Honda CB 750  1/6

It's known that after a board meeting, someone casually remarked, "They're building a four-cylinder, you know." The meeting was immediately resumed, and it was decided to start production of the BSA Rocket 3/Triumph Trident three-cylinder motorcycles, which, however, neither brand could save. Kawasaki had to go back to the drawing board because its own planned 750cc four-cylinder would no longer have the anticipated impact, and they decided to release the Kawasaki Z 1 900, which, however, wasn't presented until late 1972. Laverda and Moto Guzzi also struggled. Only BMW survived the "CB 750 boom" relatively unscathed, thanks in part to a loyal customer base, a strong reputation for reliability, and the immediate release of the significantly updated /5 Series. The Honda CB 750 proved to be a reliable motorcycle, intended as a touring model. Tuners immediately turned to it, supplying performance kits and fairings, allowing customers to transform it into a sportbike or café racer. The machine also offered standard accessories that weren't commonplace in the late 1960s, such as a starter motor, turn signals, and a hydraulically operated front disc brake.

The CB 750 remained in production virtually unchanged until it was succeeded by the Honda CB 750 KZ in 1979. Meanwhile, several special editions had appeared, such as the CB 750 A Hondamatic with an automatic transmission in 1976 and the sportier F1 (1975) and F2 (1977) models.

At the end of the twentieth century, the Honda CB 750 was voted "Motorcycle of the Century" by motorcycle journalists worldwide. Mike Hailwood, partly responsible for Honda's success through his racing successes, was named "Motorcycle Racer of the Century".