CB750F1

[UK Pete]

The F1 and F2 are still good value for money, i do recon they will fetch more in years to come, i have an f1 in my stash, and i was lucky enough to source a NOS pipe for it among other bits, i not sure if i will ever get the time to build it , maybe a thing for retirement
Good luck with the bike if you go and see it
pete

[hairygit]

I have to agree  with Pete about F1+2's being good value, and personally the F1 is my favourite of all the SOHC 750's sadly Honda jumped on the 70's bandwagon with the F2, black engine looks sooooo wrong, as do those awful comstars??? In an ideal world I'd have a 400/4, and a 550F2 to go with my 750F1, the factory 4 into 1's look amazing on them!

Sent from my GT-S5839i using Tapatalk 2

[Green1]

Bloody hell Trig I was watching that.
I seem to remember this happening when I was looking at a 500. 

Mick

[Trigger]

What 500??? Never seen one in my life
Hold-on wasn't i out bid on a set of HM341's.

[Green1]

I only buy HM300's   

Mick

[bike-pusher]

Well, I really dislike the F1 (as I think is evident) as it combines all the flaws of the fou-pipers with none of the benefits of the F2.  The F2 really is so much better to ride than any of the other 750s - faster, better braked, better handling, and with a chain that lasts longer than a tankful of fuel.

I had mine on eBay with a start of £2,299 but no bids.  I did have the usual clowns making silly offers "for cash".  I mean, what do they think I take in payment - beetroot?

I still don't know whether to keep it or not.  I need the space, but not the money.  If anyone here wants a really, really nice stock F2 (even the exhaust is OE!) and wants to throw two grand at me, I could be tempted...

[Bitsa (Ralph Wright - RIP)]

Again plus 1 with oddjob.I didn't like them because it was the start of those poxy boy racer bikes got to have one of those the race stars ride them sheen,smart,Roberts etc.Why does all think the f2 was the fastest I rode a few in my time and I did not think they went any faster why should they?OK the valves were this and that but it was the go faster black engine that did it.
Yeah right
Cheers
Bitsa

[bike-pusher]

I do think the styling of the four-pipers is wonderful. Still looks good today.

The F1 was a bit faster than the K5, K6 - I think it was back to the original K0 power - but the F2 really was quicker.  Valves, accelerator pump carbs, and I think the cam was hotter as well.

I'd like a four-piper for trolling around on, I really would.  But for going anywhere at sustained speeds above 80, no thanks.

[Bitsa (Ralph Wright - RIP)]

Think your wrong with the f1 crap in my opinion and we are all entitled to that.As for the f2 cant really comment on the speed bit as test rides were restrictive by my bosses only around the bypass etc not mways.Honda flogged the motor to death valve guides did not last acc pumps going wrong etc then they dumped it for the dohc jobs need I say more?Don't mean to be anti cafe racer but all or nearly all were retro styled and individuals made their own style bikes which was fair enough.Today nearly every bike looks the same as a Harley does more plastic bit more chrome etc.I think manufacturers need to ask their clients what they really want and question why is there so many old style bikes about.If only, a lot of you will disagree with me must be an age thing.
Cheers
Bitsa

[bike-pusher]

You haven't really got your history right.  Honda didn't "dump" the F2 in favour of the DOHC bikes.  Suzuki brought out the GS750, and Kawasaki the Z650, both of which shook Honda badly.  Honda had been devoting more time and investment to the car side, and had neglected the bikes, and all of a sudden they realised the CB750 was getting on for a decade old.

They started working on DOHC four-valve heads, which they knew from the RCB racers, but it was going to take time to get them to market.  So they produced the F2/F3 as a stop-gap model, a bit like the old CJ250/360.  That was a last-gasp model, just to tide them over until the new Dream bikes appeared, and the F2 was the same thing, until the DOHC bikes appeared.

I utterly adore the old four-piper looks.  I still think the Z1 is one of the best proportioned bikes ever, and I love the Honda four-pipe styling, but I'm not blind to the old bikes' faults, and the F2 really is in a different league when it comes to performance.  You really can't say they weren't any faster, and then in the next posting say that you never got the chance to try the bike(s) out.  You're right to say the styling isn't that good.  It isn't, which is why they don't make the money, but I still prefer the bike for the better handling, brakes and chain.

I have some dim memory of a work-around to prolong the valve stems on the F2 - is it setting the tappets slightly wider than recommended?  Perhaps you can enlighten me. 

[Bitsa (Ralph Wright - RIP)]

Ok maybe you are right dont know but like I said all entitled to their opinions.I do think the styling has made me very anti towards to it.I also think the z1 styling was fab.Even today and I can not tell you the model all I can say they are green the ones I have seen and have not the same style 4 pipes but they do have 4 silencers.So why go 4 into a fat friggin ugly one?
Cheers
Bitsa

[Trigger]

You can't beat the CX500

[tom400f]

Like this Bitsa?

Seen in Canary Wharf. Bloke was coming in on it one day so I spoke to him. Hot cams in it apparently.

[MarkCR750]

You can't beat the CX500

The CX500 was a little cosmetically challenged (well a lot really I suppose) but I rode one for a year or so in the early 80's and it was a terrific bike, from memory it was quite rapid!, probably wouldn't think that if I rode one now .
IMO time has been kind to the F1/F2, they actually look quite smart now after years of looking pretty bland, I recon the Z1 is much better looking than K series Hondas but beauty is in the eye of the beholder of course.

[bike-pusher]

The CX was amazingly advanced for its day.  When you look at the engine and everything that went into it, you see that it had the barrels integral with the crankcase, water cooling, four valve heads, and yet was designed for easy maintenance as well.  Shaft drive, no torque reaction,light clutch, comfy seat....

It was as ugly as a hatful of monkeys' arseholes, agreed, but I'm surprised that Honda has never since made anything quite like it.