The Honda CB750 was NOT what you think
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- čas přidán 15. 02. 2023
- The Honda CB750 is often referred to as 'the first superbike.' There's quite a bit more to this motorcycle however, so today we take a deep dive into how this motorcycle was developed, what Honda's goals were, and why it will go down as one of the greatest motorcycles of all time
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The CB750 was released when I was in high school. Everyone was in awe of it. Unfortunately I couldn't afford one in high school. Later, in college, I bought a used 2-year old 1972 CB750 which I loved. Naturally before I bought it, I inspected it and test-rode it. Everything was fine. I arranged to pick up the bike later when I brought the cash. The owner told me that he had to go out of town but a friend of his would be there to make the transfer. When I arrived to pick it up I tried to start it but it would not even fire. I knew the bike was fine because I had just ridden it several hours earlier so I took it home on a trailer certain that it must be a minor problem. After I got it home I discovered that the spark plugs were not firing. After much trouble-shooting and having traced much of the wiring I couldn't find the problem. I was getting really frustrated and regretted buying it. I then happened to look at the handlebars and noticed that the "kill" switch was off. I quickly flipped the switch and it started right up. 😂
😄😄
Believe me many of us (secretly) have been there :)
the old Honda handlebar mount kill switches have always given me trouble, I normally bypass them by clipping the wires and twisting them together, using the key as the kill-switch. I've had 2 70 Cb450s, a 305 dream and a Ca160, all of the kill switches have failed on me within a month of acquiring the bike. otherwise they've been outstanding. many many miles I have put on them, even the little 64 Ca160 will do 70 mph with my fat arse on it. it's wicked squirrely at those speeds though, not exactly fit for the highway.
Back in the early 70's I bought a Honda CB250 for $15.00. The owner who sold it to me had tried every thing he could possibly think of to get it running but to no avail. I trailer-ed it home and put a new set of spark plugs in it and hit the starter, and you guessed it, it fired up and ran perfect. I rode it for about a year before T boning a red light car and destroying the bike.
That STILL catches me about once a month on my old Honda. I'm trying to train myself to just use the key instead.
The bikes from the seventies hold a special place in my heart.
Such fine looking machines, now they all look angular & pointy almost like a transformer.
Nudist Bikes
Yeah I agree even as beautiful as the new bikes are looking at some of those 70s bikes like the rd350 and 400s Z1 RS and other ones brings back great memories
@@markremillard5135 I had both RD's . my 400 was a POS but the 350 was a DEMON !
@@pappy451 yeah I had about 10 of each I used to build them those were the good old days
I agree, I like chrome fenders, spokes, and an engine not hidden by plastic panels.
I crashed a Honda 750 in 1976. Almost died and lost the hearing in my left ear which got me washed our of the Marines. Turns out you can’t be a one eared marine. Worked out great though. I met my wife while recovering, had 5 kids and started a business that makes me 7 figures a year now. That bike changed the direction of my life for the better. Sometimes what seems like a tragedy turns out to be a blessing. God is good, all the time!
Amen ! ... He loves us SO MUCH !
Amen
Door closes and Door opens 🙌
This cup 👌
Meanwhile, in the real world, he lets thousands of kids die of hunger every day of the week...
Bought my new CB750 in 1974. Best bike I ever owned and wished I still had it. Great video and nice to look back at how well it really was.
Same year, same bike here.
@@gman77gas And again.
Yeah, watching this video brings back some melancholic memories! Oh to have one that looks like the ones in the video - so I can ride it helmetless with short pants, lol! Boomer-squid Style 🙂
@@BrianWMay I owned a 1973 model. Loved it. Wish I'd kept it.
Probably the most reliable bike ever built 👍👍👍‼️
I bought a 1972 CB750 brand new when I was 20 years old. What a machine. It was so nice. It was so dependable, and easy to service, like adjusting the valves and changing the oil etc. You could ride it all day and anywhere feeling confident it wasn't going to break down leaving you stranded somewhere. You couldn't find anything wrong with it...The finish on it was flawless. I wish I had it today. The memories will be with me forever.
WELL SAID I HAD ONE AS WELL, NEVER ONCE DID IT BREAK DOWN, THE GOOD OLD DAYS
I bought a new one in 78.8years and no troubles.Traded a 76 cb400f that was a great bike.
a friend of mine had a Triumph Bonneville, he was always popping the Zener diode voltage regulator. Just kicking it over sometimes was a chore. another friend had a Ducati Desmo, not to bad of a bike. another had a Moto Guzzi Lemans.
Even though the CB750 had a SOHC instead of a DOHC, it made the valve adjustment much easier. All you needed was a set of feeler gauges and a small screwdriver to adjust the valves.
The carbs are a bitch though lol
I bought a CB-750 in 1971 for $1400. Best purchase of my life. Put over 50,000 miles on it in one long year before joining the navy in 72. Fantastic bike all around. Will try to get another before I die. Hats off to Honda for this dream machine. If you haven't owned one, there's nothing negative you can say about it that will mean much to me. Yes, there are and were a lot of good bikes in that era, but that CB-750 was a gem and I cherish the memories. Cheers, D.
Wow. Now I’m dreaming of your 1971. It sounds so great. Cheers D.
You lived on that bike in 71, I was 14 in 71 and bought my first new motorcycle, a Yamaha 200.
@@Supercell725 Street or dirt? That was the start of the dominance of Yamaha. The 70's were great for them. Did you upgrade fast?
I'm thinking of buying one as my first bike, reading this I think you recommend it aswell?
@@emudii6418 The 750 is kinda big for a first bike, but you wouldnt be the first to do it. Easy to work on, reliable, cheap. Great bikes. Look at 350, 400, 500, 550s.
I owned four of these over a period of time. They never disappointed. I would ride them just because I loved it, and I would ride for ridiculously long distances, just so I never had to get off the bike. There was something to the comfort, the response and even the sound of the bike that just kept you content, mile after mile. I have owned a few other bikes that were perhaps more sporty but my best memories are of the CB 750 Four 😃
My 1st bike was a cb160. Been riding for about 45 years. But the CB series just has a special place in my heart.
My first bike was an S90. I was 14. I had the motorcycle bug really bad and that was all that I could afford on a paper route salary. It never let me down.
