Topic: POLL: Why do YOU own/keep your Hondamatic?

[raymond10078]

The admin for this site asked me to put on paper why people own CB750A's.  Rather than put down my thoughts, I thought I'd offer him OUR thoughts.

PLEASE  - keep this thread on topic.  Unrelated comments will be deleted or split into new threads.

For me:

I won't go in to why I bought it, but I will explain why I keep it:

• I've always been drawn to the off-normal, and the fixing it up beyond original, making something unique.  I doubt that I'll come across many other CB750A owner's in Nebraska.  I've owned many bikes, and have been riding - off and on - since 1972.  As of today, my plan is to never sell it, but to slowly upgrade it - in most every way - which will make it even more unique.
• My wife prefers this bike over every one I've owned.  She really likes the auto - the smooth acceleration.  I can go full throttle, and the acceleration isn't interrupted by gear changes.

Please add your own stories - why do like your Hondamatic? 

[77Pinto]

I too like the stuff that you don't see everyday.  This is not only why I have a 750A, but why I have 4 Pintos (have owned over 30) and a mid-70s A-body GM.  My 'normal' bike is a GL1500 and I have a fondness for the early Wings; 75-77.  Having owned well over a hundred bikes, many SOHCs, I like the 750s almost as much.



Bill

[JimS63]

Because it is different, I think good looking, easy to ride, makes for a great commuter, it's a great conversation piece, from the era where I had just got my license and because it is in such great shape and was at a great price!

[jukku]

I don't have an "A" but I am auto-curious....

I would pick up one in good shape just because they only made ~7000 of them and I believe they're an under-valued collectable.

From several different sources I have estimated that Honda made totally some 17,000 CB750A Hondamatics between late 1975- 1978!

I am still very happy with my Hondamatic because its tranny ;-)

[dave the welder]

i have always liked the 750 honda.I found mine 2 years ago on craigslist.poclaimed it had electrical problems.i figured i could fix it cheep and flip it for a profit.the prob turned out to be the ground wires in the harness came off the frame.i reattached it and the bike started right up.my wife suggested i keep it in case my chopper (a 72 rigid frame 750 )ever broke down.i am not stupid when the wife says keep a bike I keep the bike.it is a different kind of fun compared to the chopper but i am enjoying it more every time i ride it

[LesterPiglet]

Well you can't go wrong when your wife tells you.

[salukispeed]

In 1976 I was a mechanic for  the local Honda dealer and went to their factory school for a week of training and the 76 "A" was the new bike to learn about. We pulled the engine all the way down to empty cases and put it back together over three days. This left a soft spot ever since. I still have much of the factory training manual regarding the trans and many differences between the "A" and the "K".. Did the same school in 75 when the GoldWing came out. Cool stuff when your a teenager and motorcycle nut. Now I'm just an old nut that still likes motorcycles.

[SGTBob]

Last year my Daughter-In-Law wanted to ride.  After taking the MSF course and receiving her MC endorsement, I gave her my Honda VT700 Shadow.  She rode it for a while and said that it was difficult to ride "...because of all the shifting."  Well, being the great Father-In-Law I am, I bought her a Honda CB400A (automatic).  I worked on it and rode it a few times and fell in love with this little Hondamatic.  She rides the bike and loves it as well.
Well, about two months ago, I ran across a '77 CB750A on craigslist listed for $2000.  I looked at it, rode it, and after looking over a few flaws (front turn signals "hack-sawed off"), I offered him $1700.  He took the money and I rode it home (in the rain no-less).  I've put over 500 miles on the bike in the last two months and it runs "GREAT".  Still, it does NOT raise the "FUN" meter as high as the CB400A did.
Now, all I need is a windscreen and front turn signals.  I'll continue to ride it because it is a different kind of a ride.  Its just a fun bike to ride.

[madScientist]

The top reasons I bought my A:
-- I'd never seen one before let alone owned one
-- I already have a K and several F's
-- it looks cool and runs great
-- IT HAS NO CLUTCH!!!! HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!

[Sam Green Racing]

I bought my matic because I wanted a bike that would turn consistent times in Street ET drag racing.

The full story starts here (God help you)

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=61876.0

Sam.

