1969 CB750

[DGShannon_imp]

Interesting that he closes with a comment about the CB750 that we hear regarding our CB1100 today, regarding soul.

[the Ferret]

Very Cool Vid DG thanks for posting.

The CB 750 was such a revelation for those of us brought up on American, British and Italian iron ... and small Japanese bikes. Truthfully it was quite daunting. I remember my dad, my younger brother and I riding up to the local Honda shop to see this marvel which they had on a pedestal on display in the center of the shop. My dad on a Harley 45 CI, my little bro on a 68 CL 350 scrambler and me on a 69 CB 350. We looked and pointed, wondered and discussed. Our general decision was too much, too complicated. Wouldn't sell to Americans lol. We couldn't have been more wrong. (BTW we said the same things when we went and looked at the newly introduced Honda Goldwing lol)

Anyhow, now to me, the CB 750 looks how a motorcycle should look. The bike sits "right", the rider sits "right", the bars, seat and pegs are in the correct relationship for the perfect ergonomic triangle.

Things I noticed in the vid..RLETS..yep they are there, fork gaiters, chrome instrument cups, and surprisingly a black headlight bucket and chrome fork ears as I remember CB 750's from 69 to mid 70's having color matched to the tank and side covers headlight buckets and fork ears. The bike in the vid also has a black tail light bracket which I remember as being chrome.I also notice the incredible sound coming from the four pipes. Gosh it sounds good. Wish the CB 1100 sounded like that. Not sure whose feet to lay the blame at the DOT or Honda's.

At any rate without the CB 750, we might not have the CB 1100 and I am so grateful for both. Thanks Honda.

[xNE0x_imp]

While mine is not a 69 sandcast, I do have a 74 CB750K. And I will never sell it, it's a part of history.

[flynrider]

Great video find, DG! I was just a kid when the CB750 first appeared, but I remember the impact it had. If you were riding a 750/4 you were instantly cool and drew a crowd wherever you stopped.

[metallyguitarded_imp]

Agreed. Great video! Thanks for posting. I find the lack of soul comment interesting. I wonder what it stems from. Is it the subtle distinction between the motorcycle and motorcycling? If you have a motorcycle that rumbles and shakes, possibly leaks oil and needs frequent if not constant maintenance, I can see how those sensory characteristics can be viewed as "soul." The rider, by necessity, has a very real connection to the bike that demands he or she take notice and whose hands must get dirty along the way. Undoubtedly, there is bond between man and machine that is forged through hands-on maintenance and repair that simply can't be achieved otherwise. Is the "lack of soul" the result of a motorcycle that runs too well, too efficiently, with the need for very little maintenance? Is it a motorcycle that shifts the focus from the machine itself to the experience of motorcycling in general?

I love my CB11 and feel that it has character and style. Maybe that character can be described as refined or polished or some other similar adjective, but there's something else there. Something deeper. I can't quite define it and maybe that itself is the best definition of soul. My CB is a beautiful machine. It allows me to enjoy the experience of motorcycling without demanding my focus be on the motorcycle itself.

I wonder how much nostalgia plays into these comments. I bet, someday, people will look back on the CB1100 and fondly remember when motorcycles had soul, unlike the machines of the day.

[emptysea]

Sometimes, I think vintage bike enthusiasts use "soul" as a nicer way of saying "mechanical quirkiness", but maybe I'm biased.

LOVED the video...thanks for the post!

[the Ferret]

What Italians call character, Japanese consider design flaws and Germans deny to their graves.. Larry Grodsky

[emptysea]

Great quote and I think it was rattling around in the back of my head when I made my last post.

[metallyguitarded_imp]

What Italians call character, Japanese consider design flaws and Germans deny to their graves.. Larry Grodsky

Ha! Had never heard that before! Well done.

[the Ferret]

One man's boring, is another man's refined... Author unknown