Mine too the 160, was a dependable little bike it was a 1966.
@@WHAZE100 Yes, nice to hear others that had a 1966 Honda CB160. If I had a more powerful bike, I probably would have killed myself. I now have a 2021 Harley Road Glide Special.
That is almost what i did. i bought a CB 160 and then a CB 450 and then the CB-750. really loved the CB 750.
My friend had the Honda 160 Scrambler. I used to drool over it in the school parking lot. Such a cool bike.
In the fall of 1971 I purchased a brand new CB750K1 in Garnet Brown. In the summer of '72 I strapped my camping gear on it and made a 7000 mile round trip of the USA. As you mentioned this bike was a smooth all day rider. You could set the throttle at 80 mph and it would just keep on going. I went from a CL175 to the CB750 and it was like moving up to a Cadillac in terms of comfort. The 750 was also a bike you could work on, not like the complex bikes of today. No crazy electronics, simple valve adjustments, easy to get at points and plugs, and no problem oil changes. Thanks for reminding me of how good the CB750 was as an all around MC.
All time classic. That bike, along with the CB350 changed the entire motorcycling world more than any other.
How did the CB350 change the motorcycling world?
I preferred the look of the f2 version but as you say great bikes for their time. Such a shame that the Kawasaki z900 handling nearly destroyed the Japanese bike industry overnight.
Which 350? The twin or the 4? Imo the twin was a better bike but the 4 way more fun. Wish I still had it
The CB350 changed my world ! I rode one across Canada and back at 16 years old . Fell in love , made love on sandy shores of Lake Ontario, rode with the Harley guys , had a few brake down on the highway and starved on the way home . After being home a few days I realized my friends were all weird .... I had become a young man
@@kaidemarco106 I think so too! Bart is so good! Only he could do a video of the CB350.Me? Kawasaki guy ...
Good vid. Thank you for your professionalism and viewpoint. I was amazed when this bike was introduced. I spent my money however on a 1967 BSA Lightning Rocket. Rode that bike for 50 years. I never saw the need to get anything else. I was too old school to think a real motorcycle didn't require you to bring a tool kit with you whenever you went for a spin. I do understand why the CB750 is an icon and wish I had bought one when I was young enough to enjoy it. Come to think of it, I'm only 78 I could still enjoy one.
Absolutely love "I'm ONLY 78' git give us '60yr old-young'uns' strong verve-n-vive to Ride On Man...just Ride-on!☺☺☺☺
The Rocket had much more character. The Honda is bland in comparison.
I put almost 50K miles on my '75 CB750K. Bought it new, rode the wheels off that bike and loved every minute of it.
The first motorcycle I ever bought, and still own today is a 1976 Honda CB750A (Hondamatic). It is an absolute blast to ride, and has been extremely reliable. It's also a great conversation piece everywhere I go. The CB750 deserves all the praise that it gets. Amazing video my friend, keep the great content coming!
Not to mention that bike is the BEST bracket drag bike due to its consistency. I mean all you had to do was sit idling and as the tree went green HAMMER IT, the bike did the rest and ride just enjoyed the WIN light... hard to beat the HONDA-MATIC....
A friend of mine had the automatic. The only one I’ve ever seen. I think I remember it had 2 speeds and couldn’t really tell the difference between them.
@@76629online what were they asking for it?
That reminds me, some years ago I had a neighbor who had a 750A. It was running on only two cylinders. I took off the valve cover and there was so much sludge and crud that you couldn't see the head bolts. The reason it only ran on two cylinders was because the camshaft snapped due to poor lubrication. It had seized. The guy had been riding it before for a few years and probably never changed the oil. I couldn't fix this engine, it was too far gone. The guy gave me the bike and I used the entire front end for a project VW trike I was working on.
I had a friend who had one of these back in the 70s and we all made fun of him for having such a slow 750. I rode it a few times and it seemed a real dog in comparison to a regular CB750. Not only did it have the soft automatic but also smaller carbs. Can't really say I am fan of this model.
I've had 11 bikes, but the CB750 was my favorite. I used to ride with a friend who had a Harley, and he was always pestering me to switch bikes for awhile. I resisted for a time, but finally switched. He fell in love with how smooth the 750 was. And I was really glad to get off the Harley. I could not imagine taking a long trip on the Harley.
Harleys were just so 1950 compared to the CB750.
Yes, I feel the same about Harley. I rode a new one. Now I was in my 50's and owned a zillion bikes since I was 13. Yet, that Harley scared the pants off me. What a pile of shit. (Sorry to any Harley lovers)
@@machtschnell7452 Tell me did your CB750 have a sweeking front disk brake pad? This came from pad vibration 7j
Harley = the ultra expensive lawnmower.....
What Harley were you riding, a sportster? No wonder if thats what it was.
I remember starting out with a Honda CT70, eventually moving through various models up to a Honda 360T, then finally deciding to trade for a new CB750. The ride home from the dealer, maybe 25 miles on a gently curving TN road, is still fresh in my memory. I never had a bike since that time that was such a jump in EVERY category…power, sound, smoothness, comfort, styling, you name it. I knew right then motorcycling for me would never be the same. What a grand time to ride a bike.
I owned four of these over the years... awesome and reliable bikes... never had a problem with any of them. I wish I still had one today... loved everything about them.
Oh man I loved my 750. That thing was as heavy as a tank and I'm not a big guy but what a ride. I remember winding it up to 90mph+ on the TransCanada highway and feeling the front wheel start to float up off the road. I'm sure that I could have died that day, but it was one of those moments you feel so alive! I will never forget it.
Right on! Sounds like fun!
I could pull the front wheel up at 110 mph on my 1992 Yamaha Vmax 1200 cc. And my 1986 V- 65 Magna was no slouch. Just top heavy where the Vmax is not. I could still ride a good wheely with the Magna. Just not on the top end like the Vmax. I still have the Vmax but with a few mods. Lowered suspension. Different carbs,exhaust, etc. Still a runner. I do wish I had kept the V-65 Magna though. It was a quarter mile runner also.
I had a friend that was generous with his(!) and one day out riding north of Thunder Bay I hit an unseen whoop-de-doo and got full air time with both wheels off the road (going about 100kph or more) - that was a rush! No license (hence no insurance) but always wore a Bell fullface helmet and ski gloves.
