next bike.... decisions decisions...

[Gisser]

I was just wondering about the cb750 because well, nobody ever really talks about it much and I didn't know a heck of a lot about it... 

The CB750 Nighthawk churns out somewhere between 65-and-70 HP.  Dry weight approx 470 LBS.  And it is a fat bike.  No, you do not "throw around" a mid-eighties UJM like you would a dirt bike.  It's easy in, power out.  Same challenge riding the twisties but at a few clicks off the winning pace. 

The impressive lump in the engine bay has low maintenance hydraulic lifters and air-cooling.  Moderately tuned for broad, flexible power--power you can use in everyday riding.  Compared to the GStwin, there is much more passing acceleration on tap at highway speeds (and much less practicality when running errands around town--but that's not an engine issue).   

Stylistically, the CB750 is a half-assed rendition of the "Nighthawk" theme (at its best, a funky melding of sport & cruiser).  Here, the styling is more of an after-thought that serves as an exploitive tie-in to its more stylish namesake.  Blech.

If the designers had any vision they could build a great bike around an older generation 750cc transverse 4.  All it takes is a little passion and a philosophical committment to lightweight, compact packaging. 

So, the Bandit 1250 gains liquid cooling and another 10 LBS.  Sheesh, they still don't get it. 

[ducati_nolan]

I've actually started getting interested in the old CB750s too. I want one of the old one though, like 69-73. Those bikes look really sweet. They look a lot like the old Triumphs and Nortons of the era except more reliable and faster. Plus parts are still available.

I think the newer engines are still based on that old 1969 design, except that the old ones were single cam and the newer ones are dual cam. I could be wrong on that though. The only reason I haven't gotten one is because I want something new enough to be super reliable, but when I have the cash, time, and space to have two bikes I'm going to get an old 750 and restore it.

[Johnny5]

CB750... LOVE the cafe's!