[duke]

In 1981 when I was in the Navy stationed in Key West, one of my shipmates was transferring and couldn't take their 79' CM400A with them and I bought it off them for $500.  It was a great bike for the keys and I loved riding it.  One day at a gas station, this priest rides in on a beautiful 750A.  We chatted and I fell in love with the bike.  At that time I was pretty poor so could never afford one, but I could dream and always had that bike in the back of my mind.. Fast forward 30yrs, and low and behold I find a mint 77' on ebay w/1000mi. Except this time, I'm not poor!  I love riding automatics, I just hate shifting, be it a car or bike.  I wish Honda would come out with a new one.  I looked at the Aprillia, but don't like to ride bent over.

[POPS 911]

WHY ? :  In to-days MODERN WORLD it is nice to throw your leg over the saddle , turn on the gas, pull out the choke, hit the start button, take your toe and shift to 1 or 2 , and ride off on a simple machine that was built a long time ago when things were " REAL SIMPLE "  riding a motorcycle on a nice day = got garage full of 400CC-450CC-750A's and we love these simple bikes that get a lot of looks after 30 plus years. I have owned BMW, HARLEY,YAMAHA, SUZUKI, MOTO-GUZZI, TRIUMPH, KAWASAKI, 3 1/2 MOTO MORINO, BETA, and to me the BEST OF THE BEST have been the HONDAS !!!!!!!   Thanks to the RISING SUN I will keep and ride my CB750A till the day I go to the big drag strip in the sky.

POPS BK911  NHRA

[Grnrngr]

I had no clue they even existed until I found one on Craigslist, got a good deal on it, complete, titled with a fairing and a nice shine for $400. Turns out the trans is bad in it, but I like oddballs too, so I've also acquired a couple spare motors for it along the way. I plan on adding hardbags to match the WindJammer, and probably turn it into an 836. Can't wait to get that gasket and o-ring set..

[rklystron]

I have heard of the A's but have never seen one up close. Found one at an auction that nobody wanted, It looked like it was in okay shape and I loved the look of the big torque converter cover. Different! I bought it and tweeked it up a bit with a 41a cam. Easy to do on these bikes, you do not have to pull the motor. Love that! Put in a Dyna 2000 ignition as well as early K 28mm carbs. This bike rocks and is fun to ride. Glad I bought it and will never sell it.

[Dave B.]

I found my 1976 A on Craigs list for $400.00 not running and needing a tremendous amount of TLC. I brought it back to life and fell in love with it.Then I found this site and learned that I was among the few who own a part of Honda engineering and innovation to provide such an innovative idea forward  toward motorcycling.It is a shame that they didn't catch on well enough to keep it going.I owned a Helix years ago and this reminds me of it. I also like off beat things and I think I have a winner and will probably keep it.

[chung]

I have a 76 CB750A loaded with a Windjammer, Saddle bags, tail trunk. One afternoon I headed out with a 200 pound girlfriend, 20LB of Ice, a case of beer and ALL the fixins for a full-on BBQ. (including the grill and charcoal)
 I took off in high gear w/out even noticing it. Life ain't so bad on a Hondamatic. Top speed wasn't so good but it went anywhere I needed to go. The engine was shot at 46k miles due to the high revs/low gearing but I kept it because you can pull the head with the engine in the frame. I'm in the market for frames for a couple more Hot Rods Damned fine ride if you aren't in a big hurry.

[ericstew]

Why?'cause it's one of a kind(only 2 sold by Honda in France now 20 to 30 import)
It brings a lot of attention in old bikes shows.
Smooth ride which girls like...
and it's a perfect addition to my CB 750 bikes...

[DennyIN]

I own mine because a friend of mine sold it to me for $1. I have a lot more in it now (tires, carb rebuilds, battery, tank lined....) but when it runs right and the carbs don't leak, it is a joy to ride.   

[Al Corelli]

I like "different" bikes.
Just restored a 75 Suzuki RE5 Rotary.
After a 66 Ducati Cadet, my 77 750A is next.

I've always wanted a 750A.

