Topic: 1972 Domestic CB750 from Japanese market

[c_packer]

We found one of these 750's with metric guages and all of the writing on the tags and stickers are in japanese. Is this bike rare or more desireable to the US market?

[markjenn]

Certainly rare.  But I would think it would be less desirable in the US market and perhaps more desirable in the overseas market.  Grey-market import bikes can be highly collectable, but typically only if there is no US version available (e.g., VFR400R).  In the case of the CB750, I think US buyers would prefer the US spec bike and value it more highly.

- Mark

[ColinMc]

I want metric gauges! Me me me!

[c_packer]

This is a complete bike and will stay that way as far as I'm concerned. We paid 1,200 for it hope that wasn't a rip off. The bike is for sale as is everything for the right buyer. No part out!!

[Terry in Australia]

I had an imported 1974 CB750 with the japanese script on all the frame labels and the red light on the top tree etc, I doubt that your bike is any more desirable than the officially imported bikes mate, the general rule is that the sandcast K0 (regardless of the market it was built for) is worth lots and lots of money, a die cast K0 is just worth lots, and everything else is not really worth all that much.

Of course, if your bike is in "mint" condition, it'll be worth more than an equivalent US model in rough condition. Cheers, Terry.  

[Raul CB750K1]

Having two identical bikes, and I mean "identical" as in "clones", and one having the japanese labels, km/h gauges etc, I would probably pay 1 or 2 hundred more bucks for the sake of "weirdness", but not more.

Now, if the japanese bike was only sold there, it would be scarce in itself and it would command a higher price.

German CB750 had different blinkers and a couple of different things. I don't think anybody in the UK would be willing to pay extra for a german bike just because of it. Obviously, it is easier to put a german CB750 into UK than a japanese CB750 into US, and for that reason, finding a japanese bike in US is easier than a german in UK, but that alone doesn't seem to me such an argument to justify a "collector's price".


The "japanese edition" would be, in my opinion, "the icing on the cake" if the bike is in good shape. It would help to get a few hundreds more or to make it rise above the competition in the selling market. But who knows, somebody could be dying to buy the bike he imported from Japan and have a checkbook and trembling hand ready....

[bryanj]

probably worth more back in japan as it would be classed as an import and therefore, i believe, has to conform to laxer laws than home market