The Honda CB750 - A Modern Classic Japanese Motorcycle
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After World War 2, the motorcycle world was led by the European and American marques, at least in the 500cc+ class.
The Japanese were coming however, and had indeed made significant inroads into light and middle weight classes since 1948.
However, in 1968, everything changed. No one had really seen it coming. It may have been complacency when the British motorcycle industry decided that the Japanese would never enter the big bike scene.
October 1968 saw a massive change in motorcycling. Just a few months earlier in the year, triumph had launched their new "big bike", the Trident. This machine produced 58bhp and a top speed of 125mph. It handled well and Triumph has high hopes for it.
The 1968 Tokyo bike show was the curtain raiser for Honda's new CB750. A four cylinder, 750cc machine with four exhaust pipes and a host of modern features was launched. No more kick starting - electric start was standard, as were fore and aft disc brakes.
One of the main aims was to develop a machine that could be ridden comfortably for long stretches. One of the keys to this was reducing vibration, and many configurations were studied to find out what type and size of engine would offer the least amount of vibration.
Indeed, given the usual parallel twin design of so many bikes at the time, trying to expand these out over 500cc was found to be impossible without unacceptable levels of vibration. Testing showed that inline 4 cylinder engines were the best configuration for the new and smooth CB750.
Honda succeded in producing a smooth, reliable machine, capable of long distances with minimum fatigue for the rider, who at last had a machine that started with minimum effort and did not need the constant mechanical attention so common in owning a large capacity motorcycle of the time.
Many people feel that the CB750 represented such a leap forward in motorbike design and thinking, that it was, in fact, the first modern day superbike.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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