Topic: What is the best SOHC 4 bike ever made by Honda and why?

[Magilla]

Opinion:

What is the best SOHC 4 bike ever made by Honda and why?


This is not a question of "what do you own" or "what would you like to own".  Think of it more like you own one of each and had to pick your favorite (not based on value).

[Bill/BentON Racing]

Well, lots of variables! If you mean stock, like Honda sold it, no modifications, I'd pick a 77-78 CB750F. Powerful, good looking, sporty, and had been refined as it was end of the SOHC 750's!  Bill
Now, modified, whole different story! Bill

[ekpent]

Might be the little Honda mini trails or those little 50cc to 90cc engines. Can't kill them and how many little people got their first start in the motorcycle world on those things. They built a lot of brand loyalty for Honda.  Honda brought that style back with the new Grom 125 to get those people again.

[lrutt]

agree on the little horizontal singles. About a bazillion of those still in service and still being made in umpteen countries around the world, now with fuel injection no less.

But...you state SOHC 4....having owned one of each, 350, 400, 500, 550, 750. I'd have to give the nod to the 400. That was such a fun little bike. The 350 was just lacking all round, the 500 did not impress, the 550 was better, the 750 is nice and a very competent ride, but that 400 was just pure fun, so light, and just loved to rev, and that 6 speed was pure joy. God I wish I still had that little red devil.

[LesterPiglet]

So the 650 doesn't even come into it Irutt?   

[Rgconner]

CB400 is the best looking one, in my opinion.

The 550 gets you "The Tonne" without being a big bike, handles better than the 750.

While I like the 650 engine, by the time it comes out the bike is looking too much like an 80's bike with the loss of the straight bench seat and the Comstars.

[rb550four]

    No 650? How could you not have a 650? Too bad , you may have liked that. Not impressed with the sheer power of the 500 or just the handling? The 550 which is only slightly more powerful and handles exactly the same as the 500 , cc's was the only real improvement, so it must be the power issue.
     The 750 , nice power, heavier machine , higher center of gravity. A solid following.
The 650 managed to get in to the space in between without a serious weight gain, although the higher tank and longer forks do heighten the machine's center of gravity , the lower seat/frame drop, does drop the rider weight lower than the 500/550 . Improved rear suspension and swing arm and break away frame was an upgrade that should have been made during 500 to 550 transition but wasn't. Though the electronic ignition was a big deal for the 650, I don't see where it offered anything more than what the point's system offered,with the exception of higher cost at replacement time.
   Actually, I believe that the 650 engine on a 500/550 frame is almost as good as a 750, not at top end , but it isn't lazy either. And I also believe the 500/550 frame is more  maneuverable than the stock 750. And by inserting the 650 powerplant into the 500/550 frame , it retains the classic good looks  of the 4 with the benefit of some extra hp.
 But in no way did the 650 offer the classic 4 design visually except for the first years. After the style modernization they look  generic, like any other motorcycle manufacturer's machines of the transition years.
  There are a boat load of guys that love those stock 650's for exactly what they are .
My favorite has to be the 500/550/650 combination, all made by Honda, just at different times.
 

[Rgconner]

Actually, I believe that the 650 engine on a 500/550 frame is almost as good as a 750

But Honda never built that, now did they?

[Don R]

I haven't ridden them all but I like the cb750 K0. It's close to the fastest and feels like a smaller bike then the F's and late model K's. 

[rb550four]

Rgconner,   well maybe kinda sorta, it all came from the Honda factory  ....in different years...oh and different models...I suppose. If that makes any difference.
 I was thinking genetically of the 4's not as a production model. But they really should have made one of them available with double disc front and single disc rear brakes and all the rest of the stuff I mentioned earlier, before the coming of the dohc and shaft drive. I'll bet somewhere there is still that Honda engineer that wanted to take it further , still banging his head on a desk because it didn't happen.
  And  about those Comstars on those 650customs.... that was a mistake, makes it worth buying the standard just for the spoke wheels, even if they didn't offer dual f. discs on those.
 So we are saying, just to be clear, if you could walk into a Honda shop in any year and buy a model of your choosing, which would you prefer, right?
  So many 4's to like, it's a strain to choose a year and model as a favorite.
But if we are going by showroom floor favorite, a simple no nonsense performer, with the classic good looks, and  functionality....  a '73 750 would be my choice.

[lucky]

Easy question.

It was the Honda CB450 "Ugly Duckling","Bomber ","Porpoise"

Whatever you want to call it.
It had torsion bar valve springs.
It was way ahead of its time.

1965.

Click on the image below for a larger view.

Twin cam front brakes.
Torsion bar valve springs.
Instrument panel now copied by HD V rods.
Electric start.
Kick start.
Side stand .
Center stand.
Tools kit that needs no tools to get to.
Vacuum operated carb slides compensated for altitude changes.
Can carry a passenger in comfort and dignity without having their a$$ way up in the air on the back of the bike on a silly little pad.

[PeWe]

CB750 Four almost closed the English bike industry and showed a bike without a lake of oil under the engine at a coffee or burger stop.

I read about the Honda race bikes with 6 cylinders. When the competitors heard them they went home.
True or not, I'm not sure. Was before the CB750,

[LesterPiglet]

Easy question.

It was the Honda CB450 "Ugly Duckling","Bomber ","Porpoise"

Whatever you want to call it.
It had torsion bar valve springs.
It was way ahead of its time.

1965.

Click on the image below for a larger view.

