Topic: First CB? 1959 CB92

[CBDee]

I came across this and i was wondering if this was the first SOHC CB? It was a 125CC OHC twin that was known as the Benly and was made  in 1959 but still look's pretty fast. Just wondering if anyone know's about or rides one of these bikes?

[Sam Green Racing]

The first CB was the CB90 in this line of models, no one is sure if it went into production and none are known to exist.
It was followed in 58 by the CB95, a 154cc version that looked much the same as your picture, hard to tell apart unless you know what you are looking for.
In 59 it was scaled down to 125cc and named the CB92.

Here is a very well documented site covering these models. http://www.vintage-honda.com/history.htm

I have been racing Benlys since the early 60s and still do to this day. Here is a link to some pics of my racing Benlys. http://www.fourwheelforum.com/showthread.php?t=977

Sam.

[octagon]

may be a dumb question but what does cb stand for?

[kck3]

Rumor has it CB stood for "cool bike" when it was first released.  I personally still think it rings true to this day.

[CBDee]

Thanks for the web sight Sam. I like these bikes and its good to hear there still racing them. It look's like the CB's were the sporty version. Weren't there CA's that came before this model? So, CA then CB?

[Sam Green Racing]

Despite all the rumor and other peoples thoughts, A B and C stood for 1st 2nd and 3rd generation of bikes in Hondas early years up to the late 50s.
It changed when the started  producing the twin cylinder bikes and C stood for base model and CB was the sports version of the C model.
If I am not to be beleived, (as this subject has been around many times) just check it out for yourselves on Google images.
Search C92 and CB92...C72 and CB72...C77 and CB77. You will find that the C was a tourer or comuter and the CB was a sports model.
The A came in with the CA92, CA95 CA72 and CA77, these were the early base models for the American market and the specs differed from other world markets.
What didn't make sense was the fact that they dropped the A from the Sport models sent into the States and just called them CB92 and 95, CB72 and 77 like for the rest of the world.
The popular one in the States was the CA95 but the specs for this motor were nothing like the C95s that the rest of the world got.

Sam.

[bwaller]

Good pics Sam.

[Sam Green Racing]

Good pics Sam.

Thanks' Brent. The first pic in black and white was taken in 71 at the world records meeting at Elvington near York.
The kid in the background was 37.5 yards away and still found it a bit to much for his young ears.
The bike was a 65 C95 Benly, the same as the ones you have in Canada and stock was about 3.5bhp down on the CA95.
It ran 75mph into a gale force wind in third gear and reached 119mph in top on the return run at 14,000rpm. As it entered the start of the Flying Mile, the motor cut out and it coasted to a stand still just after the finish line. It returned a two way mean average speed of just over 73mph...the British record stood at 71mph
It should have run about 87 / 90mph given still conditions. Had it not cut out, it would have returned a mean average of 97mph.

Sam.

[CycleRanger]

I have been racing Benlys since the early 60s and still do to this day. Here is a link to some pics of my racing Benlys. http://www.fourwheelforum.com/showthread.php?t=977

Sam.

Wow, very impressive photos!

[Sam Green Racing]

I have been racing Benlys since the early 60s and still do to this day. Here is a link to some pics of my racing Benlys. http://www.fourwheelforum.com/showthread.php?t=977

Sam.

Wow, very impressive photos!

And the up to date version if you have time to read it all, wasn't as fast as expected and started cunsuming pistons at an alarming rate

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=31154.0

Sam.