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Striking a Blow for Quality
I
n the mid-1960s, the term "Made in
season. Upon learning ofTriumph's
Japan" was a punchline. Japanese
plan to develop a 750cc triple, Honda
with a transverse overhead camshaft
motorcycles sold in the U.S. were
set out to build a large-bore bike to
was designed, tested and ready, MSRP
Once the inline four-cylinder engine
generally small, like the step-through
campete with offerings from BMW;
was set at $1,495. At a time when most
Super Cub that starred in the compa
Harley-Davidson andTriumph, using
large bikes were priced between $2,500
ny's ''You Meet the Nicest People on a
knowledge gained in its racing efforts.
and $4,000. Sales exploded.
Honda," advertising campaign. Forlarge-displacement bikes, Amer
In 1967, Honda determined it would also build a bike around a 750cc engine
The initial production forecast was for 1,500 units annually, which
ican motorcyclists favored British im
that would produce a maximum of 67
quickly became a monthly figure, then
ports by a wide margin over Japanese
horsepower. Honda sought to satisfy a
doubled. Demand was such that some
brands, and Honda's !argest was a 650.
few key directives: High speed cruising
buyers paid a premium of more than
The introduction of one motorcycle
stability; reliable braking; minimal vi
$500 to get their hands on one.
in 1969 was instrumental in changing
bration; excellent ergonomics and ease
preceptions-the Honda CB750 Four.
of instrumentation use; lang-lasting,
The SOHC 750 that transformed motorcycle sales and growth for Honda
quality components; and original de
stayed in production through 1978,
success on the World GP circuit, but
signs for surface treatment technologies
then continued with a double-over
withdrew from racing after the 1966
that would be easy to mass-produce.
head cam until 2003. MCN
Honda had achieved a high level of
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