Unusual Honda

[F6Dave]

You don't see many of these still on the road. Come to think of it, they were rare even when Honda was producing them!

http://dchealy.com/valk/750auto2.jpg

http://dchealy.com/valk/750auto1.jpg

[Sorcerer]

I have a guy I ride with that has an unmolested 750 that he shows at antique bike shows. I want to say he has a smaller cc one also.

[F6Dave]

I should have mentioned this is the very rare Hondamatic version, only made for 2 years as I recall. The emblem might not be easy to see especially if you're viewing on a phone.

[willtill]

ANY Honda 750 back in the day turns me on. Loved the CB750. Thought that was the coolest motorcycle ever!

A good example:

https://i.postimg.cc/0yx1GcyP/Capture.jpg



I also liked the CB360T. So aesthetically balanced back then.... I ALMOST got one

https://i.postimg.cc/GttY3sHg/Capture.jpg

[Eternalydamd]

ANY Honda 750 back in the day turns me on. Loved the CB750. Thought that was the coolest motorcycle ever!

A good example:

https://i.postimg.cc/0yx1GcyP/Capture.jpg



I also liked the CB360T. So aesthetically balanced back then.... I ALMOST got one

https://i.postimg.cc/GttY3sHg/Capture.jpg

I have a friend with a beautifully rebuilt 750, she is such a beauty.

[FLsixB]

They do make me feel nostalgic. Thanks for posting the pics.

[F6Dave]

I had a friend who owned a CB360 back in the 1970s. I rode it a few times. It was a nice bike but at highway speeds vibration was irritating. At the time I owned a KZ900 which was one of the nicest bikes of that era. Not to mention fast. So I wasn't very impressed with my friend's Honda.

Then a few decades later another friend bought a used CB750 from the early 1970s. I had a Valkyrie at the time which was an awesome bike. But I was surprised at how refined that old CB750 was. I immediately understood how it revolutionized the motorcycle world when it hit the market in 1969.

The green Hondamatic I saw the other day and posted here was quite unusual. It only had a two speed transmission, but also had an automotive style torque converter and no clutch. Honda also detuned the engine for better low end power. It lost 2 seconds in the quarter mile to the 5 speed. It was apparently nice to ride but slow and never sold well.

[Frye]

I had a Hondamatic for a summer. I traded a Suzuki 175 dirt bike for it. The lady that owned it wanted to get rid of it because it had a leaking cylinder gasket. I replaced the head and cylinder gaskets and put new rings in it and got it back on the road. It was the only street bike I had at the time but it was slow. Just judging by my 'seat of the pants" dyno the 550K I used to have was faster. I don't miss the Hondamatic in the least but sure wish I still had that 550K.

[F6Dave]

I don't miss the Hondamatic in the least but sure wish I still had that 550K.

The 550 would be my choice too. Honda made some really nice small to mid sized fours in those days. Remember the CB400F with the beautiful 4 into 1 exhaust system? That may have been the prettiest four ever made.

[rdbonds]

For those who might not be as familiar with these, here's a youtube video I stumbled across on them some time ago. Nice little overview including a quick parking lot ride on one. Great looking little bike. Those lines on the tank are very pleasing (at least to me).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-IB-4IeFFg

[F6Pilot]

I have this unmolested CB750F sitting in my garage now under a cover. My son was going to convert it to a cafe but decided to leave it alone and buy a VTX instead. About to put it back out on the market soon.

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[FLsixB]

F6Pilot she looks like maybe 1980 vintage. Nice looker.

[F6Pilot]

F6Pilot she looks like maybe 1980 vintage. Nice looker.

Thank you and good eye. It is an ‘81.

[rdbonds]

F6Pilot - For what it's worth, I'm glad your son chose not to chop it up. That's a good looking bike just like it is.

[Casper96]

My kid had a 78 that he picked up for $400 with the Vetter fairing and samsonite luggage for hardbags and trunk( not running with a plate with a sticker from like 1993 ). He put about $400 into her( he is a certified Honda motorcycle mechanic ) rode her for 2-3 years, bought a 99 Shadow 1100 and sold the 750A for just shy of $2900( he regretted it watching her be trailered down the street as he watched the guy leave )

[tenxxx]

It looks similar to the 82, 900 I had. My brother has it now.
It has 30k miles and runs like a top.
Has a fearing and trunk.
I didn't like the seat. Sensitive azz I guess.

[Frye]

The 550 would be my choice too. Honda made some really nice small to mid sized fours in those days. Remember the CB400F with the beautiful 4 into 1 exhaust system? That may have been the prettiest four ever made.

I do. They were beautiful.

[Navvet]

I had a CB360T that I rode around when I was stationed in the UK in the early 80's. Great little bike for UK. Would have been too small for the highways here. Ended up leaving it in the parking lot on the base there when I transferred, probably still there.

[willtill]

I have this unmolested CB750F sitting in my garage now under a cover. My son was going to convert it to a cafe but decided to leave it alone and buy a VTX instead. About to put it back out on the market soon.

8165

Very nice! Very nice!

[valkmc]

They do make me feel nostalgic. Thanks for posting the pics.
Me too, I have a long history with Honda motorcycles. My first street bike was a 75 CB400 Super Sport. Loved it but graduated to a 1980 CB750F which was at the time was the coolest (to me) bike on the road!

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Both of the pics are the exact models and colors I owned.