It
was 1969. Until this point, Honda was known as the creator of
a small but well- received
step-through called the Super Cub. But within that very same
decade, those who thought Honda could not meet Americans' demands
for big, beefy bikes were about to meet something that would
change the course of motorcycle history-the monstrous CB750.
This
was the culmination of Honda's air-cooled, two-valve engine
and tube-frame technology. This groundbreaking success let the
world know that Honda was more than just a contender in the
highly coveted large-displacement category-it was the owner.
The
CB750 offered high performance and the ability to carry two
people and luggage for long distances. The tradition of the
Honda Four, with a flashy collection of four exhaust pipes,
sent Americans scrambling to their local dealerships and left
competitors scratching their heads. Four-cylinder machines were
far too complex for other manufacturers to assemble by existing
methods.
The
air-cooled engine contained a single overhead camshaft and was
assembled by Honda's usual horizontal-split crankshaft system.
However, Honda broke ground and made the 750 with a one-piece
forged crank supported in the same way as an automobile-utilizing
pressure-lubricated split-shell plain bearings. This produced
a stronger, simpler, lighter and cheaper-to- manufacture crankshaft.
How far ahead of their time were these methods? Well, in this
modern age they have yet to be improved upon and are still utilized
by sport bikes to this day.
The
CB750 was one of the critical landmarks of manufacturing that
propelled Honda into its position of technological leadership
and earned the respect of the American public.
Super
Cub is a trademark of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. ©1999 American Honda
Motor Co., Inc.
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