Topic: Why the Honda CB750

[Tews19]

My dad and I are driving back from picking up my new K1 and he thinks I didnt get a good deal. We started a debate and long story short he asked me. 

"why the Honda CB750, what makes them so special?"

My question to all is why the CB750 for you?

[ekpent]

I like the looks,the nice low end power,easy to get parts and the fact they are fairly easy to work on compared to more modern machines.Entry level costs are fairly low also.
   Be careful though Nick,a group of us may have to come over to WI and give you an 'Intervention' as you are starting to spiral out of control      Good project you got there 
  I am a little partial to the Gold though,and the green,orange,brown,blue,red etc   

[Xnavylfr]

Have him read about " The Motorcycle Of The Century"     100 years""""

Cb750 STARTED the SUPER bikes. You could double up on it and ride all day and not spend all the next day going back to pick up the parts that fell off of it. It wasn't until the TRIPLE 2 stroke or the 900cc bikes come that anything could run with it.
Easy to maintain and LOTS of them are STILL on the road, even some of the '69 models

Xnavylfr(CHUCK)

[chrislib]

It set the world on its ear in the motorcycle realm, the 1st "superbike" and all that, technical innovations like the front disc...etc etc....for me...they`re just cool as heck, awesome looking and all around bada$$. my .02

[cosmicvision]

Whenever someone says 'motorcycle', a Honda CB is what I've pictured since I can remember...regardless of what engine sits beneath. They're the ideal bike to me. Modest & humble, such a classic well-proportioned look. If you squint at it right it looks just like all the British bikes the cafe heads revere. Owned a 440 Kawasaki with 4000 miles & I can count on one hand the times it made it back home without a failure of some sort...the CB I ride with 33k on the clock runs as strong as the day it was made. I know a lot of that can be attributed to previous owner upkeep, etc...but still. When I can go outside & it jumps to life first kick every time, that is reason enough for me.

[dhall57]

For me it all started at 13 or 14 in the early 70's when I first saw the CB750 sitting on the local Honda dealer show room floor. I loved the styling and design of these bikes. They looked fast just sitting there and than when I heard the sound of the sohc4 it was music to my ears. I've been hooked on these bikes ever since. I guess that's why I have two in my garage

[mick7504]

Yep, 13yo and just began a love affair.
Never looked back since it all began in '69/70.

I don't know if that impact could be repeated.
These old 750's get into your blood.
Whether it be a full blown injected mongrol or an old abused scrubba for making some dust in the bush.
Ya can't kill 'em.                   
Clean filters and clean oil and they'll stick with ya.    

[kerryb]

You meet the nicest people on a Honda!

[lucky]

Reasons to like the CB750.

33 years old and thousands of parts still available, and now there
are more and more aftermarket parts too. Same as HD.

Transverse 4 like the modern sport bikes BUT the double loop cradle frame (steel),
allows you to work on the engine.

When you buy one you are getting great value for your money.

There are people 60 years old and younger that know all about the CB750 in detail that give you online help.

No electronic igniter boxes that cost $370.00 or more.
No electronic brain boxes that cost $600.00 or more.
No aluminum cheap frames that wrap all around the engine
making it a nightmare to work on. Almost no plastic parts except the side covers.
There are aftermarket side covers now.

Honda dealers and their families no longer have any control, knowledge, or
parts for them. Nor do we want them too.

Soon all the parts could be aftermarket. Even the frames.
I could see that happening.

Aftermarket hand controls adapt easily.



 

[Magpie]

I bought one of the very first 1969 CB750's sold in Vancouver, B.C. Unfortunately it only lasted about 5 weeks before I put it into the driver's door of a Cortina which blew through a stop sign. But what a 5 weeks! The bike was an absolute sensation! It's hard to describe the reaction to it without making it sound like fiction. I had people asking me to pull over so they could look at it, kids in hot cars not racing me, people stopping in their tracks as I rode by. Just parking it somewhere created a crowd, much like parking them today. It took me 2 years to get another 750 which is in my garage now, a K1, parked beside another K1 and a K0. I'm glad it still creates the buzz it did then.
Why? The CB750 made history right out of the box! And it's been a part of my life ever since even when I took about 25 years off, out of the motorcycle scene. It has an emotional effect on so many people. You, and your dad, will find out when you park it somewhere around car or motorcycle guys. They'll tell you all about their experiences having one, wanting one or wishing they had theirs back. And you'll just smile.

