Unusual Honda
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  1. #1
    Senior Member F6Dave's Avatar
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    Unusual Honda

    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!




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    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.

  3. #3
    Senior Member F6Dave's Avatar
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    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.
    Last edited by F6Dave; 11-08-2021 at 02:59 PM.

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    Senior Member willtill's Avatar
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    ANY Honda 750 back in the day turns me on. Loved the CB750. Thought that was the coolest motorcycle ever!

    A good example:





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

    Last edited by willtill; 11-08-2021 at 05:34 PM.


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    Quote Originally Posted by willtill View Post
    ANY Honda 750 back in the day turns me on. Loved the CB750. Thought that was the coolest motorcycle ever!

    A good example:





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

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

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

  7. #7
    Senior Member F6Dave's Avatar
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    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.
    Last edited by F6Dave; 11-08-2021 at 10:28 PM.

  8. #8
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    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.
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  9. #9
    Senior Member F6Dave's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Frye View Post
    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.

  10. #10
    Senior Member rdbonds's Avatar
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    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

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