Retrospective: Honda CB750F Super Sport (SOHC): 1975-1978

Honda CB750F Super Sport (SOHC): 1975-1978
Honda CB750F Super Sport (SOHC): 1975-1978

Here was an immensely successful exercise in styling. For six years Honda had been selling the CB750K, a superbly technical motorcycle with such innovations as an electric starter and disc brake, but low on looks.

Undoubtedly there were some who liked the somewhat plain four-piper design, but the Honda marketeers were quite aware that a sporty image was the coming thing. The Italians had “go-fast” built into all big bikes, the Germans had even made the R90S look pretty dashing, the Brits still had sportyish Triumph twins and triples, as well as the Norton Commando, and even Honda’s rather stodgy Japanese competition was enjoying speed fever. When Suzuki’s two-stroke triple Water Buffalo was getting higher marks for performance than the K, something needed to be done.

1978 Honda CB750F Super Sport
1978 Honda CB750F Super Sport

The aftermarket people were already onto the sporting look. The Vetter Corporation was selling a lovely Rickman frame which would accept a CB750, or Kawasaki Z-1, engine. Anyone just wanting to look fast could call Pichler or Dunstall and buy a slick fairing. No point in giving all that money away to the competition, said the Honda honchos, let’s go sporty, let’s build the 750F.

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But what did the F stand for? Fast? Four-into-one? Actually, the F suffix had originated in 1972 with the CB350F—F for four cylinders, so as not to be confused with the CB350K twins. But why did the twins get a K suffix, when the original K appeared on the 1969 CB750 four-banger? Never mind.

1978 Honda CB750F Super Sport
1978 Honda CB750F Super Sport

The year 1975 saw the introduction of three F models, the 400F, the 550F and the 750F. That 400F was truly trick, with mildly set-back footpegs, a flat handlebar and a lovely megaphone-styled exhaust. However, the company decided to go the conservative route with the 750, apparently more concerned with bringing four-piper types into the sporting world than with luring crossover owners from the Ducati realm.

This is partially a retelling of the making of the most significant motorcycle of the last 50 years, but it is a story worth hearing again. There was nothing new about disc brakes, electric starters and overhead camshaft, transverse-mounted, four-cylinder engines in 1969—just that Soichiro Honda had made them cheap and reliable. The CB750K was a winner from when it left the starting gate, but everybody knew that winners get old.

1978 Honda CB750F Super Sport
1978 Honda CB750F Super Sport

Which is when the styling artists got their orders. The K was OK, and would remain the mainstay of the lineup, but something snappier needed to be on the showroom floor. Not too snappy, mind you, not like a Laverda 750SF nor an MV Agusta 750S, but something to provide at least the image of snappiness.

Call down to the muffler department and tell them to make a four-into-one exhaust system. Have the sheet-metal guys stretch that gas tank out a little, not much, just a smidge to give it a slightly elongated, racy appearance; and hide the gas cap. Then tell the seat people to make a little fiberglass extension to fit the back of the saddle, sort of a faux bum-stop that some single-seaters had. The fast look was born.

1978 Honda CB750F Super Sport
1978 Honda CB750F Super Sport

Of course the frame and engine departments were given their chores. The chassis mathematicians figured that Super Sport riders would go a little faster than those on the standard K, so they gave the fork an extra degree of rake, to 28 degrees. Along with 3⁄4-inch more trail. And left those ugly gaiters off. Built a slightly longer swingarm, which added up to a 57.9-inch wheelbase, 6⁄10-inch longer than on the K. This meant that when the F rider was trickling along U.S. 2 in North Dakota at a modest 100 mph, the bike was reasonably steady.

Power was another matter. Honda did not necessarily like to advertise horsepower ratings, but dynamometers don’t lie—unless they are hopelessly miscalibrated, in which case it is not lying. The F put out a good 10 percent more ponies than the K, and while some of those 58 horsepower, at 8,000 rpm, could be attributed to the freer flowing qualities of the four-into-one exhaust, the rest came from a slight boost in compression ratio, using domed pistons, up from 9:1 to 9.2:1. And the timing specs on the valves had been altered to adjust to the new exhaust. Also the carburetion was cleaned up a tad, in those halcyon days before the EPA, with the best of intentions, made a botch of things.

1978 Honda CB750F Super Sport
1978 Honda CB750F Super Sport

The F, with a full 4.8 gallons of high test in the tank, registered slightly over 535 pounds on the scale. Which was 10 pounds heavier than a K, although the F had three less mufflers. Possibly a little extra metal had been included in order to strengthen the double-cradle frame, with triple tubes, a main and two auxiliaries, running under the tank.

Put the leg over the saddle, and the rider sat pretty high at 32 inches. Pull the choke on those four 28mm Keihins, turn the key, and choose between pushing the button or kicking the starter; 999 times out of a thousand, the button won. Vrooom! The muffler had a mellow, unobtrusive sound, the engine warmed quickly, and the rider was away.

Twenty miles down the road, the Bridgestone Super Speeds were heated appropriately, and the twisties began. Tire technology was still pretty basic 40 years ago, but the 18-inch rear and 19-inch front spoked wheels each had a disc. Hit that first sharp left hander at a rapid speed, and the F felt really good. However, coming back at the same speed, the corner now a right hander, there would be a Grounch! as the collector box located beneath the right footpeg touched down. A little help could be had by getting out the toolkit and maximizing the preload on the shocks, but even then, a 200-pound rider was going to mar the chrome. The owner of this CB750F has changed the shocks to S&W, a distinct improvement.