AC
2010 Fat boy Lo- As black as the ace of spades
75 RE5
77 750A
77 Yamaha LB80-3d Champ (the good one, not the noped)
76 Sportster
83 Virago- Hey, it followed me home.
66 Ducati Cadet- Nice
66 Ducati Cadet- not so nice (hey, it isn't a collection if you just have one)
72 Honda C70
78 Sachs Westlake Moped - The most fun of all to ride.

[750Ksabin]

They are like dinosaure do do rare but nobody wanted one. I bought mine because I thought they were cool and different wouldn't give it up for anything. First saw one as a teenager thought my dad would love this thing.

[free_spirit_rider]

I've had my '78 750A for 14 yrs and everytime I ride it it's like being with an old friend.  It's never let me down, and I love telling people that it's an 'automatic' because they always ask where the clutch is.
I have another 'innovative' automatic bike besides my '78 Hondmatic....a 2005 Ridley.
It's a toss-up between which turns the most heads and gets the most questions asked!
I'm like you, kandrtech ....I've done many mods to it to make it even more 'unique', the wife really likes it, and I'm into the 'off-normal.....ie....the Ridley.

My '78 has almost 26,000 miles on it and I've ridden it to 37 states.

[jweeks]

As a drag racer since 1971, I've driven many cars down the track. Along the way, I got a '79 Honda 750 new to run around on the street. I took it to the track in 1984 to see what it could do. A friend came along with a 400A on dealer plates that he borrowed from the bike shop that he worked for. He beat me by about a foot bracket racing it. I then went out and bought a '79 400A from a local bike yard. I learned about Hondamatic twins; won a lot of races. The other bikers didn't like to lose to the slow Honda. Rules changes happened. When they proposed a maximum ET that a bike could run to compete for the bike purse, I knew that I needed to get into the 750A's. A local Honda dealer had one taken in trade that had been sitting in the shop for a long time. It had been stored outdoors for years (a rat bike with luggage) They made it their "heap of the week", cutting the price daily until it would sell. It didn't for several weeks. I finally bought it for $200 with the dealer keeping the luggage/fairing. I got a 32k bike that only low gear worked. Being young and on a budget, I put low handlebars and a quarter turn throttle that I could only rig to work backwards with the throttle cable I could find used. I took it out and ran 8.90's best in the 1/8th mile competition rolling the throttle open coming off of the starting line. Having taken off the air box, the bike would cough and stall if you wacked it open. I actually got third place money once racing it the few times I tried. It got parked while I had the motor rebuilt with a 1080 kit that I bought used from an old Pro Stock Honda racer. The rest was history. Been racing them for 20+ years with considerable success. There's nothing better in bikes available for bracket racing. 

                                                             Jon Weeks

[books]

I received my 750A 5 years ago from one of my best friends. He was a huge champion for me getting my motorcycle license - finally, at age 51. Scott passed away shortly after sending me the '78 and we were never able to ride together. At this time the bike isn't running but I'm not prepared to let it go. It may be a while before I can afford to get it running, but I will, one day, in honor of a great friend.

[chickenman_26]

I got my non-running '77A and a rolling chassis from a friend dying of cancer.
I figured I'd get it running and flip it on eBay. But after I started riding it and worked through the learning process, I actually liked it...at least for commuting and touring. And actually, once you get it up to 50mph or more, it squirts along pretty well when you goose the throttle to pass.

Now after about 6,000 miles and two tours through Death Valley with the Vintage Jap Club of LA, the thing has proven itself dead reliable. That's what I like most about it and the main reason I'm keeping it. The wife and I just got back from touring 2-up from Phoenix to Lancaster, Ca., through Death Valley, and back home again. Three days, 1,300 miles mostly at 70 mph indicated, averaged 37 mpg, and used 400cc of oil. It hums along smooth as silk and is one of the most comfortable bikes I've owned. Something that treats you so well is hard to part with.

Stu O

[saavejo]

For me it was love at First Sight   I stopped riding my 1978 750 supersport 26 year ago and last month I decided to look for a 1978 750F.  When I came across the 750A it was so similar to my supersport and when I start reading about the hondamatics I got really interested in it and fell in Love once again with a wonderful SOHC Honda 750 bike...lots of great memories   I taking the riding class this weekend and cannot wait to start riding again!
Candy Red 1978 with aluminum wheels and 4 to 1 1976 Exhaust!