For the 2013 model year, Honda made available a standard version of the VT1300Cs Sabre and another version that included an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with an extra safety touch and better control over various rough conditions.
The bike had the same V-twin engine and appearance as the standard model. Compared to the Fury, it offered a less extreme seating position with a narrower handlebar and a lower steering head, resulting in a reasonably typical cruiser design.
Also, the Sabre model had more travel on the rear wheel and a steel swingarm than aluminum. In addition, the bike also packed a larger fuel tank with an integrated instrument panel and a slightly shorter wheelbase than the Fury.
The suspension was the same as the one used on the Stateline model, with a 45 mm telescopic fork on the front end and a 33 degrees rake angle, while the rear suspension was handled by a spring preload-adjustable shock absorber.
The lightweight five-spoke cast aluminum wheels were fitted with a 336 mm disc engaged by a dual-piston caliper on the front and a 296 mm disc paired with a single-piston caliper on the rear that provided the optimum stopping power.
As for the power figures, the 2013 Honda VT1300CS Sabre ABS was powered by the same engine used on all custom cruiser lines. The 1,312cc four-stroke liquid-cooled V-twin engine boasted 74 hp with a peak at 5,000 rpm and 123 Nm (91 lb-ft) torque at 3,000 rpm.
The power generated by the engine made its way to the rear wheel through a five-speed manual transmission and a low-maintenance shaft drive.