Honda of Japan introduced the CB750 motorcycle to the US and European markets in 1969. The bike was targeted directly at the US market.
Under development for a year, the CB750 offered two unprecedented features, a front disc brake and a transverse straight-4 engine with an overhead camshaft, neither of which was previously available on a mainstream, affordable production bike.
Cycle magazine called the CB750 “the most sophisticated production bike ever” upon its introduction. Cycle World called it a masterpiece, highlighting Honda’s painstaking durability testing, the bike’s 120 mph (190 km/h) top speed, the fade-free performance of the braking, the comfortable ride and excellent instrumentation. The CB750 was the first modern four-cylinder machine from a mainstream manufacturer, and the term super-bike was coined to describe it. The bike offered other important features that added to its compelling value: electric starter, kill switch, dual mirrors, flashing turn signals, easily maintained valves and overall smoothness and freedom from vibration both underway and at a standstill.
The Discovery Channel ranked the Honda CB750 third among the top ten greatest motorbikes of all time.