Two Hondas changed motorcycling. One put millions of people on a small, reliable machine. The other redefined what a road bike could be. Both are now classics.
The Super Cub
The Super Cub was introduced in 1958, after the Honda Cub F clip-on bicycle engine of 1952. It had a four-stroke single-cylinder engine in the original form of 49 cc, and it has been in continuous manufacture since 1958. Honda announced the hundred millionth unit in 2017, and the model is described as the most produced motor vehicle in history.
The CB750 Four
The CB750 appeared at the Tokyo Show in November 1968 and went into production in 1969. It had a 736 cc air-cooled single-overhead-cam straight four, a front disc brake and an electric starter, none of which had been available before on an affordable mainstream machine. It is described as the first modern four-cylinder bike from a mainstream manufacturer, and the term "superbike" was coined to describe it.
The original SOHC model ran through 1978, and the model stayed in the range for ten years with a production total of more than 400,000.
The sandcast cases
For the first run, Honda used permanent mould casting for the engine cases, the "sandcast" K0 engines, and switched to die casting after the first 7,414 bikes. That first run is prized by collectors.
What to know when buying
- Check which CB750 it is. The earliest bikes carry high premiums, and the value difference is large. Verify the frame and engine numbers against the registers of the owners' clubs. See frame and engine numbers.
- Replicas and conversions. The CB750 was widely modified into café racers and customs. A modified bike is a good rider, but it is priced differently.
- Super Cubs. Because the Super Cub is still built, check the age. Early bikes with documented history are the collectible ones. See what counts as a classic motorcycle.
- Condition. Original paint and a documented history raise the value. See condition grades.
Parts and community
For parts and clubs see finding parts and clubs and federations.
