Want to buy a new 1972 Honda CB750?

[satchriossi]

The Honda was certainly fast.But the Trident was by far the better bike to ride,it's handling was so superior that the power could be used more effectively....and so for riding on a road with corners and stuff,it was the faster bike.

I guess it depends who's riding them and how they're ridden. As i said, the old man's ground a fair bit of material off the pegs and center stand on his K0, he's got a fair bit of lean angle on when he's touching parts down like that and its not like its bucking and weaving as it does it - despite the old style tires on the bike. So i'm not sure what the Triumph's got that would make it 'so superior' in the same instance, seeing as it doesn't weigh a great deal less. But i personally haven't ridden both bikes back to back so i couldn't comment on any subtle differences in feel.

The main point to make perhaps is that both CBs are starting easily, covering the miles and taking the hard riding with zero complaint still in 2010. Honda certainly built an exceptional machine in the CB750 for far more than just performance related reasons. There's one thing though - Dad credits much of his mechanicing skills to the British twins he persevered with before Jap bikes became more popular.

[Motu]

the old man's ground a fair bit of material off the pegs and center stand on his K0,r.

You've said it right there.The CB750 was the first bike I ever had that I had to drop a cheek off the seat and hang off the inside so I could get around a corner without scraping the pegs.

[HenryDorsetCase]

I do agree with you, but just one caveat. Tyres today, even stock sizes for the CB750 are MUCH better than the tyres it rolled out of the shop in 1969 - 1977) on. Sure, you can drag hard parts on your CB750, and I did on all mine, but in the day the first thing we got rid of was the center stand because it would lever one or other of the wheels off the ground if you were going hard. Same for the zorsts: they are stupidly expensive now (stockers I mean) and always have been. 4:1's were great particularly on the side that the pipe didnt exit (typically the left side) because they increased ground clearance significantly. Longer shocks if you could afford them, fork brace, if you could afford it, another disc if you could source or afford it.

Its an age thing too: You want as a "classic" what you couldnt afford, or had and thrashed the tits off when you were a spotty little herbert just getting into whatever it is you're getting into: for me that is CB750's, GPz 750's and 900's, very early GSXR's or RD400s, RD350LC, RZ350LC YPVS. If you're older you (and I am generalising broadly) will want that britbike, or some other exotica. While I really like them (Norton Commando please) and I would never categorically say "POS, would never have one", I can't see me stumping the cash to be honest. But another classic Jappa? Absolutely.

[Elysium]

If I remember right, the CB750 was made for the American market so I doubt the abilty to corner was a high priority as we all know American roads are mainly straight.

[satchriossi]

You've said it right there.The CB750 was the first bike I ever had that I had to drop a cheek off the seat and hang off the inside so I could get around a corner without scraping the pegs.

Its well cranked over before it touches down, as you must know - we're talking 45 degrees from vertical (i've followed my Dad when he's been doing it) - surely the Trident isn't lauded with better handling purely because it has more ground clearance for cornering. My point was that at that lean angle it's still handling well and tracking a secure line without bucking and weaving. It handled well by the standards of the time and with more modern tyres (as HenryDorsetCase rightly points out), still flies along at more modern speeds securely scraping bits on the floor as it goes. If its handling was as dire as the first few posts in this thread made out, then it wouldn't be capable of these things.

Well actually, reading back through the first posts you guys mercilessly slagged EVERYTHING about it off - engine, brakes AND handling. None of which deserved the abuse. I hope i've done atleast some good towards defending the bike's reputation, atleast in terms of its acceleration and braking performance compared to its rivals of the period. Even if i can't convince you of its handling characteristics.

[Motu]

Go to a Classic race meeting - none of those bikes went that well or handled like that when they were new.Now at 30 or 40 years old they really handle and stop well,ALL of them.Honda's came out with totally shit tyres...Tridents came out with TT100's,still made and used in classic racing today.The shit Bridgestones Honda put on their bikes have never been made again.

[HenryDorsetCase]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-266052596.htm

this is the sort of thing I'm more likely to buy than an utter minter: its got the period hot up "double disc" conversion (it really needs the discs drilled as well) and a 4:1: bet its got the hell flat spot between 4 and 5000 rpm that goes with it. needs pod filters and maybe clipons and a bumstop seat and a tank from Unity Equipe.......... must stop self. no more bikes you have to paint the house.

[shrub]

In 1980 - 82 I went from a 72 Bonneville to a 71 Commando to a 73 CB750. The main reason for the change was I was sick of the dramas that owning a Brit bike entailed in the early 80s (being followed home, never parking it where you couldn't see it and the whole staunch MC bullshit etc). My Honda was heaps faster than the Bonnie (or any of my mate's Trumpy twins) and as fast as the Commando and had better brakes, but didn't handle as well as either Brit. I fitted Koni shocks which helped, but it was still a bit of a whale through corners which meant I had to learn to ride differently. I also missed the low down torque of the Brits and the (isolastic) commando was as smooth. Personally I would rate the Commando a much better bike to ride and the Bonnie as slightly better to ride, but the Honda was a million times better to own.

I could wake up, go out to the shed and wheel my bike out for a ride with no pissing around getting it out of the house (usually my bedroom). Then I'd squirt some lube on the chain, check oil, gas and tyres and I'd ride it all day for as far as I wanted with no tools, no wondering what my mates with utes were doing that day and no making sure I had a couple of mates to ride with. Nothing would break, nothing would vibrate off, nothing would go out of adjustment, the electrics worked all the time and when I got to the pub I'd just park the bike and go inside for a beer knowing it would still be there when I left. Nobody tried to staunch me out, nobody worried about me riding in their patch and the general public ignored me. On the downside I wasn't allowed to park my bike outside some pubs or on the properties of some mates.

I bought a BSA Lightning about 10 years ago and it lasted 3 months before I sold it and bought a Moto Guzzi Le Mans, and I will almost certainly never own an old Brit again. I love them with a passion, but I would never want to own one again, whereas I would own a CB750 again because I am over spending time on the side of the road fixing bikes and can't be arsed spending brazillions of cash getting an old Brit sorted. I wouldn't own a CB 750 as a day-to-day rider (I have a modern Trumpy for that), but as something cool to wheel out of the shed that I could still ride to the Coast and back in a day and enjoy the ride.