Photoshoot of the Week: June 24th -30th 2019 – Honda CB 750 1980 & Suzi Flores

The Honda CB750 is an air-cooled, transverse, in-line four-cylinder engine motorcycle made by Honda over several generations for year models 1969–2003 as well as 2007 with an upright or standard riding posture. It is often called the original Universal Japanese Motorcycle (UJM).
Though other manufacturers had marketed the transverse, overhead camshaft, inline four-cylinder engine configuration and the layout had been used in racing engines prior to World War II, Honda popularized the configuration with the CB750, and the layout subsequently became the dominant sport bike engine layout.
The CB750 is included in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Classic Bikes, in The Art of the Motorcycle exhibition, and in the UK National Motor Museum and it was named in the Discovery Channel’s “Greatest Motorbikes Ever.
The CB750 was the first motorcycle to be called a “superbike.” Under development for a year, the CB750 had a transverse, straight-four engine with a single overhead camshaft (SOHC) and a front disc brake, neither of which was previously available on a mainstream, affordable, production motorcycle. Having a four-cylinder engine and disc brake, along with the introductory price of US$1,495 (US$10,214 in current money), gave the CB750 a considerable sporting performance advantage over its competition, particularly its British rivals.
Cycle magazine called the CB750, “the most sophisticated production bike ever”, on the bike’s introduction. Cycle World called it a masterpiece, highlighting Honda’s painstaking durability testing, the bike’s 120 mph (190 km/h) top speed, the fade-free braking, the comfortable ride, and excellent instrumentation.
The CB750 was the first modern four-cylinder machine from a mainstream manufacturer, and the term superbike was coined to describe it. Adding to the bike’s value were its electric starter, kill switch, dual mirrors, flashing turn signals, easily maintained valves, and overall smoothness and low vibration both under way and at a standstill. Much-later models from 1991 included maintenance-free hydraulic valves.
Unable to accurately gauge demand for the new bike, Honda limited its initial investment in the production dies for the CB750 by using a technique called permanent mold casting (often erroneously referred to as sandcasting) rather than diecasting for the engines – unsure of the bike’s reception. The bike remained in the Honda line up for ten years, with a production total over 400,000.