In the mid-60s, Honda had experienced a lot of success in Japan, Britain and a few other markets with its CB450, twin-cylinder 450cc motorcycle. However, it was struggling to sell the bikes in the United States and needed something innovative with more torque and higher displacement to attract American buyers. The company’s answer to this need was the CB750.
The Situation
Although the small CB450 was attracting buyers in markets outside the United States, Honda was having trouble getting American riders on its motorcycles. Triumph and BSA Motorcycles were both working on three-cylinder 750cc bikes, expected to hit the market in the late 60s. Honda’s designers and engineers knew they needed something different to avoid falling behind.
Creating the CB750
A small team using an unprecedented amount of computer-aided design technology planned a larger, four-cylinder engine that could work with the existing CB450 chassis. The plans for the new design didn’t stop there, however:
- Racing-inspired drive train
- Cruising speed up to 100 mph
- Comfortable ride
- Reduced vibration
- Brakes capable of handling high speeds
- Longer service intervals
- Improved quality standards
- Cheap motorcycle tires, parts and list price to keep it affordable
- Mass-producible
The end result changed the motorcycle market. The CB750 was the first modern bike and it raised the bar for what riders expected from manufacturers. Furthermore, it was so competitive on price, many European manufacturers like BMW and Ducati had to get innovative to avoid losing market share.
Start Your Vintage Ride
Honda has a long history of great motorcycles. There is a reason it is a household name for riders. Part of that reason is how reliable, affordable and fixable their bikes and other vehicles are. Replacing Honda powersports OEM parts is typically easy and inexpensive. This makes their bikes, even vintage ones such as classic CB750s, popular choices among enthusiasts to this day.
So, if you are thinking about getting a new bike, consider going vintage. Put a couple of cheap motorcycle tires on an old Honda and you’ll be riding around on a piece of history.