Got $20K? (It's only money...)

[JJ]

I really don't get all this fascination with vintage Honda CB750's...but what do I know (???)

I suspect this one will go even higher after 5 more days...

[roadventure]

I really don't get all this fascination with vintage Honda CB750's...but what do I know (???)

I suspect this one will go even higher after 5 more days...

If you were born in the early to mid '50s you were of the age to lust after the "hottest on the market", but it was unlikely that you could not afford to buy one.  If you COULD afford to buy one you probably abused it and eventually dumped it to get the Kawasaki 900.  In any event it was part of your youth, your "glory days".  Now that you are much older and have a lot of expendable money you may want to buy back those glory days.  Although, it really isn't possible but many will try.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

The CB750 (of any era) is down near the bottom of my "desirable bikes" list.

[Scud]

The CB 750 is a historically significant motorcycle. Early models in original or restored condition are fairly rare. I rode a few of them, but never owned one myself - and they are comfortable and practical bikes that perform well. For 20K I could find several other things that interest me more, but I can understand why these early 750s (especially the sand-cast ones) are in high demand.

[Rich A]

Never had one, never even rode one. But I think the CB750s were transformative motorcycles, able to compete with or surpass what was available at the time. Honda went from, "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" to producing innovative (e.g., disc brakes front & rear), reliable, high-performance, affordable machines.

I did have a CB400F, and the sound of that thing at 10,000 rpm was exhilarating.

Rich A

[JJ]

QUOTE:  If you were born in the early to mid '50s you were of the age to lust after the "hottest on the market", but it was unlikely that you could not afford to buy one.  If you COULD afford to buy one you probably abused it and eventually dumped it to get the Kawasaki 900.  In any event it was part of your youth, your "glory days".  Now that you are much older and have a lot of expendable money you may want to buy back those glory days.  Although, it really isn't possible but many will try.

I was born in 1954, and "YES", I was around in 1969 when the legendary Honda CB750 was introduced, and "NO" I could not afford one back then!  In my teens and early 20's, and in the 1970's, I was riding the following, and this is all I could afford at the time:   
* 1971 Yamaha RT1-B 360 Enduro
* 1974 Yamaha TX-500A
* 1975 Kawasaki H1 500 triple
* 1977 Yamaha RD 400
* 1978 Yamaha XS-750 Special
* 1978 Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans

[Scud]

Never had one, never even rode one. But I think the CB750s were transformative motorcycles, able to compete with or surpass what was available at the time. Honda went from, "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" to producing innovative (e.g., disc brakes front & rear), reliable, high-performance, affordable machines.

I did have a CB400F, and the sound of that thing at 10,000 rpm was exhilarating.

Rich A

^^YES.  I think Honda was first to put disc brakes on any motorcycle. Soichiro Honda was a talented engineer and visionary. Big supporter of motorcycle safety too. I think few bikes changed the industry in a way that the original CB750 did. My first bike was a 1972 candy-apple red CB350-Four. That little thing would wind right up and do 100MPH. A few years ago, I bought a '73. Thought it would be fun to have my "first bike" again. And it was, for a few months... so I sold it.

I'd say the CB 750 is as important to Honda as the original V7 Sport is to Moto Guzzi. And they'd make lovely stable mates.

Feel free to debate...

[cookiemech]

I was born in 1956 and admired the CB750s in the late 70s, but by then there were no more SOHC ones being built. By the time I had cash to buy one, it was the early 80s and I had moved on to other, more desirable (to me) bikes.

But then years later I bought a 2017 CB1100 EX, which looks a lot like a 70s CB750. Thoroughly modern, runs and rides beautifully, no maintenance issues.

I love to look at the old ones, but prefer to own and ride the new ones.

[Huzo]

Jeez 20 grand and no reserve..?
I’d resent the price every time I ran out of fuel...!

[JJ]

QUOTE:  I'd say the CB 750 is as important to Honda as the original V7 Sport is to Moto Guzzi. And they'd make lovely stable mates.

I would agree 100%, so no debate required...  

However, that being said, I would choose a vintage V7 Sport over a vintage Honda CB750 any day of the week...

...and this is what I am talking about...for a lot less money!!




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[Antietam Classic Cycle]

^^YES.  I think Honda was first to put disc brakes on any motorcycle.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_braking_systems

[Rough Edge racing]

The CB750 (of any era) is down near the bottom of my "desirable bikes" list.

   

[jrt]

I'm fond of the CB750, but I don't want one.  I had a good friend in college that had one, and we would go riding in the Texas hill country- him on his 750 and me on my G5.  And I met this wild red-haired gal who had a later model CB750.  So...good memories, and that counts for something.   

[krglorioso]

In around September of 1969, I was a mechanic at Heyser Honda in Laurel, MD.   One evening, after the shop closed to customers, we uncrated our first, new CB-750 and stood, spellbound, until one of the employees said, "This will end the British motorcycle industry".   Heyser's also sold a few BSA and Velocette bikes.  Indeed, The CB-750  was a magnificent bike and IMHO worth every accolade possible.  One must look at it in the context of what else was available at that time in our motorcycling history.  No British bike came close to it, not even the Norton Commando of which I have owned two.  It was wonderful to ride and easy to maintain.  Fit and finish were superb and our mature customers who bought them got long lives out of them with not much in the way of repairs. 

Ralph

[Bulldog9]

I really don't get all this fascination with vintage Honda CB750's...but what do I know (???)

I suspect this one will go even higher after 5 more days...

Crazy pricing.
I can only hope that the same thing happens to the 1970s Yamaha XS series.

[Scout63]

Crazy pricing.
I can only hope that the same thing happens to the 1970s Yamaha XS series.

It won’t Bulldog.  All the money bikes have had reputations from the get-go, with maybe an exception for Honda toddlers which are rising on nostalgia alone.  The XS 650/750/1100 are great and great looking bikes though.

[blu guzz]

Ralph:  I lived around there in 1969 and remember Heyser's.  What a day that must have been for you - you and the rest were looking at the future and you knew it at the time. Many people get a glimpse but it is not until years later they realize the importance of what they saw. 
I remember seeing my first Radio Shack TRS-80 computer and mostly you could play solitare with it.  I didn't realize that it was the great, great grandfather of what I am typing on to you now. 
I was playing a little league game or practicing when someone's dad rode up on one of those huge bikes.  We all rushed to see it, we had heard the rumors.  At that time in 69 or maybe spring of 70, all boys just knew as gospel that Japan could not build "big bikes" until that moment.  4 cylinders, can you imagine that, apparently Mr. Honda could. Being 10 or 11 at the time, I don't think we realized it and the ones that came after would destroy the rest of the industry, you just don't think in worldview at that age, but we knew it was a big deal.  Thanks for the reminder and helping me dredge up that memory.