Author Topic: Original CB750KO seen in Nagoya, Japan (Read 7282 times)

andy750 · « **on:** May 29, 2005, 06:55:04 PM »

Hi all,
I am currently working in Nagoya, Japan and have been here for a week already and seen loads of bikes (new retro bikes appear to be in!). And until Friday night no CB750s but all that changed on the way home...
On the way home (my boss driving) we came up to some traffic lights and an immaculate 1969 Honda CB750 pulled up to the lights – looked very nice and ultra clean and was all original (seat, clocks, exhaust) and turquoise in colour. Sounded good as well. I rolled down the window and shouted to the guy – “sumimassen” (excuse me!) and when he turned round I shouted “nice bike” and “sgoey” (great!) with the international thumbs up sign. He was very pleased/surprised and off he sped when the lights turned green. Very cool to see! Next week visiting Tokyo and hoping to see some of those famed CB750 choppers I keep hearing about. I already have a biker contact there - a cool Japanese chic with a 1985 Yamaha Vmax who is always going touring at weekends (this is a big thing here - this weekend I saw loads of bikes out - a good few Harleys as well as a variety of homegrown bikes).

Cheers
Andy

Dennis · « **Reply #1 on:** May 29, 2005, 08:16:06 PM »

Andy,
Send pictures!!!!!

Most of us will never get to see this stuff.

Raul CB750K1 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 30, 2005, 12:38:46 AM »

Have you been to the bike city yet? I think the name is Uneno or something like that, it's like a neighborhood full of bike shops where you can buy anything.

Raul

andy750 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 30, 2005, 04:14:50 AM »

Nope havent been there yet but this weekend I passed the Tsubaki factory and took a photo from the highway :-) Do you know where this bike city is? Is it in Tokyo?
Thanks
Andy

Harry · « **Reply #4 on:** May 30, 2005, 05:38:28 AM »

Andy, next time you go to a bar, whip this out of your pocket and see how many beers it get you! Send every second beer to me!

Raul CB750K1 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 30, 2005, 06:27:28 AM »

I read about it in a magazine and freaked out!!! Ueno is a district in Tokyo, near Showa Dori. I found this link in the internet.

http://metropolis.japantoday.com/tokyo/529/cars_bikes.asp

If you finally go there, try to make pics and post them.

Raul

Ted Nomura · « **Reply #6 on:** February 22, 2006, 12:03:38 PM »

Quote from: andy750 on May 29, 2005, 06:55:04 PM

Hi all,
I am currently working in Nagoya, Japan and have been here for a week already and seen loads of bikes (new retro bikes appear to be in!). And until Friday night no CB750s but all that changed on the way home...
On the way home (my boss driving) we came up to some traffic lights and an immaculate 1969 Honda CB750 pulled up to the lights – looked very nice and ultra clean and was all original (seat, clocks, exhaust) and turquoise in colour. Sounded good as well. I rolled down the window and shouted to the guy – “sumimassen” (excuse me!) and when he turned round I shouted “nice bike” and “sgoey” (great!) with the international thumbs up sign. He was very pleased/surprised and off he sped when the lights turned green. Very cool to see! Next week visiting Tokyo and hoping to see some of those famed CB750 choppers I keep hearing about. I already have a biker contact there - a cool Japanese chic with a 1985 Yamaha Vmax who is always going touring at weekends (this is a big thing here - this weekend I saw loads of bikes out - a good few Harleys as well as a variety of homegrown bikes).

Cheers
Andy

I'm sure you meant CB750, not CB750K0 since "K0" designation is an error created in the states. Although an intermediate model between 1969-1970 CB750 and 1971 CB750K1 was made which had CB750 body (mostly in Candy Gold) and engine but with K1 type throttles. About 140 of them were made.
I saw many original CB750s in Japan, most were shipped back to Japan from the United States. There are many being sold at the dealers at ridiculous prices and most had some wrong parts on them. I never saw a completely original CB750. Even the best of them had one or two parts from later type or seat being recovered, although the original CB750 was cheaply made to keep the price under $1400. It was never meant to last over 35 years, so the reproduction seat cover and side covers are of better quality. Even the best NOS plastic side covers from that period are getting too brittle. The best CB750 is at the Honda museum but I'm still waiting to find out what happened to the two original prototypes, and I don't mean the fake ones.

cbjunkie · « **Reply #7 on:** February 22, 2006, 01:07:02 PM »

Quote

"K0" designation is an error created in the states

eldar · « **Reply #8 on:** February 22, 2006, 01:31:24 PM »

Technicaly I dont think there WAS a K0. I think the designation was created to differentiate between the 69 and 70 models.

Magpie · « **Reply #9 on:** February 22, 2006, 01:54:52 PM »

Andy, maybe it was this one. Apparently this was her "engagement ring" from her boyfriend. Maybe she let him have it for a day.
Cliff.

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #10 on:** February 22, 2006, 01:57:21 PM »

Quote

Technicaly I dont think there WAS a K0. I think the designation was created to differentiate between the 69 and 70 models.

I agree. Even the dealer fiche designates it as K0, but that might be to differentiate it from the other models re: parts. Otherwise, the conversation might go something like;

Owner - "I'm looking for a widget for a CB750."
Dealer - "OK, which one?"
Owner - "I just told you, a CB750."

cbjunkie · « **Reply #11 on:** February 22, 2006, 01:59:22 PM »

so i mean you could say "K" and they should KNOW you mean a '69...

