1987 mots | Temps de lecture : 9 minute(s)
Honda CB750 Four (1969): The Motorcycle That Invented the Superbike
Summary
- Late 60s: The Motorcycle World Before the CB750
- Tokyo 1968: The Revelation That Changed Everything
- A Racing Engine: The 736 cc 4-Cylinder
- The Front Disc Brake: The Invisible Revolution
- The First "Sandcast" Models: The Most Sought-After CB750s
- The Shockwave: England Down, Kawasaki on the Move
- From Factory to Myth: The Value of the CB750 Today
- Summary Table
- FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
Late 60s: The Motorcycle World Before the CB750
To understand the seismic impact of the Honda CB750 Four, we need to go back to the motorcycle world of the late 1960s. At that time, "big-bore" sport bikes almost exclusively belonged to the British. Triumph, Norton, and BSA reigned supreme with their vertical twins, robust but vibrating, and notoriously temperamental electrics. Those who want to discover this golden era can (re)read our fascinating history of Triumph, which perfectly embodies the spirit of the time.
Japan, on the other hand, had made a name for itself with reliable and affordable small-displacement bikes. Honda was already flooding the global market with 50, 125, and 250 cc models. But in the Western collective imagination, a "real" powerful motorcycle couldn't be Japanese. It was precisely this prejudice that Soichiro Honda would shatter. To grasp the extent of the brand's journey, our account of Honda in MotoGP shows how much innovation is in the DNA of the Hamamatsu manufacturer. And to broaden the picture, our article on the origin and evolution of the motorcycle places the CB750 in the grand tapestry of two-wheelers.
Tokyo 1968: The Revelation That Changed Everything
It was in October 1968, at the Tokyo Motor Show, that Honda unveiled its new weapon. On an illuminated platform, a machine slowly rotated under spotlights, its engine displayed next to it. The public discovered four cylinders aligned across the frame, four carburetors, four chromed exhaust pipes: something never before seen on a mass-produced motorcycle intended for the general public.
Sales quickly followed: it arrived on the American market in spring 1969 (official release in June), then in Japan in July of the same year. And Honda hit hard on the price. In the United States, the CB750 was priced at around $1,495, while comparable European sport bikes retailed for between $2,800 and $4,000. The success was immediate and exceeded all expectations: Honda had forecast 1,500 units per year, but demand soared to several thousand units per month. In Japan, the motorcycle launched the famous "nanahan boom" (nanahan meaning 750 in common parlance).
A Racing Engine: The 736 cc 4-Cylinder
The heart of the CB750 is its engine: a transversely mounted, air-cooled, inline 4-cylinder of 736 cc (bore × stroke of 61 × 63 mm), with a single overhead camshaft (SOHC) driven by a chain. Honda mastered this type of architecture thanks to its Grand Prix experience, where its screaming multi-cylinders had already made a strong impression. Here, racing technology finally made its way to the street.
The figures were impressive for the time: approximately 67 horsepower at 8,500 rpm, a 5-speed gearbox, and a top speed of around 200 km/h (125 mph). The CB750 offered a smoothness of operation and engine efficiency that the big British twins simply couldn't match. It popularized a concept that would become the global standard: the "Universal Japanese Motorcycle" (UJM), versatile, reliable, and powerful. Enthusiasts of exceptional mechanics will also appreciate our file on the 10 fastest road-legal motorcycles, of which the CB750 was, in its time, a distant ancestor.
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The Front Disc Brake: The Invisible Revolution
A powerful engine is useless without the ability to stop it. And that's where the CB750 innovated just as much as under the fairing: it was one of the very first mass-produced motorcycles to feature a hydraulic front disc brake, while competitors were still using drum brakes, which were less durable and less precise at high speeds.
Legend has it that Soichiro Honda personally decided in favor of the disc despite the development risks, telling his engineers that they would "obviously have to switch to disc brakes." This technical choice, now present on almost all motorcycles, was then a bold gamble. If this topic interests you, discover how to maintain and protect a disc brake in our guide on how to properly secure your motorcycle lock, often placed precisely on that famous disc.
The First "Sandcast" Models: The Most Sought-After CB750s
For collectors, not all CB750s are created equal. The very first examples, produced in 1969, have engine casings with a slightly granular finish, achieved through a specific casting process. These machines are nicknamed "sandcast" (literally "cast in sand"), as opposed to subsequent models whose casings, mass-produced by die-casting, offer a smoother surface.