Other than that minor drawback, the F did live up to its sporty intent. It probably was the best-handling of the Japanese 750-plus fours of the time. And got better. In ’77 the F got Comstar wheels, and a restyled exhaust, with the collector better tucked away, and the muffler now a megaphone look-alike. Also, the engine was painted black, which gave it a more sinister look.

We’ll leave this CB750F after 1978, as for ’79 Honda revamped the whole notion, introducing the double-overhead-camshaft 16-valve engine, and a four-into-two exhaust. In 1983, taking sport design to a new level, Soichiro Honda introduced the VF750F—full of surprises, that man was.

17 COMMENTS

  1. Nice bikes I still have one 1978 SS Bought my first “big bike” a 1974 CB750 in late 74 it had 3300 miles, a Kerker, aftermarket shocks and was very well tuned $875.00 Wow what a bike rode it many, many miles seen & done a lot on interesting things!

  2. Great article. My first street bike as an adult was a 750 K. I bought it fully customized by the previous owner in 1981 for 1200 bucks. I shouldn’t have bought it because I couldn’t touch the ground. He had put 8 inch extended forks on it (which I dropped to 4), some headers, a king/queen seat with a sissy bar, and a small high-energy cam. Short of going to buy a brand new car today, it was probably one of the most perfect vehicles I’ve ever owned. You pull those baffles out of those headers and its like Mozart on steroids, especially hitting a slight lick. Beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

  3. I’m starting a 1980 CB 750 project soon & will keep you posted. It looks like a lot of people are using a GSXR fork I think a fork from a Honda CBR 600 work the best for me. Mainly because it’s available. The GSXR fork needs a triple tree I think Lossa or Motolana makes one. Both companies are excellent quality! reach me at wayfastwil@ yahoo anytime.

    wil

    • would you like to sell it i am looking to buy a super sport i had one in 1987 wish i could find one to buy mike ramirez i looking for one the best bike in the world better then aney bike i own

  4. Hello guys..my husband has ha d his honda cb750f parked in his garage for 29 yrs…me n his daughter and a friend of hers took it out of his shop and sent it to b worked on and redone for a suprise….after putting a battery and some of many things done to it….she cranked up..29 yrs of sitting in a shop…so o belive hondas don’t die they just wait..and his did..hats off to the slop shop in jackson ms…they have done a tremendous job on this restore..that honda cranked up and said hey daddy..where u wanna go…it is amazing…these guys have went above and beyond. .they are the best..sent your bikes to them..and btw…it is still a surprise to my husband..I am so excited to see his reaction to this most awesome transformation. ..Send these guys your restoration..they will do u rite

  5. Honda CB750F sohc models have been essentially ignored by the classic motorcycle groups. Partially because there were so many made. Like early Goldwings, they are still available very inexpensively. However the numbers of nice original bikes are reducing and the value on these bikes has started increasing. Aftermarket parts are appearing which indicates not all bikes are being Cafe’d, there are people restoring them to stock. Anybody who has done a restoration knows that this is not a cheap or quick exercise, and thus will push the price up. Good to see these iconic bikes being appreciated finally!

  6. Been in the wind for 59 years and still there . I have had every kind of bike from Harleys down. Just picked up my old 1976 HONDA SUPER SPORT that had been sitting for 33 Years . Soft Spot for it as it is the only Bike i ever rode 1200 miles on without
    stopping to rest. Had to do some work on it but got it up and running like new They Are one of the Best Old Bikes ever made . If You Have One Get It RUNNING Its A Rush.

    • Right on Dave ! I had a 1975 750 Super Sport I rode it from Orlando to Ontario Canada straight through. It got ripped off I still who’s I had her. I throw my old leg over a 94 Road King

    • Dave:
      Your comment caught my eye. I’m in my 80’s and have a 1976 Honda CB750f super sport sitting in my garage… It has been parked for at least 27 years… Used to commute to work on it in good Atlanta weather…When I put it up around 1995 I had it tuned at a Honda shop (with about 7000 miles), put new tires and chain on it, oil and all fluids changed, and parked it with a full gas tank… About 10 years ago I looked at it. The Tank had corroded out at a seam and was MT… Gas put into the fuel system leaked through at least one of the 4 carbs… I didn’t try to do anything more… I can see that it needs new Tank, and probably all the carbs cleaned and rebalanced…fluids, a Battery and new Tires of course, before I’d put it on the Road… I think it is worth the effort… Do you have any suggestions for finding a Gas Tank shell? I have the fittings, Cap, Cover Door, etc…What tanks are compatible if a 750f tank isn’t available? Is this Garage Queen worth going to all the expense to get it roadworthy or is it a “Parts Bike” at this point ? Thanks for any reply. Old Guy. (Reply to warmat@embarqmail.com please)

  7. Just managed to acquire a 1978 F2 with 16000k’s. In process restoring to original and find getting parts very difficult. I did know it was not gong to be cheap. Bought my first sohc in 1974. Best

  8. Lots of parts on the net Or just weld and line tank. Carb kits or just pull bowls to see how bad they are inside. I like to just spray a 2 stroke mix in air box without filter to see if will fire up . or a little gas in clys with plugs out . NOTE Before trying to start make sure oil light goes out when being turned over. Sounds like a nice bike if it only has 7000 miles. I had to put about 80-100 Hrs in to mine but it was in bad shape . Started it Up Christmas Eve 2022 Had it out this summer works great. When the Harleys get to heavy it will be my full time Ride .Its worth the effort. Dave Old Harley Wrench

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