As someone in his mid 60s I’ve owned and ridden lots of bikes and the CB 750 K is in my mind the best production bike ever built In fact I have my eye on two 750s a local guy has that have both got less than 10,000 miles each on them and are 100% original with the only (minor) downside being that neither one has been started in at least 15 years though they have always been stored inside
Did the same sorta thing at 115mph during a late night blast on US98 between Destin FL and Panama City Beach FL back in 1975. Only briefly though…silly boy. It was a very different road back then.
I still miss my ‘73 CB 750! It was my first bike, and yet my favorite. When a clutch cable snapped 15 miles from home, I walked a few blocks to the dealership, bought the cable, installed it with the OEM toolkit, and drove home. 😎
Bought a '78 CB-750 new. It was an incredibly smooth bike. I once rode it 26 hours straight because I had to be "somewhere" quickly. I wish I still had the bike but sold it because I was going to a remote overseas military assignment.
I have a 2016 CB1100 which is heavily influenced by the CB750four. I absolutely love it. It might not be an old bike but it feels classic.
2014 was the last year you could get one in the states, I have one.
Bought a new 750 F in 75' - first edition of cafe racers- still have it and still ride it.14000 orig.miles.Hottest thing on the road until the two stroke kawa"s triples hit the scene.
I traded my 67 Bonneville for a 77 CB750F. The CB was so smooth & reved so high I thought it was missing a gear. Next 4 years I went on holidays with it. Loved it.
I moved from a CB350F (aka 350/4) to a beautiful blue 750F back in 1975. Man, I sure wish I had that beauty today. They were great bikes that changed the expectations of motorcycle buyers.
All these decades later and the Honda CB750 still looks gorgeous! I always loved the shape of the tank with the chrome strip on the bottom, the colours, and those four beautiful chrome exhausts. I thought it just beat the Suzuki GT750 ("the kettle") in the looks department, but it was close. What I can't understand is why Honda hasn't jumped on the classic bandwagon, and brought out a modern day version of CB750? I don't think it would take much, because they could use a beefed up version of their CB650 engine. Considering how well these classic bikes sell I think they're missing a great opportunity, just look at the Kawasaki Z900RS, and all the models from Royal Enfield, BSA, and Norton, etc.
I remember seeing the first one in 69 or 70! I studied it like a final exam! It was truly the bike that revolutionized the motorcycle industry!
Great video!!
That was a great video. Really informative and well put together. It makes me want to go out and buy a Honda 750. I never got to own one, I had Nortons, but almost all my friends had them. As soon as you rode one for the first time you knew British bikes were done. Electric start, five speed, no need to put rags under it to catch the oil leaks, no need to carry a pocket full of tools, no parts falling off, reliable wiring etc. etc. They just had it all in one box.
...and no stinky gas fingers from the Amal ticklers 🙂
I have owned 3 CB750s including an original 1969 model (with the squared-off side covers) which I rode for over 70,000 problem free miles from coast to coast. Man, I loved those bikes! My friends and I were among the first few to "chop" these bikes, with extended forks, lowered rear shocks, custom paint and 16" Harley rear wheels.etc. what a trip down memory lane.
The very first pre K1 CB 750 were a little hotter than the later pre K1 examples.
Forks by Frank... remember that guy? Or Sal Intravartolo. Chicago guys.
Went totally the other direction,Yoshi 4 into 1pipe without a baffle,single race seat and clip-ons bars.loved the K0 more than any other bike I've ever owned.
I was to young and to poor to own one, but oh man, that bike was all I ever wanted as a teen. Great video Bart.
Just by chance, this was the first bike I bought for myself in the early 1970's when I was just out of college. If I had any doubts that motorcycling was for me, this bike erased those doubts completely.
I had a 1977 CB550 gse
A 1974 CB750 was my first new bike. I absolutely think you nailed it in this review. That said, I can add nothing!
My 81 or 82 CB750K will always be the best bike I have owned, and I have owned probably 20 or more. Went down to the dealer in Fairfield, CA to buy a new Rebel 450. Saw the K sitting outside with zero miles, and about $500 less. Never considered a K because they had been out of production in 86. This one got lost in a warehouse for 3 or 4 years. Sat on it, and ditched the Rebel plan immediately. I wasn't leaving the poor thing to grow more dust. I rode the heck out of it the first couple years, many 2 up. 120 was well in its capability with 2 riders. Kids came along, and priorities changed, but that was the smoothest bike ever. Later I got a v65 Sabre that also got ridden a lot, and it would leave the K in the dust, but it was not a CB750K.
Yes, I had a CB750 back when they first came out and really enjoyed that bike. I remember putting a 4-into1 exhaust onto it to make a really beautiful tuned sound. I later bought a Rickman cafe-racer style bike with a Honda 750 motor which was bored out to 812cc. That was really fast in the day. I remember that whenever I would take it out in the Spring and opened it upfor the first time in a long while, it would leave my mind behind 🙂
And now today you'd be left in the dust with what's come out.
@@theenzoferrari458 Yes, that's for sure. That's why I said the Rickman was "really fast in the day". Same thing can be said for my Tesla that can easily blow away my 1996 Porsche 911 Carrera.
@@PhilT993 🤣🤣🤣
This was my first motorcycle. I bought it in 1982 and it had 27,000 miles. The low center of gravity made steering almost effortless and a basic tool kit/socket wrench was required to fix anything.
I too had the 550 in 1975 - an orange one and absolutely loved it. It started first time every time and never leaked a single drip of oil. Its strange how its never mentioned after the 750 and much as the 450.... wish I still had it.
One of the best things Japan ever sent to our shores. I had a 1980 CB750 Custom i bought for $1,000 in 1997, but my first street bike was a 1975 CB 550 Four Super Sport i bought for $225 in 1991. Both great bikes, but I definitely liked the 550 more. I even went for two years w/o having a car and used the 550 year round. Never let me down. 16°F was the coldest I rode it and it probably started in one kick! I'm gonna remember it that way anyway. Honda CBS are legend.
