7 six-cyclinder heroes

Six sells – or at least it did.  Here’s our pick of six-cylinder heroes.

Honda CBX1000 (1978-1982)
The one everybody thinks about. Honda’s 1978 tour-de-force had six carbs as well, and produced 105bhp. “Follow that,” said the ads of the era. The problem was that Laverda’s Jota did it on half the number of cylinders and carbs, and a quarter the number of valves, and Suzuki’s GS1000 was just as fast, simpler, handled better, stopped better, and was two-thirds the price. So not many people bought the CBX, though everyone admired it for its sheer engineering. Honda decided to reposition the bike in the market by adding a Pro-Link rear end, full fairing and panniers. Oh, and they detuned it a bit at the same time. A bit like trying to make a diesel pick-up from a Lamborghini Gallardo. Now, though, a mint CBX is worth two or three times as much as a GS1000. It’s also unique to ride, with that amazing scream from the engine, and from the rider as he realises just how inadequate the original brakes were.
What you’ll pay today £5000-£12,000
But should you? God yes. But note: these are seriously expensive to restore.

Benelli 750 Sei (1972-1978)
The first six of them all. Benelli borrowed the engine architecture of the Honda CB500 Four, though hardly any parts are interchangeable, and added a couple of extra cylinders. They also, to make the engine narrower, mounted the alternator behind the cylinder block, a move copied by Honda on the CBX and by everyone else since. Stunning styling, with a six-into-six exhaust: the silencers looked like a Chinese fan on each side. It handled and stopped better than anything Japanese (a good frame and double Brembo discs up front saw to that), and the styling was pure Italian. The first models had weak gearboxes, but Benelli strengthened them after a year or so. Other touches included three twin-choke carbs, with an optional six-carb conversion if you fancied it (very few did).
What you’ll pay £5000-£15,000
But should you? Oh yes, absolutely. Beware a lot of continental imports, as there are some truly nasty ones out there.

BMW K1600 (2011-present)
Epic engine, masterly packaging, and it’s dynamically very impressive for something the size of a cross-Channel ferry. GT version is pure tourer, while the GTL is more sports tourer. The issue with the K1600 is that there are other pure tourers from BMW that do the same job for less money, and more adept sports tourers from other manufacturers. So you’re basically just paying for the engine.
What you’ll pay £9000-£13,000. Or £17,000 new
But should you? Sadly, probably not – unless you absolutely must have a six.

Honda F6 Valkyrie (1996-2003)
It took a long time for Honda to turn the 1500 Wing into a naked. The Valkyrie is a wonderful cruiser, with superb styling and (with the right pipes) a lovely exhaust note. Many regard it as a blank canvas, and add a big windscreen, leather panniers and so forth. Not cheap, because they’re in big demand. And they’re very thirsty.
What you’ll pay £4500-£6000
But should you? If you like this sort of thing, then yes. A cruiser with soul.

Benelli 900 Sei (1979-1989)
Development of the 750, but with bland styling and a six-into-two exhaust. No faster, but torquier. Tank-top instruments were hard to read. One improvement was the adoption of Guzzi’s linked brakes (Guzzi and Benelli were both owned by the same guy, Alejandro de Tomaso, then). A true oddity was the duplex rear drive chain: most have been converted by now.
What you’ll pay £4500-£7000
But should you? Ish. Cheapest of the transverse sixes but not that thrilling.

Honda GL1500 Gold Wing (1987-2000)
Honda originally designed the Wing as a flat-six, but bottled it and made it a 1000cc flat four? After taking it out to 1100cc and 1200cc, they decided to go the whole flat-six route after all. Fantastic tourer with every comfort and extra known to man (and people still add more).
What you’ll pay £2500-£4500
But should you? Yes: there are some tired ones around now, though. Grey imports are common, and can often be bargains.

Kawasaki Z1300 (1979-1989)
The last word in the 1970s power race. Humongous water-cooled six, with three twin-choke carbs and 120bhp. G model from 1984 got another 10bhp and fuel injection. Something of a wonder to ride: very smooth, very linear, and very big. Handles much better than you’d think, but God help you if you overcook things. Kawasaki Gold Winged it for the US, and called it the Voyager – not sold here.
What you’ll pay: £3000-£9000
But should you? Yes: an acquired taste.

Words: Neil Murray