Why is the CB called CB?

[Capo]

OK. What does Benly mean?

[Rolls_imp]

Well, this article states Benly means "convenient" in Japanese.

http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/classi...z34RpISA3V

[Greg_imp]

The etymology (origin of words) of CB and Benly probably includes more than one source.

Soichiro Honda was very intelligent and had engineering prowess along with artistic sensibilities. It is almost certain that he had a strong belief in kotodama and named his vehicles with it in mind.

"Kotodama or kototama (言霊?, lit. "word spirit/soul") refers to the Japanese belief that mystical powers dwell in words and names. English translations include "soul of language", "spirit of language", "power of language", "power word", "magic word", and "sacred sound". The notion of kotodama presupposes that sounds can magically affect objects, and that ritual word usages can influence our environment, body, mind, and soul."

[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotodama]Wikipedia article on kotodama


[url=http://powersports.honda.com/experience/articles/090111c0811f48a3.aspx]1959 Benly CB92 Super Sport

[avsbezzy_imp]

The etymology (origin of words) of CB and Benly probably includes more than one source.

Soichiro Honda was very intelligent and had engineering prowess along with artistic sensibilities. It is almost certain that he had a strong belief in kotodama and named his vehicles with it in mind.

"Kotodama or kototama (言霊?, lit. "word spirit/soul") refers to the Japanese belief that mystical powers dwell in words and names. English translations include "soul of language", "spirit of language", "power of language", "power word", "magic word", and "sacred sound". The notion of kotodama presupposes that sounds can magically affect objects, and that ritual word usages can influence our environment, body, mind, and soul."

[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotodama]Wikipedia article on kotodama


[url=http://powersports.honda.com/experience/articles/090111c0811f48a3.aspx]1959 Benly CB92 Super Sport

What an educational post, thank you!

[Capo]

^ Love that. I prefer model names for bikes, and cars, rather than alphanumerical tags. Especially when some thought goes into them.

[GoldOxide_imp]

A small [url=http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/2015/03/article/what-does-hondas-cb-stand-for/]update.

Excerpt:

Byron Wilson, March 16, 2015
MotoUSA

"A little while back we received an email from a reader asking what the CB in Honda’s famous CB line of motorcycles stands for. We’ve heard numerous explanations for the CB moniker over the years, including “city bike,” “cross beam,” “citizen’s bike” even “chokusetsu baiku” (personal motorcycle), but none have ever been definitively confirmed by the Japanese manufacturer. So we decided to do some investigating to see if we could come up with a conclusive answer.

Our first contact was with Jon Seidel, a longtime American Honda press manager. Seidel was under the impression that there was no significant meaning behind the letters, but he passed the question along to Gary Christopher, a senior manager inside American Honda.

Christopher then proceeded to reach out to several individuals inside the company to see if anything could be discovered regarding the CB classification. Here’s what he found.

Like Seidel, Christopher had been told by a number of Japanese staff over the years that CB was no more than a model designation, with no particular significance attached to it. He contacted Bob Young, a longtime National Service Manager at American Honda, who was also heavily involved with the development and testing of the CB750, and “Mike” Hishiki, a longtime test rider and development team member of Honda R&D for their take.

Young and Hishiki also had never heard any specific words attributed to CB, thinking it was just the next logical step from the C-series (C100 Super Cub for example), to the CA-series (like the CA71) to the CB. The two could not remember any time when Mr. O. Saito, a project lead engineer on the CB750, referenced any meaning, such as “city bike,” to the CB, nor was there any confirmation that Mr. Honda ever uttered “chokusetsu baiku” in reference to the letters.

Christopher’s conclusion is that, though later models may have been assigned specific meanings in accord with the model designations, the CB was just the next step in a series of model identifiers of the time. It’s not an earth-shatteringly sexy revelation, but that’s probably as solid an answer as we’re ever going to get."

[Cormanus]

Interesting and likely. Thanks Au2O3.

[peterbaron]

A small [url=http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/2015/03/article/what-does-hondas-cb-stand-for/]update.

Excerpt:

Byron Wilson, March 16, 2015
MotoUSA

"A little while back we received an email from a reader asking what the CB in Honda’s famous CB line of motorcycles stands for. We’ve heard numerous explanations for the CB moniker over the years, including “city bike,” “cross beam,” “citizen’s bike” even “chokusetsu baiku” (personal motorcycle), but none have ever been definitively confirmed by the Japanese manufacturer. So we decided to do some investigating to see if we could come up with a conclusive answer.