It is estimated that approximately 7,414 "sandcast" CB750s were manufactured before Honda switched to mass production. This small initial series, combined with its status as the "first superbike in history", makes them highly coveted items today, whose values reach peaks in auction rooms.
The Shockwave: England Down, Kawasaki on the Move
The arrival of the CB750 caused a thunderclap throughout the entire industry. For British manufacturers, it was the beginning of the end: unable to technically and commercially respond to a machine that was both more modern, faster, and much cheaper, Triumph, Norton, and BSA began a decline from which the English motorcycle industry never fully recovered.
But the most delicious story unfolded in Japan itself. Kawasaki was secretly developing its own 750 cc 4-cylinder, a project code-named "New York Steak". Seeing Honda strike first, Kawasaki's engineers made a radical decision: rather than releasing an equivalent motorcycle, they put the project aside and spent several years enlarging the engine to 903 cc. The result would be the Kawasaki Z1, launched in 1972-1973 with approximately 82 horsepower — the fastest production motorcycle in the world upon its release. Without the CB750, the Z1 would likely never have existed in this form. To extend this saga, delve into our Kawasaki epic, as well as the incredible history of Suzuki, the other Japanese giant shaken by this horsepower race.
From Factory to Myth: The Value of the CB750 Today
The CB750 didn't just crush the competition in dealerships: it also shone in racing. As early as August 1969, two CB750s from the internal Honda team achieved a one-two finish at the Suzuka 10 Hours, then Dick Mann won the prestigious Daytona 200 in March 1970 on a racing Honda derived from the CB750. This definitively established its sporting credibility.
Half a century later, the CB750 Four remains one of the most sought-after motorcycles by collectors. The earliest "sandcast" models in original condition fetch prices that would make many modern sport bikes pale in comparison, and the simple silhouette of this Honda is enough to evoke an entire segment of two-wheeler history. It also holds a prominent place among the iconic motorcycles in pop culture, alongside machines that have shaped our imagination.
Lore article about a mythical Honda: a collector's miniature naturally extends the pleasure of enthusiasts who dream of owning one.
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Summary Table
| Characteristic | Honda CB750 Four (1969) |
|---|---|
| Presentation | Tokyo Motor Show, October 1968 |
| Commercial release | USA: Spring 1969 (official release June) — Japan: July 1969 |
| Engine | Inline 4-cylinder, SOHC, air-cooled |
| Displacement | 736 cc (bore × stroke: 61 × 63 mm) |
| Power | ≈ 67 hp at 8,500 rpm |
| Top speed | ≈ 200 km/h (125 mph) |
| Gearbox | 5 speeds |
| Front braking | Hydraulic disc (new on a production motorcycle) |
| Fuel system | 4 carburetors |
| "Sandcast" series | ≈ 7,414 units produced |
| USA price in 1969 | ≈ $1,495 |
| Achievements | Suzuka 10 Hours 1969, Daytona 200 1970 (Dick Mann) |
📖 Also read: The Honda CBX 1000 (1978): The Symphony of the Six-Cylinder.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Honda CB750 considered the first superbike?
Because it was the first mass-produced, affordable motorcycle to combine a powerful 4-cylinder engine (≈ 67 hp), a top speed of around 200 km/h, and a front disc brake. This combination was unprecedented in 1969, and the word "superbike" was coined to describe it.
What is a "sandcast" CB750?
These are the very first examples from 1969, whose engine casings have a slightly granular finish resulting from a particular casting process. Approximately 7,414 of these machines were produced before mass production began, making them the most sought-after CB750s by collectors.
What are the exact displacement and power of the CB750 Four?
Its SOHC inline 4-cylinder engine has a displacement of 736 cc, producing approximately 67 horsepower at 8,500 rpm, coupled with a 5-speed gearbox.
What is the connection between the CB750 and the Kawasaki Z1?
Kawasaki was preparing its own 750 cc 4-cylinder (code-named "New York Steak"). Outmaneuvered by Honda, the manufacturer chose to upgrade its project: the engine was increased to 903 cc, leading to the creation of the Kawasaki Z1 in 1972-1973, with approximately 82 hp, then the fastest production motorcycle in the world.
Did the CB750 truly kill the British motorcycle industry?
It was one of the main catalysts. More modern, faster, and much cheaper than the Triumphs, Nortons, and BSAs of the time, the CB750 accelerated the decline of British manufacturers, who failed to respond to this new technical and commercial landscape.
