▲ CB-F Concept
HONDA recently announced the "CB-F Concept". Originally, this motorcycle was a concept model that was supposed to be unveiled as a world premiere at the Osaka / Tokyo Motorcycle Show 2020. It is a proposed model for the next generation of the CB, a sports model representing HONDA while looking back on the history of the 60th birth anniversary of the CB by HONDA. In this article, I would like to talk about the F series among the CB in particular.
The original 750cc that became the cornerstone of the inline-4 Super Sport.
The first time the CB name appeared on HONDA's public road production model was in 1959 when the BENLY CB92 Super Sport was launched. The CB72, which made its debut the following year, gained popularity as a full-fledged 250cc sports model, and the popularity of HONDA = CB has increased through many derivative models.
And, it is the Dream CB750FOUR released in 1969 that made the name of the CB known to the world. It was the world's first mass-produced for big bike equipped with an inline-4 engine and became synonymous with the "750cc". It was a model that achieved a top speed record of 200 km/h at that time and allowed the world to recognize the excellence of the Japanese motorcycle, and it became the cornerstone of the inline-4 super sport which leads to the present.
The CB750FOUR sparked its development of the 750cc, and other Japanese manufacturers are also making appearances one after another. The particular rival was the 750RS, commonly known as the Z2, introduced by Kawasaki in 1972, with a DOHC (double overhead cam) engine that generates a maximum output of 69hp. The Z2 was a scaled-down version of the 900RS (Z1), which had been exported mainly to North America, for corresponding to Japanese self-imposed regulations, and the same applies to the SUZUKI GS750 (GS1000) and the YAMAHA XJ750 (XJ900).
Annual sales are monster class with over 10,000 units
▲ CB750F (1979)
The CB750F was introduced in 1979 by HONDA, aiming for revival in the pursuit of higher performance and bigger engine displacement of its rivals. The traditional air-cooled inline-4 engine has been updated to a DOHC 4-valve, and the front and rear brake discs and Comstar wheels that were HONDA's favorite at that time had been adopted. It is summarized in a sporty sense and up-to-date images such as rearsets and clip-on handlebars, and the square and elegant form became the starting point for the subsequent CB series design. The CB750F was the 750cc motorcycle of a monster class in terms of sales, selling over 10,000 units a year in its prime. The CB-F Concept was also inspired by the CB750F of this era.
The underlying racing spirit
The CB750F engine was originally based on the air-cooled DOHC four-valve engine developed for the RCB1000 endurance racer that is based on CB750FOUR of original 750cc motorcycle, and the CB900F, a new export model equipped with this engine optimized for production model on public roads, had been a big hit in Europe and the U.S. markets. The CB750F is a scaled-down version of the CB900F for the Japanese market (some for European and U.S. markets).
Since the chassis is based on 900F, it is a large and rigid design with plenty of space and finally expands the lineup to 1100F. The silver and blue line CB750F ridden by Freddie Spencer, who became famous in races such as the AMA Superbike Championship and the Daytona 100 mile victory, was later called "Spencer color" and was revived many times as the representative replica color of the CB series. This is exactly what makes the CB-F Concept so special.
▲CB-F Concept
Incidentally, the CB750 (RC42 based on the CBX750) that was revived in 1992 was also available in the same color as the CB750 Special Edition. As you can see, CB has always evolved while going back and forth between the race and public road commercial model. This was taken over by the VF series of V4 engines and the CBR, but basically, at the bottom of it all is the racing spirit.
▲ CB750 Special Edition
The CB750 was full of 750cc-like dignity.
I had used to ride the CB750F a long time ago, but the smooth output characteristics that rotate well up to high revs, the magnificent ride of the large frame with 18-inch front (19-inch in the early models), and the height of the eye line with the upper body elevated, made me feel very comfortable. And, it depends on the rider's skill whether he can handle it well. Nowadays, the 750cc is treated as a middle class, but it was full of dignity and glamour before. It depends on the generation, but the "CB" for our generation is still the "F". In that sense, I would definitely expect the CB-F Concept.
See HONDA Moto Index Page
See Accessories for HONDA CB750F
See Accessories for HONDA CB72
See Accessories for HONDA CB92
See Accessories for HONDA CB750 Four (CB750K)