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2006, 02:01:40 PM »

I don't think it was ever referred to as with just the "K" I think you'd have the same problem. I've only seen the '69 referred to as just a CB750, or as being pointed out, a K0.

8 Track · « **Reply #13 on:** February 22, 2006, 06:08:33 PM »

Magpie, that's sexy!

Magpie · « **Reply #14 on:** February 22, 2006, 07:11:52 PM »

I hope I haven't highjacked this thread but here is one more then. She is very pretty but be careful what you say because these two fellows know her very well http://www.gaijinbikers.com/bigben/newjikoshokai.htm and one is a member here . These pictures are from their site that is a great look at biking in Japan.
The bike was also part of their wedding which is as it should be.
http://www.gaijinbikers.com/ld/yoparade.htm
I'm sure Big Ben will be along soon with his comments.
Cheers,
Cliff

Magpie · « **Reply #15 on:** February 22, 2006, 07:12:48 PM »

oops, same picture, here's the right one

8 Track · « **Reply #16 on:** February 22, 2006, 07:30:15 PM »

Magpie, I was referring more to the women on bikes being sexy. The pic itself was a good candid shot of a pretty girl on a pretty bike. All in good taste and respect!

Magpie · « **Reply #17 on:** February 22, 2006, 08:17:29 PM »

Of course, this is a forum of respectful gentlemen and gentleladies is it not?

And yes, a lady is at her sexiest on a good looking bike.
Cliff.

Big Ben · « **Reply #18 on:** February 22, 2006, 08:22:04 PM »

Quote

I'm sure Big Ben will be along soon with his comments.

You rang?

No worries, twostrokecrazy. Stinger is proud of his wife's beauty (and of her bike) and doesn't mind others noticing it.
But Yuka's is a K1 made up to look like a K0, or, I suppose, a "CB750". Maybe K0 is an American designation, but everyone in Japan uses it to describe the sandcast CB750 preceding the K1. Even if "k0" isn't official, if everyone knows what it means, I'll probably keep using it.

This is my buddy N's K0CB750:

Magpie · « **Reply #19 on:** February 22, 2006, 09:02:56 PM »

Big Ben,
I'm hoping that bike is the one Andy saw in Nagano that started this whole thread - then I know this really is a small world. And, a world wide forum. Hope all is well with you.
Cheers,
Cliff.

Magpie · « **Reply #20 on:** February 22, 2006, 09:04:27 PM »

Nagoya, not Nagano!

Cliff

andy750 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 23, 2006, 06:43:24 AM »

Hey Cliff,
I wish I had seen Yuka on her CB750 (whatever the year!) but alas no...it was a similar colour bike and was pristine condition (pipes were super shiny but it was driven by a Japanese guy in his 40`s (wearing white helmet). I know as I opened the window and congratulated him on his bike!
Cheers
Andy in Boston
(longing to go back to see Yuri in Tokyo....hopefully in September for the Niigata fireworks!).

Ted Nomura · « **Reply #22 on:** February 23, 2006, 12:03:06 PM »

Quote from: Magpie on February 22, 2006, 07:11:52 PM

I hope I haven't highjacked this thread but here is one more then. She is very pretty but be careful what you say because these two fellows know her very well http://www.gaijinbikers.com/bigben/newjikoshokai.htm and one is a member here . These pictures are from their site that is a great look at biking in Japan.
The bike was also part of their wedding which is as it should be.
http://www.gaijinbikers.com/ld/yoparade.htm
I'm sure Big Ben will be along soon with his comments.
Cheers,
Cliff

Nice picture. Someone should write an extended article about Gaijins in Japan on a CB750. I'll buy it!

Ted Nomura · « **Reply #23 on:** February 25, 2006, 12:56:58 PM »

Quote from: Magpie on February 22, 2006, 07:12:48 PM

oops, same picture, here's the right one

Okay, she's not gaijin but still looks cool. The CB750 looks pretty stock too except for thelater model front "uncut" (I think) fender and the CB750K2 HM341 mufflers. I did a dedicated CB750 episode in one of my comics that showed an guijin girl cleaning the first Honda CB750 prototype on the cover (Tigers of Terra series 2 issue #4) then another CB750 prototype II (in inaccurate red color instead of the orginal teal color I drew) on another issue titled Angels 750 #1. I even did a full-color short story back in 1990 on my friend's Ninja High School Annual showing the red 1969 CB750.

Ted Nomura · « **Reply #24 on:** February 25, 2006, 01:57:45 PM »

Quote from: eldar, Master of the K8 Thunder! on February 22, 2006, 01:31:24 PM

Technicaly I dont think there WAS a K0. I think the designation was created to differentiate between the 69 and 70 models.

Actually there were exactly 121 real Honda CB750K0s, created between 1970 CB750s and 1971 CB750K1s. The Honda of Japan decided to change to a more reliable duel throttle cable system before the CB750K1 introduction due to many complaints. It was not known if any K0s made it to America thus the confusion.The serial numbers are listed in Mr. John Wyatt's Original CB750 book.

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Author Topic: Original CB750KO seen in Nagoya, Japan (Read 7282 times)

eldar

Big Ben