Given the number of CB750s to be found on the internets, you’d be inclined to believe that every single one of the bikes made in the the 1970s survives to the modern day. Unfortunately, quite a lot of them have been tinkered beyond recognition. Finding one that hasn’t been permanently scarred by previous owners’ questionable choices is a challenge. Step forward this unrestored beauty.
“One owner, original survivor,” states the seller in no-nonsense bullet-points. “Un-restored gem. Unmodified frame… Original paint in great shape: Maxim Brown Metallic… Rust free gas tank. Original key. Original tool kit and owner’s manual.”
And on and on. How the bike managed to survive 50+ years and still look this good is kind of a mystery, but perhaps that’s the reason for the ambitious asking price: starting bid is $13,500. The CB750, of course, is lauded as The Motorcycle That Changed Everything. First arriving in 1969, the motorcycle stood head and shoulders above anything else on the road. So much so, that it effectively served as the nail in the coffin for many brands.
The CB750 name is still in use, of course, these days applying to the less game changing but still impressive CB750 Hornet. But when the old boys look off into the middle distance and get a lilting tone to their voice at the mention of a CB750 they’re thinking of one the originals. A bike like this one. Produced from 1969 to 1978, the first generation of CB750s was driven by a 736cc air-cooled SOHC inline four engine that produced peak power outputs of 67 horsepower at 8,000 rpm, and 44 lb-ft of torque at 7,000 rpm.
Fast, powerful, and ─ most importantly ─ reliable, the CB750 was a revolution in motorcycling. The bike was initially targeted at the US market, and American buyers responded enthusiastically. According to the January 1969 issue of Cycle World, buyers were overwhelming dealerships with requests months before it even arrived.
With 9,200 original miles on the clock and currently no bidders, you can find this untainted CB750 in Los Angeles with an unmet opening bid of $13,500 here on eBay. Oh, and on a personal note: if you buy it, PLEASE don’t turn it into a cafe racer.