Author Topic: SOHC re-issue (Read 7396 times)

3ntr0py · « **on:** November 18, 2005, 02:08:49 PM »

i'm sure this has been talked about on this forum before, but has anyone ever thought about petitioning for honda to do an anniversary re-issue edition of one of the old 70's SOHC's? not that it would do any good. i mean, please don't get me wrong, i love my 30 year old bike, but it might be interesting to see a re-issue of a bike with the body style of the old SOHC's and all new mechanics. i can't stand the body style of any motorcycles these days, which is one of the things that drew me to an old honda in the first place.

just a thought. it actually kind of surprises me that honda didn't do a limited run 550/750 re-issue for a 25 or 30 year anniversary.

-jg

ElCheapo · « **Reply #1 on:** November 18, 2005, 02:19:50 PM »

Why not? Car manufacturers have done it and had a success. I know if they released a 2006 CB 750 that looked like a the old K's. Like my K5 I would be first in line here to get one. Plus if the parts that they use are like NOS then they could be used on cheater restorations. I know I would.

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #2 on:** November 18, 2005, 03:21:19 PM »

Gee, something like that (a reissue) would really make mine look like crap.

Raul CB750K1 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 18, 2005, 03:38:22 PM »

Take a look at this pic. Taken from the Haynes "Honda CB750" book by Mick Duckworth.

Doh! it's a DOHC....

BobbyR · « **Reply #4 on:** November 18, 2005, 04:39:40 PM »

Actually I saw a Triumph Bonneville the other day. It was totally retro including the rubber knee pads on the tank. The rider was an Englishman who said "this is what it should have been". No oil leaks and handles well, and it has a lot more power. Honda could do it and it would probably work. It would be interesting what HP they could squeeze out of these engines today, upgraded brakes and a suspension tweak. It would be a winner for sure.

Buffo · « **Reply #5 on:** November 18, 2005, 05:13:06 PM »

I wonder if it would affect the value of our "vinage" CB's to any great extent...

Bodain · « **Reply #6 on:** November 18, 2005, 06:37:47 PM »

Well in a since they have. They are called naked bikes.

Take a look at this. It's my number 1 Kawasaki ride... It's a 2001 ZRX 1200R
I'ts modeled after the bikes of the 80's. Yet uses the modern technology.
Most people who see this think it is an 80's motorycle.

Honda has one or two naked bike counterparts.

Buffo · « **Reply #7 on:** November 18, 2005, 06:44:55 PM »

honda makes the 919...it is CBish

6pkrunner · « **Reply #8 on:** November 18, 2005, 06:45:43 PM »

I personally don't like trying to recreate or milk history for today. The Beetle, Thunderbird, and PT Cruiser have played their part and sales are completely flat this year. The 2006 Charger remains to be seen, conflicting statements and sales figures so far.
Yes the Triumph name is resurrected. I've seen quite a few and there are two owned by guys at work. Again it appears, to me, that they are trying to mine the past for sales. Yes there is an aura of retro there but not convincing for me.
Times and things change. Cars and bikes today are eons apart from the 70s. All aspects, performance, handling, braking, etc have improved vastly. But the styling of the 70s bikes should remain in the 70s. Trying to drag an item from the past into today doesn't come off real - again to me. Harleys are excluded from this as their following makes them pretty much are market resilient.
Again, this is just my feelings and not intended to offend anyone. I'll use an old item to act as an old item. To make an oil tight and non-vibrating Bonneville, is not a Bonneville at all.

mrblasty · « **Reply #9 on:** November 18, 2005, 07:58:04 PM »

It sounds cool, I saw a kawasaki w650 and really liked it. Turns out kawasaki doesn't import it anymore.

cb350f_rider_73 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 19, 2005, 12:04:47 AM »

From what I could tell, the Kawasaki W650 looked almost exactly like the old Triumph Bonnevilles. When Triumph started selling them in the US again, it probably dried up the market for the W650.

Wayne

Jim Shea · « **Reply #11 on:** November 19, 2005, 02:18:41 AM »

Personally I think the retro Bonnies are great, they look good and sound good and they actually work. The difference between owning an old Brit and an old Jap is that the Jap bikes are comparatively reliable. I did see somewhere the CB 750 being built in the US and advertised as new!
The other alternative is amodern muscle bike like the XJR1300, that has an 'old' look about it.

jsaab2748 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 19, 2005, 06:03:01 AM »

For what this is worth, the Ford mustang has done very well in the U.S. for '05. It has an "identity" that everyone recognizes. Are there enough people who would recognize a retro CB 750? And even if so, would enough buy one? The 750 was an idea presented to Mr. Honda himself, who in turn made it realty. A direct result of listening to the market and delivering what the people wanted. Maybe the guys at the top still do that? I think most on this sight would like to see it. All new, much faster/better handling, but an updated retro look. If they hit it right, the charm would still be there. When was the last time you saw four chrome pipes?
I'll take one in Custom Bacchus Olive please.....

Jonesy · « **Reply #13 on:** November 19, 2005, 06:06:18 AM »

My wife is currently taking an auto design course right now, but her assignment this week is to design a motorcycle. I asked if she would consider doing a "modern" CB750. She liked the idea. Maybe when she's finished with the drawings, I could post some of them up on the board here.

Anyone interested?

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #14 on:** November 19, 2005, 06:15:45 AM »

I would, I think it would be very interesting.