I was the assistant service manager and service writer for a Honda motorcycle dealership in the late 70s, early 80s. The dealership also sold Kawasaki motorcycles along with a few other brands. I also did quite a bit of side work on other Japanese brands of motorcycles. The one thing that impressed me most was the quality Honda put into their machines. I was asked many times which brand was better quality, Honda or Kawasaki. My answer was always the same.... Honda uses better quality hardware in their crates than Kawasaki does in their motorcycles. I know this because at one point I setup both brands from crate to showroom. On another note, Honda had a very precise setup schedule compared to Kawasaki. I have nothing against Kawasaki, just my experience.
Great report! My brother and I both bought CB 750's in 1973 and we rode across Canada together. It took the entire summer and the bikes performed amazingly: no breakdowns, no oil leaks, and no unexpected surprises. My Triumph leaked oil and my BSA's horn bracket snapped off due to some ghastly vibrations. In the end, my K3 was the best bike of the seven owned and I always remember the sound of that engine. Long live it's legacy!
My friend had a 71 model. He removed the mufflers and welded some VW baffles on the end. I know what you mean when you say it was the sound that was so awesome.
@@jasmith1867 Agreed!!
Poor BSA the victim of a rushed design that wasn't balanced. What didn't fatigue and fall off due to vibration was welded to the frame. Lucas wiring earned it the phrase BSA stands for Bugger Stopped Again. And more colorful language. I hated anything made by Lucas, it always failed early.
@@darrellcook8253 Spot on Darrell!
@@darrellcook8253 Zener Diodes!
Great job on the story, you nailed it! Being almost 65 now and a total bike freak I was there and right in the middle of it, I personally never owned a CB 750, I had a SL175 and an SL350, Mach 4 Kawi 500 & KH1000 & Suzuki GS1000 (my favorite!) and I've ridden just about every bike made through the 70's & 80's, great times! You brought back allot of good memories, thank you!
I have a CB750 which I am the 2nd owner of. I would say, anyone who loved that bike would also like the Suzuki GS1000. A friend had one back when I first got my 750. If I were to look for something else, that is what I would look to get.
My first bike was a SL 175. I rode it every day to high school and cursed those twin carbs as they never seem to run right. It was heavy geared way too low for the street but I still love it.
I was a young adult motorcyclist in the early 1970s. The CB750 was the Swiss Army Knife of motorcycles. There literally were 1 million accessories available to make it a tourer or a cafe racer. It also made Craig Vetter rich making touring fairings and accessories. I couldn't quite afford a CB750 so I bought a new CB550 Four. It was a great bike, A sewing machine for reliability. A great tourer too. Later I had a Kawasaki Z900. It was a superior bike to the Hondas. Then I had a Honda V4. It had power like nothing previously experienced. But now I'm old and ride my 1988 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Classic. That's what old men are supposed to ride.
Nope, I Traded my Harley for a R1200GS. It’s a much better Bike. The Harleys Weigh a Ton, and the Heat off the back Cylinder is Horrendous.
@@joeybobbie1; DUUUH YUP! Harley's weigh 2,000 pounds and those aluminum heads feel like they're going to melt at any second. what a ignamaroon.
I AM 78 AND HAD OVER A DOZEN BIKES FROM A RD 350 UP TO A 1200
FAVES WERE THE RD UP TO THE HONDA 750
BEST OF ALL WAS THE LAST A
XV920 THAT MY DAUGHTER HAS INHERITED
SHE RIDES THE SCHIT OUT OF IT
I had two of these in the later 70's. I'm so glad I was able to experience these machines back in the beginning of my riding career. Because I also did my own work I also learned all mechanical the ins and outs of the 750. Simple bike to work on.
I agree! My 750s never saw the inside of a motorcycle shop. I had a high-performance Camaro in high school that I worked on so doing mechanical work on my bike was a breeze. Just bought more Craftsman's tools at Sears - but in metric size. Carried some of them in a pouch when I drove the bike on long trips along with lubricant and a tube of graphite powder.
I owned a cb450 for 17 years and was ridden nearly every day. Was super easy to work on once I got rid of the selenium rectifier. Did so many miles I could not even guess how many and as my first real bike at 15 years old, will always be special to me. Dohc and torsion bars instead of valve springs, just so innovative. Don’t currently own a CB which is odd since I have had about 20. I did find the 750 heavy compared to the 450 and 500 personally. Many happy CB memories here.
I saw my first CB 750 in 1970 while working as a carhop at a A&W drive-in, I was 13 and motorcycle crazy. This guy cruised thru the lot real slow and then pulled out on the main drag and hit the gas. I thought I was witnessing a rocket on 2 wheels taking off. It left a lasting impression because I’ve been riding since I turned 14 and I’m 66 now. Got a GW in the garage that she shares with Mr Valkyrie. Outstanding Video Thank You
Great comment - thanks!
@@acehandler1530 thanks Ace, every word was as I remember that day. I had been buying motorcycle magazines for awhile and I recognized that 750 as he cruised thru our lot real slow. It was like seeing a alien spacecraft back then. They were few and far between in Northcentral Oklahoma back in the day.
I was in 8th grade when the CB750 was introduced . It was my dream come true when I purchased a brand new 1975 K5! I performed most of the maintenance myself, including fixing a flat tire on a Kentucky coal road!
Early on I installed many accessories from manufacturers such as Vetter, Wixom, Lockhart, Rack Factory, Koni and Eclipse. Toured and commuted on it for 10 years, accumulating over 100k miles. My first street bike, and the best one!
BTW, I believe that the CB750 was introduced at the 1968 Tokyo Motorcycle Show, not 1969.
Great video, and well researched. I learned quite a bit of new information, including the fact that the engine was an under-sqare design.
In 1989 I bought a CB750 from a friend of mine for cheap because it didn't run due to sitting for a long time in the garage. I completely disassemble the carburetors and cleaned them up and then ran all the parts in the dishwasher 3 or 4 times. They looked brand new when I put them back together. I screwed the air-fuel mixture screws all the way in and backed them off 3 1/2 turns and reinstalled them. Put fresh fuel in the cleaned tank and she fired right up and ran perfect! The bike was in great shape, ran like a top and I rode her for years! I miss that bike, wish I still had it.
