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The bike was first introduced in 1989 and built until the end of 1990. Originally developed for the Japanese market, the CB-1 was also officially sold in the USA and Canada.
The CB-1 engine is similar to the early NC23 models CBR400RR, with changes to the port lengths and angles as well as smaller valves and lower compression ratio; changes in the primary and secondary gear ratios reduced the 60 mph (97 km/h) first gear down to around 30 mph (48 km/h), making the slightly less powerful CB-1 feel much quicker from a standstill than its sportier sibling, All engines derived from the NC23 block carry the NC23 ID code in the engine number; this includes the NC27, 23, 29, 31 etc., including the VTEC models with chain driven cams. Like many of its stablemates, the CB-1 has straight gear-driven dual camshafts with self-silencing gears to reduce whine.
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