Geeto67 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 19, 2005, 07:26:07 AM »

kawasaki made the w650 for three years, but the demand was not enough to keep production going. I think it was premature and if they gad given it two more years sales would have picked up. The new w650 was really a recreation of the old w650 from the 1960's. The original W650 was a carbon copy of a BSA gold star (I think that is the model; so much so that some of the parts interchange). I doubt kawasaki will bring the w650 back but it was cool to be able to buy a new classic bike. The new bonnies are interpretations rather than recreations, still they do a good job and the feel is right on. If one wants to turely buy vintage you can buy an indian enfield bullett, except for minor revisions the bike is unchanged from 1967.

I don't think honda will ever build a recreation of the cb750, there are just too many of them out there. there is however a guy in san fran who will build you a brand new one out of NOS parts for $20K (and a sandcast to boot).

kghost · « **Reply #16 on:** November 19, 2005, 11:16:02 AM »

I'd prolly buy a updated version of the ol' SOHC al' the Ducati replicas.

An updated Honda like the Bonneville would appeal to me

Jonesy I would like to see what your wife comes up with

eldar · « **Reply #17 on:** November 19, 2005, 12:06:25 PM »

A retro cb huh. Well Iwould get on board for that. Of course it would not loke like completely like the originals and so i doubt it would decrease the value of our bikes, I actually think it would increase. There are so many people out there who have no idea what a cb is. I think if something came out that caught peoples attention, they would learn the history and our bikes might be even more sought after.

I think however that honda might try to capitalize on the idea too much and charge too much for the bike.
I think anything that rekindles interest in our bikes is good, as that might mean a larger parts base when companies see the popularity.

Phaedrus · « **Reply #18 on:** November 19, 2005, 12:50:45 PM »

I am totally smitten with Trimph's Thruxton. If I had the scratch I would pick one of those up. I am pretty content with my Cafed 550 though. In fact, as of today it is now officially leagal. I just got it inspected.

Harry · « **Reply #19 on:** November 19, 2005, 02:54:59 PM »

Quote from: jonesdp on November 19, 2005, 06:06:18 AM

My wife is currently taking an auto design course right now, but her assignment this week is to design a motorcycle. I asked if she would consider doing a "modern" CB750. She liked the idea. Maybe when she's finished with the drawings, I could post some of them up on the board here.

Anyone interested?

Nice! Yes, I would be interested. Especially to see how an "outsider" would define the essence of the SOHC4's.

Raul CB750K1 · « **Reply #20 on:** November 19, 2005, 03:09:24 PM »

The W650 is a reissue of the Kawa W1 and W2 from the sixties. Those bikes were replicas, as well as the rest of japanese bikes of the era, of the british bikes. The "Black Bomber" was the first "big bike" that should have warned the british industry about what was coming from Japan, though it was still very similar to the british bikes. The CB750 was the real McCoy, completely original, well designed, reliable and cheaper than their british competitors.

I love the new classic Triumphs, the W650, the Eddie Lawson Replica, all of them. I don't see anything wrong with it. Like in dressing, styles comes and go. When "retro" becomes fashion, definitely it gives you more credit if you use an original item, not a replica.

But don't forget that there is a modern day CB750. When the retro craze started in the 90's, and Kawa launched the Zephyr as a replica of the Z1, Honda launched the CB Seven Fifty as a replica of the CB750. I posted about it a while ago...

Raul

turtle · « **Reply #21 on:** November 19, 2005, 04:30:16 PM »

Jonesy I'm looking forward to seeing your wife's design.

Buffo · « **Reply #22 on:** November 19, 2005, 04:52:52 PM »

I have had many Island locals approach me and my bike telling me about their old SOHC ride...I think that a retro CB might work in a limited fashion...although limited never means affordable...atleast not in any of my dealings...

Uncle Ernie · « **Reply #23 on:** November 19, 2005, 05:09:08 PM »

Finally rode one of the new Bonnies and could barely see through the tears of disappointment. I've read that the W650 was better than any Triumph. After riding the "real" Triumph, I find that totally believable. Everytime I lust after that Thruxton, I remember the Bonnie and walk hoime.
I would love to see a re-issue of the SOHC4s, esp the 400 and 500- my personal favorites. Especially with differnet carbs!

Jonesy · « **Reply #24 on:** November 19, 2005, 05:12:21 PM »

Quote from: Harry on November 19, 2005, 02:54:59 PM

Quote from: jonesdp on November 19, 2005, 06:06:18 AM
My wife is currently taking an auto design course right now, but her assignment this week is to design a motorcycle. I asked if she would consider doing a "modern" CB750. She liked the idea. Maybe when she's finished with the drawings, I could post some of them up on the board here.

Anyone interested?

Nice! Yes, I would be interested. Especially to see how an "outsider" would define the essence of the SOHC4's.

Well, I'm not sure if I'd call her an outsider, since we both spend plenty of time in the garage with our bikes (She rides a '74 CB360T and we're looking for a 550 Four. She LOVES the new Triumph Bonneville T-100!). I told her there were many folks wanting to see her work, so the pressure's on!

The course is an introductory, so it's basic concept sketch work, not tons of fine details, but they convey the ideas. She has 2 weeks to work on the drawings, so stay tuned!

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Author Topic: SOHC re-issue (Read 7396 times)

3ntr0py

ElCheapo

Buffo

Buffo

Jim Shea

jsaab2748

eldar

Buffo