1978 Honda CB 750 F2 in black was my first 4 cylinder motorcycle ……….awesome machine (UK)
I had a bunch of these in the 90’s (when they were dirt cheap), amazing bikes by any measure but what really sticks in my memory is the incredible sound of the SOHC motor (granted my favourite had a 836 kit and was cammed, carbed and piped).
It was the first modern era motorcycle and is the grandfather of everything that came after it, truly an amazing bike.
Not my favourite, but definitely in my top 10 of all time.
In the U.K., the Honda CB 250 Dream was a game changer for learners. (We were allowed 250cc on an L plate in those days)
Whenever I'm asked "What's a good first motorcycle?" I say an XR80.
I swapped my Fizzy for a CD175 not long before the law changed in the early 80s, and consequently had to pass my test, or sell it and get a 125. I stopped riding bikes a few years later, but to this day, could go out and buy _any_ bike, put on a helmet and ride it home! TBH the CD was powerful enough for me and I put quite a few thousand miles on it.
Rather have an RD 250
Me too, and I did
@@MoultonDave What, bought a bike after going years without one? What did you buy?
I bought my 1970 CB750 used right after I graduated college in 1973. I always loved it and have many Hondas since then. Most of my other Hondas are gone, but I still have the CB750 but haven't driven it in a long time. I also have my wife's 1972 CB175.
I loved the comment about your parents going golfing! Much of the time I had my 1972 CB750, I was an ice hockey goaltender. We played all year round and in good weather, I would strap my equipment bag on the luggage rack, strap my sticks along the side, and head to and from my games.
I bought that bike in May of 1972, and finally, let it go less than 10 years ago. It had several lives. It started as a sport-touring bike, did a stint as a cafe racer, played semi-chopper for a while, and then got decked out as a full-blown cruiser with a fairing/windshield combo and saddlebags. I just couldn't part with it and buy anything else. The only other bike I wish I still had was my first "real" motorcycle, a 1968 Honda CD175. I do still have one Honda: a 1970 Mini Trail, which I will pass on to one of my grandkids one day soon.
I also still have an unopened Tamiya plastic model kit of the CB750 that I keep thinking about building...maybe one day.
Great video!
Fresh out of the Navy and trading up from a CB450, I bought a new cb750 k-4 for $1354.00! Later I bought a set of Lester mag wheels ( still stored in garage) and strapped an American Eagle Sidecar on the side. I remember the trial run, running off the road and over the curb with my best friend and mechanic buddy, Marshall, because I couldn’t force myself to turn the handlebars to steer. Lifting the sidecar wheel that first time freaked both of us out! What a different breast!
We took my rig to Heyser Honda in Laurel, Maryland where Tom Heyser had a German mechanic named Clauss. Clauss tweeked my setup then put me in the sidecar to teach me how to master the beast. We did a right angle turn around a utility pole with me and the sidecar standing on edge, my hair straight up to the sky. It was terrifying but showed me that when powered properly, the beast was crazy capable of safe, thrilling rides. I rode it from coast to coast several times ,without ever a hiccup, always appreciating passersby commenting on how cool it was. I always appreciated the extra headlight. I rode it across Sandy beaches with no difficulty. Traction control was built in to the throttle. It was as good In snow as any 4 x of today. My brother and I raced up the winding mountain road from Temecula to the mountaintop, gleefully doing power slides thru switchback after switchback in the snow, my brother getting to be a better monkey with each powdery power slide. My 750 sidecar (wonderful added headlight) took me from coast to coast. I listened to Richard Nixon while sitting astride that comfy saddle sitting at the store eating my first Hagendaz bar in Yosemite Valley. I met a fellow cyclist coming through a dense fogbank along the California coast. He had his legs crossed over his gas tank, happily toking on a doobie. He tucked into the safe glow of my sidecar’s bright halogen headlight. We rode side by side til fill up needed. We stopped at Denny’s for gas and food. We’ve been best friends ever since! I sold bike ( kept Lester’s) with 75k miles for about what I paid, having only replaced the chain one time (overheated chain til it bound up on a highspeed run down I-5. The grapevine was too much for the old chain). Cooled and lubed and my yo-yo trip from Berkeley CA to SanDiego was completed without other incident. I did a high speed cross country run with my sister in tow (no sidecar) and in the desert west doing about 100mph through the starlit sky, spotted what we are sure of til today was a UFO. We zoomed along for a long time, keeping pace with it, certain to this day that it was indeed a UFO as we zoomed past the now famous “Area 51.” Adventures galore. Never a hitch. Honda design engineers rock!
Kept up with the UFO for a while!!
Back in their day, they weren't the fastest or the best handling, but for bullet-proof reliability you couldn't beat them. Even today, if maintained properly, they'd still be right up there. I'm in Australia, have owned several, and know lots of people who've done lots of really big trips on these with no trouble at all. Ground-breaking reliable touring bike.
Been there, owned one. You've heard "reliable as a rock"? The CB 750 set a new standard for rocks to strive towards.
I had the CB550-4. So smooth!
Ck out the old Suzuki's as well,.... if you can find one.
yes, they were reliable... just like a boat anchor
@@donveitch5812 Yeah, it's a crummy jogging partner. Doesn't keep it from being a fun machine.
The Honda cb750 was a masterpiece of engineering and was in my opinion absolutely beautiful with all the colors it came in wonderful machine
I bought a 71 new. Had a 72 as a restoration project that was sold...and currently ride a 73...that I bought new! Was a Honda serrvice tech for 42 yrs. I've owned a LOT of them. All I have left is the 73 I bought new. Don't put on the miles I used to at age 72 now...but she stills gets out on the road in the summer!
It was one of my dream bikes when I passed m'y driving licence in 1975.
Today I ride it's grand child, a 1995 Suzuki Bandit ...
I had a 1978 CB750. Still probably my favorite bike. It was awesome! The fastest? No. the best handling? NO. Just the best all around, most comfortable bike ever made. You could still cruise at 85 mph with it.
I did too!!
Same year!!
One of the best I've ever had.
Yep, I rode a 78/ 750 for years great dependable all around bike. Cons- noisy drive chain and cam chain.. but a really simple/ dependable, enjoyable, machine , smooth in line 4cyl.
