HONDA The Power of Dreams

In December 1983, the CBR400F, which adopted the “CBR” product brand name for the first time, was launched, reflecting the racing-inspired styling and advanced technology of the CB, which had become synonymous with Honda’s road sports models.

The CBR400F was heavily influenced by Japan’s unique motorcycle license system and the rise of motorsports popularity.

When the motorcycle license system was changed in 1975, the 400cc and 250cc classes became the main market for mid-sized sports models. In the highly competitive 400cc class, the trend toward 4-stroke, in-line 4-cylinder engines began with the introduction of the Kawasaki’s Z400FX in 1979. Honda introduced the 4-cylinder, air-cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4-valve, in-line 4-cylinder CBX400F two years later in 1981, the year that marked all Japanese manufacturers offering 400cc 4-cylinder models.

Around this time, the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race, which began in 1978, was growing in popularity. The number of participants in the Suzuka 4 Hours race, a festival for amateur riders that began in 1980, also grew rapidly with each passing year. In these production-bike races, 400 cc machines dominated the field, and the demand for high-performance motorcycles also contributed to the popularity of 400cc 4-cylinder models.

In 1983, Honda’s Freddie Spencer won the rider’s championship in the 500 cc class, the pinnacle of world championship grand prix racing (WGP).

Shortly after, Spencer competed in the MFJ Japanese Grand Prix road race event held at the Suzuka Circuit and won by a huge margin, spurring the growing popularity of motorsports in Japan.

In 1982, Honda introduced the VF400F with a V-type 4-cylinder 400 cc engine.

On the other hand, the CBR400F was launched as a bike with a stronger racing image, inheriting the in-line 4-cylinder engine based on the CBX400F and adopting Honda’s original REV (Revolution Modulated Valve Control) mechanism.

This REV mechanism is a valve system in which, four valves are activated at high engine speeds, while at low and medium engine speeds, one valve per cylinder is deactivated on both the inlet and exhaust sides, resulting in a 2-valve system. This was a groundbreaking technology that produced powerful output characteristics throughout the entire engine speed range.

HRC offered racing kits for motorsports enthusiasts, gaining motorcycle fans ranging from touring to racing.

This first generation CBR, the CBR400F, strongly influenced the direction of the CBR series that followed, including the addition of the CBR400F FORMULA-3 in 1985, which featured racer-derived styling and equipment.