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Double Feature: CBX + CB1100F

November 07, 2023

In the era of late 1970’s to early 80’s superbikes Honda was leading the way by continuing to improve on their innovative designs. In 1980 Honda released the CB900F using a race inspired 901cc DOHC engine (which was a step above the previously released dohc CB750F) with its longer stroke and hotter cams which made 84BHP @ 8500RPM, offered in the USA only in 1981-1982. Then in 1983 Honda released the bike to trump both of the previous models, the CB1100F. Using hotter cams, larger pistons, and redesigned combustion the CB1100F produced 108BHP @ 8500RPM. Honda also increased the rake and added a 1/4 fairing for a bit of wind deflection and style. These 1100F were the pinnacle of the Honda motors company at the time and the only other bike to really rival it in that era in terms of notability and impressive looks would have certainly been the just slightly slower but larger than life Honda CBX.

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Mini Bike Madness: The Honda Z50

July 25, 2023

There are some ideas that are simply too good to not pursue, and the Honda Z series of motorcycles is exactly that.

Originally created for Japanese amusement park Tama Tech, a park that was owned by none other than Honda themselves. Yes, that's right, Honda owned an amusement park that featured motorsports-focused rides and attractions, and the Z50 was a result of an attraction at that park!

European Challenger: The Honda CB900F

June 27, 2023

What’s that saying? “If you complain enough, you’ll eventually get what you want”? Well, that may not be the way the saying actually goes but that’s exactly how the Honda CB900F came to be.

From 1981 to 1983, Honda manufactured and sold the Honda CB900F, a bike that introduced Honda as a contender into the “naked bike” field that made motorcycles show off actual machine parts. As you’ll learn, the introduction of the Honda CB900F represented a bike that had already been tested on European and Australian roads, so the bike itself become known for its longevity, comfort, and performance - but it only got the United States because we complained enough about not being able to get one.

From Marketing Stunt to Legend: The Baja 1000

June 20, 2023

The impetus of the Baja 1000 came from none other than Honda American.

In the early 1960s, motorcycle riding and specifically dirt bike riding were seeing a massive surge in popularity. Honda American was at the forefront of this movement and was doing everything they could to convince riders that their bikes were not only the most capable but also the most reliable. Anyone who knows motorcycles today knows that this is what Honda bikes are really known for, and this branding started early on.

To prove the reliability of their brand new CL72 Scrambler, brand geniuses Jack McCormick and Walt Fulton of Honda American wanted to push the scrambler on a long-distance run across terrain that included everything from rocks and sand to mountain passes and dried out washes. An amalgamation of what dirt bike riders would encounter on their own riding days. Northwest Mexico would be the perfect environment to test out the overall durability of Honda's plucky CL72 Scrambler.

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Last Of The 305 Scramblers: The Honda CL77

June 06, 2023

If you wanted to go off-road with a motorcycle in the 1960s, your options were fairly limited to larger, slower bikes that were pushrod-driven and not all that much fun to drive.

Honda entered the market with the Honda CL77 in an effort to contrast the lackluster efforts of other manufacturers by adding a more modern up to date design with a smaller, but more rev-happy engine. The result? Between 1965 and 1968, Honda sold an incredible number of the Honda CL77s as a fun, lightweight road bike that could handle off-road trips too. It was just what America was asking for.