I was awestruck by the first CB750 I saw as a kid and I did eventually own two of them. But by the time I was old enough to buy a bike it was the CB900F that became my aspirational machine. When I think about it the 900F was a perfect, slightly sportier, evolution of the original. Same basic formula, but double the cams and valves, triple the discs, add 150cc, modernize the styling and, voila! So much to love from Honda back-in-the-day from CB450 to CBX!
I bought a 1978 CB750K, the last year of production. $1800 out the door. I still have it.
Super cool you made this video. I just got given to me a 1976 CB750 that has been sitting for 20 years. It's in decent shape and I plan to restore it. Thanks for all the great content
i have a 76 k a great bike ! have owned about 4-5 750's over the years . and you meet the nicest people on them !
@@rocketjohny1954 Ha Ha! SLOGAN and you meet the nicest people
Well worth the effort.
@@ivanwalker6459 As original as possible, I think. (It irks me a bit to see a '72 H2 Kawasaki with expansion pipes).
I hope there are 3rd party company's that can accurately reproduce and provide replacement parts for classic popular, motorcycles. Actual parts cannot exist in good condition.
In 1980, I bought a used 1976 CB 750 in the color Bergandy in perfect condition and very low miles, upgraded touring seat, rack with sissy bar and an all clear 3/4 windshield for only $600. I used it to commute to work every day in heavy Silicone Valley traffic and it never let me down. Sold it for $600 6 years later after a move to the Arizona desert city of Lake Havasu mostly because the weather was just too hot to ride a good part of the year. I sure miss that bike! Hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoyed mine!
Great analysis, as usual. When you ride an original SOHC CB750 alongside other bikes from the era, Z1s/KZ1000s, KZ 650, XS 650/750/850, any Japanese 550/four, you'll understand why the CB750 was so popular, and sold so well for so long. Decent power, very planted feeling on the road, good brakes, very little vibration, just an easy bike to ride and get along with. And Honda hit it out of the park with the bike's looks, a perfect combination of modern and classic styling.
Rode my K2 750 40k miles in 4 years with no problems. In '76, I rode solo from Napa, CA to SE Minnesota, 4900+ miles round trip, sometimes
800 miles a day. On a country road in ID, I rode
among a "gang" of Gold Wings and was amazed I could hear them talk; my 750-riding mechanic-wizard buddy and I used to use sign language while underway, because our bikes were so loud!
Sold the bike to a Napa motor cop who rode a CB750 for work, and finished college. Like other commenters, I wish I still had that great bike.
Cruelty63, is your icon " Duty Now for the Future"?
@@baltimoraclehdeg4270 It is indeed, since we're living in a wiggly world.
@@cruelty6368Indeed ! "They say the strongest shall survive!" ... and avoid the Space Junk
I had the 550 and my dad had the 750 and yes it was a far more substantial Machine over the 550! The main difference was the torque the 750 come on far sooner and stronger then my 550! Both great bikes! Only problem we ever had was the wheels those spokes would come loose and fly out if you didn’t keep a eye on them and tighten them once in a while. My 550 never had that problem just the 750 and it was newer.
I was at Sturgis when the first CB750 appeared in the parking lot of Mount Rushmore. As word got around a crowd grew around the bike.
I bought a CB750-F new, and I owned it for 40 years. It was very clean and ran when I sold it after 42 years with about 40K on the clock. The buyer has gone through everything, and she looks and runs like new.
Great video! I love your points to Hondas initial direction and how it is intended to be a great all arounder. Of all the classic bikes I ride I have always enjoyed a CB750 the most for its comfort, enough power for modern roads, smoothness, and just damn good looks.
Wow, you are an encyclopedia of motorcycle trivia I must say - really enjoyed this, thank you! Two of my friends purchased matching 1974 CB750's in 1975 and sharing was the thing so my very first two-wheeled powered riding experience was on a CB750. I was 22 years old and I've been hooked on motorcycle riding ever since. I never did own my own CB750, I fell in lust with the 750 Shadow when they appeared in 1983 (owned an '83, then an '85 which I put 85K kms on). I'm 70 now and ride a Yamaha FJR1300 - a sport-tourer is ever there was one. I love this bike and recently took it for a 6000km road trip last May. EPIC!
I have a 500 CB I bought new in 1973. It's been in storage for years. I'm 68 and watching this video makes me want to get it running again. I paid $1500 and some change for it at a Honda car dealership in Peoria, Illinois. Thanks for the video.
Your dad says it was the best bike ever made. We got a lot of attention strapping 2 sets of golf clubs to the pegs with bungee cords and heading down the highway. That's one bike we wish we still had. Also wish we had pictures of us with our clubs stepped on!
Sounds like Mom! Kudos to you! Your boy makes great videos! Enjoying them in Manchester, NJ.
Great video, I was too young for the original CB750 but my 1982 CB900F2 was everything that came from that humble beginning, it handled well, rode well, suspension was great, twin front discs that worked and it went like a rocket at over 130 MPH allegedly! :)
Bought the CB750 in 1970. Is a beautiful bike. Just like the red one in the clip. At that time it was a toss up between the Triumph Trident but dad liked the Honda better. So he bought one for us boys. Was a great choice. The later "K" version of these CB 750's with the double overhead cams were not nearly as quick as the 69 and 70 model years. Pull the baffles out and listen to it roar. Awesome. The early ones are indeed the iconic ones to have. We still have ours.
In 1978 I rode a 1976 Honda CB750 K from Alaska to Florida, 5500 miles. I rode it 1100 miles (23 hours) on the last day of that trip. Put a total of about 40000 miles on that bike, except for chains ( no o-ring chains in those days), tires and oil changes it didn't need anything else. Great bike. I currently have the latest in a UJM the 2018 kawasaki kz900. UJM is the way to go for all around riding.
That must have been an amazing adventure🤙🏽
Toronto to Toulon..1986 FXRD...1 DAY NIGHT...Also loved my Honda 750 Pumpkin
I saw one when it first came out and vowed I would own one. It took many years before I was able to afford one, but I've owned several since. I have two now.
No question......the greatest innovation to the mc world ever! At age 16, useing lawn mowing and paper route monies I bought a new "71 750 Four. So amazing at that time. I continued to by a new one every two years. Had the CB 750's, the 750F, 900F and 1100F. Also did the CB 900 and the CB1000 with the hi-lo transmissions.