[lucky]

SHORTENED to save space.

I agree and what a great story.

It is too bad that HONDA has fallen down and fell into the same
trap that the car companies have fallen into.
They are no longer innovators, they are imitators.

[Don R]

It's the bike that made all other bikes have to be better.

[scottly]

33 years old

The discussion is about SOHC 750s, not DOHC 750s.

[Magpie]

Here's the start of it all. Cliff.

[Tews19]

Yeah I have read that article. Thanks all for the input. I was curious as well in regard to why the fascination with these bikes. For me, it's the hunt of finding the gems, working on them, and not having a damn crotch rocket or Harley that everyone and their mother has.

[754]

The mag cover bike looks like a prototype, look at the mastercylinder, and line, sidecover emblem, seat and bars look different..

[CrankyOldGuy]

1.  Because it actually looks like a motorcycle, not like one of those modern plastic crotch rockets,
2.  Because they are simple to work on.  You only require a handfull of tools,
3.  Because they are quite reliable,
3.  Because you get to hang around a place like this forum where you can obtain good ideas from others and share things that you have learned,
4.  Because they are comfortable to ride and people still take notice,
and lastly,
5.  Because I have owned one for the past 41 years 

Harry O.

[DJ_AX]

Why the Honda CB750?

sorry ... I can't start typing here without wanting to write a book length reply!

[Tews19]

1.  Because it actually looks like a motorcycle, not like one of those modern plastic crotch rockets,
2.  Because they are simple to work on.  You only require a handfull of tools,
3.  Because they are quite reliable,
3.  Because you get to hang around a place like this forum where you can obtain good ideas from others and share things that you have learned,
4.  Because they are comfortable to ride and people still take notice,
and lastly,
5.  Because I have owned one for the past 41 years 

Harry O.

Would you happen to have pictures throughout the years you are willing to post here? It would be very interesting to get a pic from 41 yrs ago of you with the bike and one today.

[farmertom]

Why?

You can do so much with them...

cb750cafe.com
cyclexchange.net
m3racing.com
dynoman.net
hondachopper.com
worldmotorcycles.com
...  etc. etc.

which means you can keep one on the road fairly cheaply for years and years, and personalize it to make it truly your own.


Heck, why not?

[lucky]

The mag cover bike looks like a prototype, look at the mastercylinder, and line, sidecover emblem, seat and bars look different..

Good eye 754!

[lucky]

My first job. Started when the first Honda 50's were introduced.

[Bailgang]

  "why the Honda CB750, what makes them so special?"

That's kind of a trick question like why did I choose to mess with Pontiacs rather than a Chevy? I dunno, I felt like it and I think they're are cool and same goes for our SOHC fours. I grew up seeing my older brothers and their H2 Kaws and the streets of suburban Chicago was filled with inline 4 Jap bikes with obnoxious 4/1 exhaust. As much as a PITA they can be I actually prefer the mechanical complexity of them. I'm sorry but V-twins of any make just bore me.

[Rookster]

Just a point of fact but the Triumph Trident and the BSA Rocket 3 were available before the CB750; They could claim to be the first Superbikes.  The Kawasaki H1, Norton Commando and the British 3s were quicker in the 1/4 mile.  The British bikes handled better.  The CB750 was not worlds better than what was available at the time.  You can see this in its race record which is pretty poor.

What made the CB750 better was it was relatively cheap, user friendly, and was a better all around package than any of the other options.  It wasn't the first or the fastest but it was the most complete motorcycle for its time.

Scott

[DH]

I still remember the first ride on my first 750, a K3, and how it felt. A COLD day in late December of '73. The bike got looks
then, just like they do now. The smoothness, acceleration, and the same basic rider's positioning as all the other Hondas of that period made it easy to ride. A little hard to touch the ground at stops, but the thing did everything else so damn well that it just didn't matter. I truly still miss the baccus olive
k3. It was a beautiful machine.