Twin cam front brakes.
Torsion bar valve springs.
Instrument panel now copied by HD V rods.
Electric start.
Kick start.
Side stand .
Center stand.
Tools kit that needs no tools to get to.
Vacuum operated carb slides compensated for altitude changes.
Can carry a passenger in comfort and dignity without having their a$$ way up in the air on the back of the bike on a silly little pad.

Only one problem Lucky, one too many cams.   

[Vinhead1957]

Easy question.

It was the Honda CB450 "Ugly Duckling","Bomber ","Porpoise"

Whatever you want to call it.
It had torsion bar valve springs.
It was way ahead of its time.

1965.

Click on the image below for a larger view.

Twin cam front brakes.
Torsion bar valve springs.
Instrument panel now copied by HD V rods.
Electric start.
Kick start.
Side stand .
Center stand.
Tools kit that needs no tools to get to.
Vacuum operated carb slides compensated for altitude changes.
Can carry a passenger in comfort and dignity without having their a$$ way up in the air on the back of the bike on a silly little pad.

Now that is a classic look

[Stev-o]

Easy question.

It was the Honda CB450 "Ugly Duckling","Bomber ","Porpoise"

Whatever you want to call it.
It had torsion bar valve springs.
It was way ahead of its time.

1965.

Click on the image below for a larger view.

Twin cam front brakes.
Torsion bar valve springs.
Instrument panel now copied by HD V rods.
Electric start.
Kick start.
Side stand .
Center stand.
Tools kit that needs no tools to get to.
Vacuum operated carb slides compensated for altitude changes.
Can carry a passenger in comfort and dignity without having their a$$ way up in the air on the back of the bike on a silly little pad.

Very impressive!

[ofreen]

Fixed the subject line for you.

[Rgconner]

Easy question.

It was the Honda CB450 "Ugly Duckling","Bomber ","Porpoise"

 c

Only one problem Lucky, one too many cams.   

And not enough cylinders.

I swear, does that guy even read the question before answering?

[fmctm1sw]

That's tough.  I've ridden a 350, 550, and 650 all a good ways. 

I like the 650s seat height.  For a short dude, it's nice to get both feet on the ground.  On the other hand, I agree with Rgconner, I prefer the look of the '70s bikes.  I also don't like the CV carbs that were on the 81 models (and 80?).  They just seem like more trouble than they're worth.  I also prefer the spoked wheels of the 650 standard but the 4-4 exhaust of the 650 custom.  Changing the cam chain means splitting the case though for sure.  And no kick start?  Minus points in my book.  For me, I'd take the carbs and chrome starter cover off a '79 model, the spoked wheels off the 650 standard and the 4-4 exhaust off a 650 custom. 

My 550 gets noticed more when I'm out on it.  That's good and bad depending on who wants to strike up a conversation.  It sits too high for me but other than that, I really don't have anything bad to say about it.  Can get the top end apart with the motor in the frame too.

The 350 just has something about the look of it.  I don't know exactly what it is but I just like it.  Maybe it's the way the four exhaust pipes look on the small engine.  I get asked, "Are there four cylinder on that thing?"  After riding my 550 and 650 around for a while, it does seem awful small.  I read somewhere that it was Mr Honda's favorite four, so why argue with the maker?   

[krusty]

The CB650Z gets my vote. Handling, braking were tops plus the power of the old 750/4s without the extra weight. They look great too, almost as nice as the 350F.

[DH]

The first 750 was a benchmark, the example that others eventually followed and improved upon. At it's introduction, there wasn't anything else like it. Racing technology applied to a touring street bike. A cool idea..
It's development caused considerable change in the entire motorcycle industry.
It looked good, was dependable, fast, handled well, stopped well, and was affordable. Everything after that were refinements. Lots of things have to be considered before anything can have the label of 'best". To me, the 750 scored high
all around, sold very well and proved it's worth as a fine example of what a sport touring motorcycle should be. IMHO.

[Spanner 1]

Mine!.. ... CB750K0 about 103xxxx serial #. Earliest cam , but push-pull throttle mod. already done.... IMHO.

[dave500]

the first 550s!type one carbs,nice handlers,attractive looks,you can pull the top end in the frame,they share a lot of parts with other models.

[Deltarider]

the first 550s!type one carbs,nice handlers,attractive looks,you can pull the top end in the frame,they share a lot of parts with other models.

Probably the 550K, K1 and K2 would be my favourite. They were never imported here. They still had the original 4 in 4 exhausts. I would modify a few things though. Read here:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=113058.msg1271642#msg1271642
Being familiar with the technique, I would love to tour the USA on one of them (like that girl from Alaska did I travelled with in Egypt).

[trueblue]

The CB650Z gets my vote. Handling, braking were tops plus the power of the old 750/4s without the extra weight. They look great too, almost as nice as the 350F.

Have to agree with you, The 650Z was by far the best.  Electronic ignition, dual discs from factory (at least in Aus), plenty of power, handles well, o-ring chain from factory, and I don't care what anyone says I see the comstars as a big plus.  I don't like #$%*ing about with spokes.  As far as I see it anything that reduces the amount of work I have to do as a big plus, I swing on spanners all week the last thing I want to do is #$%* about with the bike before I take it for a ride.  I have changed a couple of things on mine to get rid of the 80's look, I have put indicators off an early 750 and brake calipers off a cx500 to get rid of the ugly square things they put on the 650.

[dave500]

someone has to love the Honda red headed step child?

[trueblue]

Red headed step child maybe, but it doesn't mean it's not the best

[dave500]

what about the freckles? and thick spectacles?