Am now 70 yrs old and still riding ......7000 mile journey through Alaska, 30 day tour through Europe, many off road adventures in Mexico, and now planning a 20 day adventure in Bolivia and Columbia.
Live to ride.....ride to live....
I had two CB750, 1972 and 1979. I loved those bikes and had many great rides with my wife and kids.... The bikes are gone but not the memories!!!!! 😎
I started riding in 1974 on a CL350 identical to your dad's. In '75 my next bike was a '74 CB750 purchased very lightly used. Metallic orange. Easy to maintain and reliable. Your excellent video brought back fond memories.🙂
My Brother was a Honda Mechenic when they first came out. We were riding motocross, dirt bikes, you know On Any Sunday stuff. So weight was the big issue, it was heavy it was fast, but a bit unstable coming down off high speed. We preferred the Norton, but we were also learning about long trips and vibration numbing your butt and hands. So the 750 four as we called it back then unimpressive but powerful. We were not really Honda fans at the time 🙄! Just my take on the era of motorcycles.
I had the chance to buy one of these new in 1971. Chose a Norton Commando instead, and glad I did. The Honda has specs, the Norton had soul.
Most Soulful of the British Marques. The Norton Powered Ron Woods Flat Trackers look,.sound amazing.
I bought new and owned and rode a 750 for over 10 years during the 70s/80s. Loved that bike. and sooo wish I still had it. Very comfortable ride ... reliable (never had it fail to start). I'm not a big person, so this bike could do anything (as far as I was concerned!) an enoumous, noisy monster weighing twice, or more, as much .. could do. I was an ag-driver and many of the guys I flew with liked this bike. Great piece of engineering ....
Dad had a 305 Dream, a pair of 305 Scrambler's, several CB750's, a GS1100 a XS1100 and even a couple of Harley's. Later in life, he would talk about how much he loved the old CB750's. He passed that passion down to my brothers and I, we all grew up with a passion for riding.
- Thanks Dad.
I had the kid brother to this for a couple of years the CB 550-4. Almost identical to this one. It was a fun bike. I enjoyed it. It was relatively quick. I miss it. Sort of. It would be the first motorcycle I can call my own for a couple of years. From 1981 until 1983.
I'm old now and retired.. I miss my time on my motorcycle, terribly. What a marvelous feeling of life! And never an actual accident. And I don't know how that was possible? I am beyond lucky. I was at my best. Way back when. 40 years ago. Oh where did the time go? How can I have that much fun again? That fresh air. That freedom. That zippy feeling. That feeling of power vibrating between your legs! Oh yeah baby!
Those of us who have survived our motorcycles for, decades. Should all receive a metal. Something other than lead.
I have to get back to my senility, now.
RamyRAD
I also owned a 1975 CB 550-4 from 1977 to 1987. Rode it nearly 100 thousand miles without any breakdowns before selling it to the next owner. Many wonderful hours spent on this bike for me as well.
I owned 2 Honda 4-cilinder bikes: a CB550F and a CB700SC (or Nighthawk-S). The latter with shaft drive to the rear. Both of them great running bikes!
When I first rode a CB750 in 1970 , to me, it seemed the first motorcycle I had ridden that goes as fast uphill as it does downhill. It WAS 1970 :)
Hey bart, Great video and Thanks. When I was in the USAF in Charleston S.C. A guy sold me his Honda 750 he had bought in Japan when he was stationed there. This was 1976 and I think I paid him $600 for it. What a great bike it was. Towed it back to Shreveport using a rented U-Haul wheel hitch on the back of my 68 Camero. Rode it till 1980 when I sold it for $400. It still ran great. It was a Mighty Fine Bike.
I owned a cb750 in the 80's and it was an awesome machine, it never let me down! ...in the 70's I owned an SL 350 and I loved it as well!
SL350, that was actually a twin. Pretty much same motor as the CB350 I think, but with different carbs and exhaust. I used to own one as well. It was a great bike.
You are right! It was a twin, . ..it's been a while.
Still after all these years an incredibly beautiful motorcycle. I bought a new 1971 model and loved the bike. Yes I considered it a touring motorcycle when i equipped it with a Wixom handlebar fairing that I color matched to be bikes color.
I've always admired the older Honda bikes, and the CB750 is one of my 'bucket list bikes' that I will own before I die. I've put many miles down on a 1970 CB450, from Florida to California to Iowa, and it did it all with minimal issue. great little bikes with plenty of torque.
Torque? A CB450? Do you know what torque is? It is what no CB450 has ever delivered, anywhere, any time. I had a new, 1968 CB450 in the day, and it had hand-numbing eye-blurring vibration in place of torque.
@@Hopeless_and_Forlorn what are you talking about dude. it makes torque up high. I would routinely pull the front wheel off the ground unintentionally at stop lights, and I'm not small. I'm just a hair under 6ft and weigh 300+ lbs. no other bike I've had does that, but then again every other bike I've had is a cruiser save for my Xs750 triple. these bikes were no slouch, it's the first bike to make 100 hp per liter. 450 cc and 45 horsepower. I had a friend, runs a bike shop out in the iowa boonies, who raced Cb750s. I got him into the 450s when I had him do some work on mine, and he eventually got his own. he tore that sucker down and I don't know what he did, but he sure as hell found the limits. first one he built he told me it had upwards of 70 horsepower, and it surely looked it before it shot chunks of crank right out of the side of the block halfway through it's first real track test. second one was a little toned back, but still failed like the first. the vibrations really are the killer for twins. I know I would go numb from my ass to my fingertips when riding for longer than 20 minutes.
I owned a 750 back in the 80's and now I want another. But then I watched a video of a barn find and the guy had to tear it down and rebuild it. I've rebuilt several car engines but that 750 is one super complicated engine to tackle.
@@jasmith1867 I've done 3 rebuilds on my Cb450 twins, and I feel you. half the cylinders doesn't mean shit when you've got twice the cams.
GOOD LUCK BUCK !
I was in the 8th grade when these bikes came out and they are awesome. My neighbor rode a 350 and he had a group of friends stop by one saturday....4 or 5 CB 750's. those colors! red, orange and blue...we were in awe!!
The 70s was a wonderful time to be a motorcycle enthusiast. The Japanese bikes were magnificent. Nothing today compares to the freedom we had back then.
