This is the bike that started it all for Americans

[hppants]

I got wind of this from another forum. It's well worth the 5 minute read. I'm not a cb750 expert, so I can't confirm or even investigate intelligently the validity of the seller's claim. But if this is legit, IMHO, Vic World's word is gospel.

For all of us - this is the bike that started everything.

The bidding war has increased the price 100 fold over the past 6 days. The price at this point is totally out of control IMO, but I've learned a long time ago that things are worth what people are willing to pay, not what I'm willing to pay.

I sincerely hope the winning bidder is affiliated with the Barber Museum in Alabama - that is where this bike belongs.

Enjoy:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/331120055291?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

[beemerdons]

I was on my 3rd Brit Bike, just before my first BMW, when I saw the Honda 750 Four. I knew then that this moto would kill off the English Motorcycle Industry!

 

[CAJW]

I remember reading all the mc mags about this beast and longing for one more than a teenager wanting to date the prom queen! Still makes my palms sweat a little seeing those pictures I used to drool over, but after restoring a 1970 SL350 MotoSport and actually riding it, one realizes how far the new bikes have come in comfort and refinement.

 

[lonerider]

Pretty amazing piece of history. Like you, I hope it goes to a museum where it will be preserved for all to enjoy.

 

[ionbeam]

Some memories don't fade. Back in my school daze in Cleveland there were twin brothers in my class with the bestest dad in the world. He bough them each a brand new '69 SOHC Honda 750 and I remember those two bikes like a photo, I was in awe of those machines. Dad also bought each brother a brand new '69 Camaro. Within weeks one Camaro was killed right in front of the school as it lost a battle with a school bus. The bikes were still being ridden when I moved to NY so I don't know how that turned out.

 

[Justin]

Awesome piece of history for sure, but the bids are still crazy.

 

[NMRoadRunner]

A buddy of mine here in Newer Mexico started buying these "sand cast" 750's a few years ago. I believe he has about 4 of them now. Boy has the price gone up on them from what I'm seeing here

 

[lnewlf]

When is was 17 I put a deposit on a blue Camaro RS 302...Dad put a quick stop to that... and my hoped for bike.. prolly saved my life...

 

[Panman]

I'm a Triumph Trident T150 guy myself, I rode both the CB750 and the Trident when I bought the Trident. Till I replaced the stock point ignition in the Trident, it was a pain ass to keep running right, but was way more fun to ride and listen too. My buddy that had the CB 750 could stop a bit faster but that didn't matter much as the Tridents lower center of gravity was just a lot easier to get it around a corner.

The CB 750 was a better bike for the average American dumb ass who didn't want to get his hands dirty. But I really wasn't one of the "nicest people you meet" so the Trident suited me just fine. And nothing sounded like the Triple once I put the Kerker Headers on it! My old room mate told me my dogs could here me thirty seconds before he could.

Long live Slippery Sam!

 

[Denver_FJR]

There's several instances where it looks like the same person bid sequentially. What's up wit dat?

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $129,950.00 Feb-04-14 23:52:55 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $129,750.00 Feb-04-14 23:52:53 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $129,550.00 Feb-04-14 23:52:51 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $129,350.00 Feb-04-14 23:52:50 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $129,150.00 Feb-04-14 23:52:49 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $128,950.00 Feb-04-14 23:52:47 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $128,750.00 Feb-04-14 23:52:46 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $128,550.00 Feb-04-14 23:52:45 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $128,350.00 Feb-04-14 23:52:43 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $128,150.00 Feb-04-14 23:52:41 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $127,950.00 Feb-04-14 23:52:40 PST

 

[dcarver]

anyone want to buy my sandcast kz1300?

I'll let it go as is for 225,000 USD, cash!

 

[hppants]

Denver - I did notice that the same bidder seems to be running up the price. I rarely buy anything on Ebay now, unless it's a "buy it now" item. I think most of the auctions are probably scams. Regardless, as I originally posted, I think the price of this bike is completely out of control. IMHO, that bike is worth a good premium over an original sandcast CB750, but even if you apply a factor of 2, it should sell for somewhere in the $30,000 - $35,000 range.

Still, it is by all rights American motorcycling history.

There were different bikes available at the time. Better or worse is for each of us to decide.

But IMO we can't argue that THIS bike is what started the path to get the American metric market where it is today. The CB750 paved the way for the American UJM of the 70's and 80's, which paved the way for the first sport bikes, which paved the way for the sport touring market. And that makes THIS bike connected to all of us.

Without this bike, the Jap 4 could have stayed perpetually in the moped/skooter market. Then maybe we'd all be riding bikes today with 1946 push rod technology and no counterbalancers, rattling the fillings out of our teeth. Not likely, but we'll never know.

 

[MCRIDER007]

Without this bike, the Jap 4 could have stayed perpetually in the moped/skooter market. Then maybe we'd all be riding bikes today with 1946 push rod technology and no counterbalancers, rattling the fillings out of our teeth. Not likely, but we'll never know.

I will have to disagree. Honda was already very successful with single overhead camshaft CB series (160, 250, 305) and had introduced the widely successful CB350 in 1968. The double overhead camshaft 450 came out in 1966 and while not a good seller initially, sold very well after it was re-styled (in 68 or 69) to match the CB350. Honda had a history of doing things in increments and nobody expected them to go from a twin 450 to a 4 cylinder 750, especially when the big British bikes were 650s.

I bought my first motorcycle, a Honda 90S, in March 1968. Of course I outgrew it in about 2 weeks and wanted to buy a used CB160 but just couldn't afford it. I was in awe of the CB350 when it came out a couple of months later.

 

[scubatech]

When I was in high school the 305 Scrambler came out. Man that thing was bad ass and most of us wanted one. The problem was few of us had the cash in poor southwest Pennsylvania!!

 

[dcarver]

Wow. Not one bit on my sandcast kz1300.

Off to ebay I go to find a sucker.. er.. buyer!

 

[FJRay]

Wow. Not one bit on my sandcast kz1300.Off to ebay I go to find a sucker.. er.. buyer!

If you sell it quick I won't have to figure out where all the parts go that YOU took off.

 

[bhendron]

There's several instances where it looks like the same person bid sequentially. What's up wit dat?

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $129,950.00Feb-04-14 23:52:55 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $129,750.00Feb-04-14 23:52:53 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $129,550.00Feb-04-14 23:52:51 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $129,350.00Feb-04-14 23:52:50 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $129,150.00Feb-04-14 23:52:49 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $128,950.00Feb-04-14 23:52:47 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $128,750.00Feb-04-14 23:52:46 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $128,550.00Feb-04-14 23:52:45 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $128,350.00Feb-04-14 23:52:43 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $128,150.00Feb-04-14 23:52:41 PST

Member Id: b***b

( 459

) US $127,950.00Feb-04-14 23:52:40 PST

It's possible that this bidder has entered a max bid of 150000 or more and their proxy bid just kept bumping it in response to someone else's bids.

 

[gumba]

Had a 1970 CB750 - red - first bike. It had individual cables running to each carb and then to a junction box. The carbs were impossible synch, let alone keep in synch. Can remember carbs hanging up in a 90 mph sweeper. Made my pootie pucker.

 

[beemerdons]

A buddy of mine here in Newer Mexico started buying these "sand cast" 750's a few years ago. I believe he has about 4 of them now. Boy has the price gone up on them from what I'm seeing here

Bud just for Grins and Giggles I went to Cycle Trader looking for a "sand cast" CB 750, not a single one up for sale at this time. Definitely in the high dollar collector market now! jes' sayin' and nuff said!