Topic: What Was Your 1st CB750?

[AjG]

I bought a 73 350 Four and loved it. But, within a week needed more oomf!!!
Bought the 750 and sold the little one and made a $1,000 somehow??
Yesterday I bought a 550
Love the ol' SOHCS

[nippon]

My first K2 which i have used as student in 1992.

nippon

[onagd]

My one and only CB750 was a Red '75. Still wish I had it, but family got in the way (kids).

[Johnie]

Loved the CB750 when they first came out in 1969, but I was only in 9th grade and could just admire it. 1970 got a Honda SS 65cc to learn. Gradually moved up to a 175, 450 and then bought my first brand new 1977 CB750K7 that year. I recall having ordered it from the dealer and they were even hard to come by back then. I thought the dealer was giving me the run around and canceled my order when another dealer said he could get me one faster. Here is a pic of that K7 when I brought it home.

[petercb750]

What I love about this is the number of people who still have their first sohc - makes me feel all warm and fuzzy....
Well done guys.

[HonderCB]

only had it 4 or 5 months, but its my first 750.  a 77F, i'm never getting rid of it:

[Vincent]

A couple of years ago I was corresponding with a fellow named Andy in New Zealand. When I saw the "1st CB750" topic, I searched back in my emails and found something I wrote to him back then. Here it is:

In the early seventies, I was in college in a small town in upstate New york. I had recently bought a used CL350, but I was ready to move up to something bigger. Several of my friends had Triumphs and BSAs, and they lobbied quite forcefully for me to get a nice used British twin. But I happened to stop by the local Honda dealer, and they happened to have a new CB750 K1 idling behind the shop. Four pipes! Four carbs! Disc brake! Gleaming chrome! Instruments tilted up to face you! As I stood there with my mouth hanging open, the mechanic revved it a few times. That was it for me. I told my friends I was thinking of getting a 750, and they all said "Oh, don't buy some giant Japanese thing. You'll hate it. It's as boring as a sewing machine." I went to the bank, withdrew most of the money I had set aside for food for that school year, and left the Honda shop with a brand new red K1. It was October, and I got to ride it for about a week before the snow started. I got a friend to help roll it up a board into the living room of our rented house. All winter, about the only things I could afford to eat were pasta and garlic toast, but I ate those meals sitting on the floor looking at the bike. I was in love. When spring finally came, I went on lots of rides with my friends. I wouldn't even put on my helmet until they had all completed their starting rituals - which involved lots of kicking and cursing - and then I would touch the starter button. The exhaust note was intoxicating, a smooth, silky burble that rose to a biting howl at higher revs. I flew over the rolling green countryside, accelerating uphill at a rate my friends could barely manage even going downhill. Every time I looked down at that beautiful valve cover protruding beyond the sides of the gas tank, I was sure that I was riding the most advanced and extraordinary motorcycle in the world. I felt like a pioneer, like an astronaut, like the bike could take me anywhere I could imagine going. And it did. Quickly, safely, comfortably, and in fabulous style. It made me a motorcyclist for life.

[Retro Rocket]

Cool story Vincent....

[BossMaroon]

Bought a K4 when I was 21, Boss Maroon was the color.  Paid around $1600 at Anderson's in West Bloomfield.  Exhaust rusted after the first year, (Michigan basement-dirt).  Used to pressure wash at the .25 car wash and the paint peeled off the tank.  Painted it all black, always missed the Maroon color.

Last year, 37 years after I had bought my original K4, bought another K4, same color.  Ended up putting around twice as much into the new one, it was well worth it!  Drives and runs just like my original!  Really enjoy my short rides around town, put around 700 miles this past year, most enjoyable was in the fall.  Bike is all stock, putting original handlebars on in the coming weeks, last item for complete originality.  Will post photos as soon as I'm done.

Just bought a 1975 550K with 6100 miles, great project for the winter.  Beautiful original shape, has not run since 1980.  Photos to come on this one also!  Guess you can say I am hooked a second time.

[Mugger_Mike]

I can't remeber what was the first year of the rear disc? yep that was it....

[Retro Rocket]

I can't remeber what was the first year of the rear disc? yep that was it....

1975....

[70CB750]

This one unless I count the CBX750 I had overeas.

[scottly]

The exhaust note was intoxicating, a smooth, silky burble that rose to a biting howl at higher revs. I flew over the rolling green countryside, accelerating uphill at a rate my friends could barely manage even going downhill. Every time I looked down at that beautiful valve cover protruding beyond the sides of the gas tank, I was sure that I was riding the most advanced and extraordinary motorcycle in the world. I felt like a pioneer, like an astronaut, like the bike could take me anywhere I could imagine going. And it did. Quickly, safely, comfortably, and in fabulous style. It made me a motorcyclist for life.

That about sums it up!
I bought my first 750, the one in my avatar, in 1979, for $1900. That was a lot for a bike with a K1 motor at the time, but it came with all the best goodies of the day: 836, Weber carbs, Seeley frame, Morris wheels, dual disc front and Grimeca rear disc. Within two months, I had totally torn it apart and put it back together, repairing most of the PO's mistakes. I immediately took it on a cross-country ride from SLO, CA, to CO Springs and back. 3000 miles in 10 days. 

[Vincent]

Just wanted to add a few words about the particular thrill of having an early CB750 back when they were new. I was doing a lot of riding in a pretty rural part of upstate New York, and every time I'd stop, people would come over to ask about the bike. Until that time, motorcycles mostly went "bub bub bub" or "potato potato potato" or "ring ding ding", but this one actually went "vroom vroom vroom!" It's like everyone else was flying a P-47 or a Corsair - absolutely cool and worthy rides - but then I show up in an F84 and everyone stops in their tracks and says  "Yikes! What the heck is THAT?" And when the engine starts, their eyes go wide and they mouth the word"Wow." Man, talk about pride of ownership.

[ken736cc]

Hey 736CC. I remember seeing that bike.  We met at a bike show at the South Shore Motorcycle club house. I had my red sandcast.   Sure has been a while. I guess these bikes got a real good hold on us as we are still crazy about them.

[Kong]

Band new 1970 K-1, and in fact it could have been that bike in the picture except that mine was later chopped. 

[petercb750]

Just wanted to add a few words about the particular thrill of having an early CB750 back when they were new. I was doing a lot of riding in a pretty rural part of upstate New York, and every time I'd stop, people would come over to ask about the bike. Until that time, motorcycles mostly went "bub bub bub" or "potato potato potato" or "ring ding ding", but this one actually went "vroom vroom vroom!" It's like everyone else was flying a P-47 or a Corsair - absolutely cool and worthy rides - but then I show up in an F84 and everyone stops in their tracks and says  "Yikes! What the heck is THAT?" And when the engine starts, their eyes go wide and they mouth the word"Wow." Man, talk about pride of ownership.

Very true - the most common comment I got when i bought a new one in '73 was "you'll fkn kill yourself mate" and old fellas (I was just 18) walking past and shaking their heads in disbelief.
I was very proud (still am!).

[cben750f0]

the one i got right now...13 years and counting.

lol


peace