. Convenient, pleasant, but unfounded.

What does the NT on my NT650 stand for? Or my wifes ZL600? They are just letters without words. They do mean something, but it is a combination of characterisitcs that makes a bike a CB v CL v anyhting else. Not a spelled out name.

NT= Nifty Tech ZL=zany legs

buttcan · « **Reply #14 on:** October 13, 2010, 07:55:40 PM »

Zoptic Luxury ! LOL ! I like it.

Brown Bomber · « **Reply #15 on:** October 13, 2010, 08:19:09 PM »

Quote from: meriggi on October 13, 2010, 06:10:36 PM

Everybody knows what SOHC stands for, but what about "CB"?!?

I know it's not "Chick Bike"!

"Chick Bike" is the new nick name for the HD Sportster, at least that's what some Harley owners I know told me.

Brown Bomber · « **Reply #16 on:** October 13, 2010, 08:21:14 PM »

Clobbered Briton

shizzomynizzo · « **Reply #17 on:** October 13, 2010, 08:22:28 PM »

Cool Bike

shizzomynizzo · « **Reply #18 on:** October 13, 2010, 08:23:39 PM »

What about citizens bike
jeep cj-5/cj7 stood for citizens jeep!

Or

Color blind....whoever picked some of the paint colors...certain greens and browns come to mind!

Stev-o · « **Reply #19 on:** October 13, 2010, 08:27:08 PM »

Quote from: shizzomynizzo on October 13, 2010, 08:22:28 PM

Cool Bike

very fitting!

Brown Bomber · « **Reply #20 on:** October 13, 2010, 08:36:08 PM »

Quote from: shizzomynizzo on October 13, 2010, 08:23:39 PM

Color blind....whoever picked some of the paint colors...certain greens and browns come to mind!

Hey! I resemble that remark.

Hush · « **Reply #21 on:** October 13, 2010, 08:47:28 PM »

OK so CB may equal City Bike and CL may equal City/Lane but what does that leave for the SL models that have been around almost as long?
Slushy Lane?

Scrambler Lane?

swellguy · « **Reply #22 on:** October 13, 2010, 08:55:57 PM »

I surprised nobody has stooped this low, yet:

scottly · « **Reply #23 on:** October 13, 2010, 09:00:05 PM »

What about the CT200, the Trail 90? I think they were just arbitrary designations..

weekend_junkie · « **Reply #24 on:** October 13, 2010, 11:38:21 PM »

Here's some Honda letters that do make sense; R, VF, VFR, CBR and CB1100R. Although it doesn't apply to the SOHC universe, I always assumed that R designated race-type. VF bikes stood for V-patterned Four cyclinder motors, whether a VF750C (a la 'Custom'), VF500F (same concept as the '79-'83 CB-F bikes?) or VF1000R (race-type). VFR was the logical progression when all VF bikes evolved to race-type. CBR and CB1100R are self explanatory, given the CB moniker.

Just to mention, I have no clue what GSX may stand for, but I beat Suzuki intended it to go fast when they specified it as GSX-R.

And having personally owned a CM400T for 8 years, I can tell you it must stand for City Motherf!ck!ngpileofslowcr@p.

News:

Author Topic: What is CB? (Read 4930 times)

DH