Our first contact was with Jon Seidel, a longtime American Honda press manager. Seidel was under the impression that there was no significant meaning behind the letters, but he passed the question along to Gary Christopher, a senior manager inside American Honda.

Christopher then proceeded to reach out to several individuals inside the company to see if anything could be discovered regarding the CB classification. Here’s what he found.

Like Seidel, Christopher had been told by a number of Japanese staff over the years that CB was no more than a model designation, with no particular significance attached to it. He contacted Bob Young, a longtime National Service Manager at American Honda, who was also heavily involved with the development and testing of the CB750, and “Mike” Hishiki, a longtime test rider and development team member of Honda R&D for their take.

Young and Hishiki also had never heard any specific words attributed to CB, thinking it was just the next logical step from the C-series (C100 Super Cub for example), to the CA-series (like the CA71) to the CB. The two could not remember any time when Mr. O. Saito, a project lead engineer on the CB750, referenced any meaning, such as “city bike,” to the CB, nor was there any confirmation that Mr. Honda ever uttered “chokusetsu baiku” in reference to the letters.

Christopher’s conclusion is that, though later models may have been assigned specific meanings in accord with the model designations, the CB was just the next step in a series of model identifiers of the time. It’s not an earth-shatteringly sexy revelation, but that’s probably as solid an answer as we’re ever going to get."

Interesting and likely. Thanks Au2O3.

thats what ive read way back. Same with the yamaha RD's huge speculation it meant 'race developed'. it didnt. R = road, 'd' was next in line to be used for model designation.

..and CB stands for.. ???

[Rocky_imp]

A small [url=http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/2015/03/article/what-does-hondas-cb-stand-for/]update.

Excerpt:

Byron Wilson, March 16, 2015
MotoUSA

"A little while back we received an email from a reader asking what the CB in Honda’s famous CB line of motorcycles stands for. We’ve heard numerous explanations for the CB moniker over the years, including “city bike,” “cross beam,” “citizen’s bike” even “chokusetsu baiku” (personal motorcycle), but none have ever been definitively confirmed by the Japanese manufacturer. So we decided to do some investigating to see if we could come up with a conclusive answer.

Our first contact was with Jon Seidel, a longtime American Honda press manager. Seidel was under the impression that there was no significant meaning behind the letters, but he passed the question along to Gary Christopher, a senior manager inside American Honda.

Christopher then proceeded to reach out to several individuals inside the company to see if anything could be discovered regarding the CB classification. Here’s what he found.

Like Seidel, Christopher had been told by a number of Japanese staff over the years that CB was no more than a model designation, with no particular significance attached to it. He contacted Bob Young, a longtime National Service Manager at American Honda, who was also heavily involved with the development and testing of the CB750, and “Mike” Hishiki, a longtime test rider and development team member of Honda R&D for their take.

Young and Hishiki also had never heard any specific words attributed to CB, thinking it was just the next logical step from the C-series (C100 Super Cub for example), to the CA-series (like the CA71) to the CB. The two could not remember any time when Mr. O. Saito, a project lead engineer on the CB750, referenced any meaning, such as “city bike,” to the CB, nor was there any confirmation that Mr. Honda ever uttered “chokusetsu baiku” in reference to the letters.

Christopher’s conclusion is that, though later models may have been assigned specific meanings in accord with the model designations, the CB was just the next step in a series of model identifiers of the time. It’s not an earth-shatteringly sexy revelation, but that’s probably as solid an answer as we’re ever going to get."

Interesting and likely. Thanks Au2O3.

thats what ive read way back. Same with the yamaha RD's huge speculation it meant 'race developed'. it didnt. R = road, 'd' was next in line to be used for model designation.

..and CB stands for.. ???

Interesting and likely. Thanks Au2O3.

thats what ive read way back. Same with the yamaha RD's huge speculation it meant 'race developed'. it didnt. R = road, 'd' was next in line to be used for model designation.

..and CB stands for.. ???
"can't break"

[Lord Popgun]

From what I gather from watching Ancient Aliens is that ANYTHING we can’t explain is—Aliens.

So, Aliens.