Gas for pennies. In ‘72 I was 8 years old and had a Trail 50. My allowance was a quarter. I could fill the tank and ride it all week for that!
Same here!
In 1972 I bought a near new 1972 CB750 which was gold in color.
I rode that bike really hard for several years without any major problems other than replacing the clutch.
It was a fantastic bike, especially for back in those days. The only negative was all the speeding tickets I got while riding it.😊
I bought a brown metallic K2 750 in 1972 after we were married and we went across country 2 up and a fair amount of baggage. It was an incredible motorcycle. One of my most memorable moments (there were many) was in the Rocky Mountains when we set up over night. When we left in the morning there were many bikes there. Harley's, Triumphs and some Suzuki's. My 750 with four carbs, started immediately while others were still kick starting trying to get theirs started. The altitude obviously was pretty high. We had absolutely no issues from Illinois to CA and back. One of the best bikes I've owned. I'm going to look for, and buy another reconditioned K2 750. Right now I have an HD Ultra Limited.
I owned a 1970, 1971, 1972 CB-750K and then a 1978 F model. The 1972 I bought new at Honda of Tampa for $1,730 cash. It was perfect, hell, they all were, but this is the only new one I ever owned. I loved these bikes and had so many years and so many miles of motorcycling pleasure. I had owned a Triumph 650 Bonneville, an 1969 Norton 850 cc Commando, and numerous Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki,road bikes. There was not another bike in my life that I enjoyed so much of my life on than my CB-750 Honda's. So reliable, so smooth, so comfortable, and easy to work on. They will always hold a special place in my heart. I would love to ride one again. I miss them.
They were amazing. Go anywhere anytime. Push button start, disc brakes, and very peppy. And they didn’t leak oil. Very affordable in comparison to other bikes. Would run over a 100,000 miles with no problems. I owned three. What a bike. 😄
The CB750 was my second bike. I probably put 20K miles on it including two round trips from So Cal to the Midwest. Before the Iron Butt was a thing, one of my trips included a 48 hour ride from the San Fernando Valley to Grand Rapids MI to attend my sister’s birthday party. Never had any issues worth mentioning. Great bike. I wish I still had it.
The Honda 750 was revealed to the public at the Tokyo Motor Show on 25 October 1968.
I owned a K0 and an F2. Great bikes and good memories.
I owned a 78, nice bike, its all behind us now, its history, history is past, its over friends
Another great video Bart. Can’t think of any other content maker with such great narration and information from a regular guy and not an insider to the industry. Your definitely one of my favorites to watch.
Being of the age where I witnessed and rode the bikes of the 60’s and 70’s first hand, your correct the CB 750 was an industry game changer. Your right it wasn’t a race/sport bike but a tourer that just ran and ran and ran with little fuss. My best friend rode a CB 750 coast to coast 3 times over a period of three years of wanderlust. At that time I don’t think any other motorcycle could of managed it’s dependability and durability.
My first street bike was a '71 CB 750 I got when I was 17 years old. They were pretty the beginning of what would be called Universal Japanese Motorcycles (UJM).
I had a 1973 CB750. When I was 22 years old I sold everything I had and road it around the U.S. for about a year. I also added a Vetter/Windjammer Fering and saddlebags on it as well. Maybe the best year of my life. Total freedom. That bike was a blast to ride and I never had any major issues with it.
A guy at my high school in the early 1970s had one. Really dwarfed my CB175!!
I really enjoyed my 81 model. It was my 4th bike and in another league compared to the others. My daughter was born in 81 and being the family bread winner, I started feeling guilty for taking the risk. I kept it for 2 years and didn't ride again until 2010 when I bought a Goldwing. I don't think a Goldwing can be beat for touring but I sure wouldn't mind the easy handling of the CB750 for short runs around town. It truly was a great motorcycle. Someone commented on swapping bikes on a ride with his buddy who had a Harley. I had the same experience with my buddy who has a Harley. Sorry Harley people but your bikes are over hyped and over priced vibrating noise makers.
Overpriced, overhyped, vibrating, noise makers!! Yep: lol!..
Couldn't you fit a CB750 in one of your trunks?
I remember when that came out; I grew up with BSA's, Triump's, Norton's -this was a motorcycle that was as reliable as a Chevy, and as fast and advanced as a Grand Pris race bike. It was from the future. I never went back to anything that wasn't Japanese.This was the beginning of modern motorcycling
Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.
Chevys were not particularly reliable in the 1960s and 1970s, but I suppose that yes, they were certainly more reliable than anything coming out of Britain at the time.
As a lament .Westwood!
Honda's were a blast and indestructible I rode mine like I stolen it still have it
Honda is bullet proof. Why can't Harley make something this reliable? They've had 120 years to perfect their bikes.
@@thelakeman5207 I had both loved my Harley but would rather ride my Honda's still own a 1971 Honda 450 since New
Thank you, bart, I'm a new customer. I celebrate this video in loving memory of my Betty Page Brown, my 1980 CB750 CR, that I rode 2010-ish to 2020. In a way, Covid got her, because I did not ride her her enough that year to keep her loose, revved, and happy. Oh, but the years of street-beating. In California, lane-splitting (others call it lane sharing) is the only US state where it's formally legal to split lanes - and she was one slippery babe in the streets of LA.
I bought a CB 450 new in 1971..Loved it!! Bought a CB 750 used around 1973. The 750 was a rocket ship and I loved it even better! Wish I could buy a brand new 750 today but at 77, I might be pushing it.
I have 3 CB750s at the moment (73K, 77F, and a modded chopper)
I think you could say I like them quite a bit
What a great video highlighting the history and impact of the bike! Makes me love mine even more!(and resale value ofc lol)
No shit? Wow.
What a great vid! I bought a CB750 in 1976 (a 1969 model) for entirely the wrong reasons. I thought it would be a sports bike, but it felt too top-heavy, although it would do an indicated 120mph. If I had recognised the sports/tourer concept, I would have been delighted with it. However, it took me another 40 years to get to grips with this when I bought a new 2002 VFR800 Vtec. What a bike!
I had a 1978, 750 F. Absolutely loved that bike. I sold it when my first daughter was born. Wish I still had it. 😊