The Honda VT1300CS Sabre was first introduced at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show in Japan along with the Stateline model and released in 2010. The bike was part of a line of cruiser motorcycles manufactured by Honda to replace the VTX1300 series.
The line of custom cruisers comprised three traditional cruisers, such as the Sabre, Stateline, and Interstate, joined by a chopper-looking Fury model that featured a similar appearance to custom choppers made by Paul Teutul or Arlen Ness.
The bikes were powered by an updated version of the engine used on the VTX1300 series by replacing the carburetor with an electronically controlled fuel injection system. Also, the bikes borrowed its braking system and updated it to fit on the new line of cruisers.
In addition, for the 2010 line, Honda used an unusual frame geometry with new suspension components and bodywork designed by Honda R&D Americas (HRA) in collaboration with a team of engineers from Honda's Asaka R&D Center (HGA) Japan.
Compared to the Fury, the chopper-style machine in Honda's range, the Sabre offered a less extreme seating position with a narrower handlebar and lower steering head, resulting in a typical cruiser design that made it compete with other mid-sized cruisers, such as the Yamaha Star Stryker.
In 2014, the Japanese maker released the Honda VT1300CS Sabre, a custom cruiser machine with a sleek, low-slung profile and a comfortable, laid-back seating position with forward-set footpegs and pulled-back handlebar.
The bike's power came from a 1,312cc four-stroke liquid-cooled V-twin fuel-injected engine that delivered an output power of 74 hp with a peak at 5,000 rpm and 123 Nm (91 lb-ft) torque at 3,000 rpm.