Honda Prod Bikes Pg 4

1972: THE 'CB500' DREAM FOUR: The CB750 started the whole UJM4 revolution, the first Honda four variant came in the form of the gorgeous CB500 four cylinder machine. It was so quiet and smooth, the engine was a four cylinder transverse type of 498cc capacity with an OHC head, producing 48PS at 9,000rpm. The 750/4 DNA of four carburettors and a single front disc brake were included.


A SCALED DOWN CB750, SOMEHOW IT LOOKED JUST RIGHT	THE FLUTED EXHAUST ENDS WERE UNIQUE TO THE CB500/4

1972: THE 'CB350' DREAM FOUR: The immediate success of the CB500/4 witnessed a further incarnation of the transverse four in the same year, an even smaller, and lighter machine in the form of the CB350/4. Once again it was so quiet and smooth, the engine was a four cylinder transverse type of 347cc capacity with an OHC head, producing 34PS at 9,500rpm. The 750/4 DNA of four carburettors and a single front disc brake were included.


A SCALED DOWN CB500, THIS MOTORCYCLE OVERCAME BUYER RESISTANCE TO THE BULK OF A FOUR CYLINDER TRANSVERSE ENGINE

1974: THE 'CB400' SUPER SPORT: This cafe racer, four into one, 400/4 with those glorious sweeping header pipes was an immediate and long term success for Honda. Once again it was so quiet and smooth, the engine was a four cylinder transverse type of 408cc capacity with an OHC head, producing 37PS at 8,500rpm. The 750/4 DNA of four carburettors and a single front disc brake were included.


VERY COMPACT AND VERY QUIET	THE HEADERS, SUPERB

1974: THE 'GL1000' GOLDWING: Originally developed as a six cylinder machine, the Goldwing was released as a flat four shaft drive tourer aimed directly at the touring motorcyclist and BMW in particular. The engine was a four cylinder water cooled horizontally opposed 'boxer' type of 999cc capacity with OHC heads which were belt driven. The engine produced 80PS at 7,500rpm. Four carburettors, shaft drive, dual front disc brakes and a dummy fuel tank containing electrical equipment and limited storage, (the real fuel tank was located under the seat with a fuel pump serving the carbies).

The design continues to evolve with engine capacities ranging from the initial 1,000/4 to 1,800/6 and a rumoured 2,000/6 incorporating a dual clutch semi automatic gearbox!


A MASSIVE MOTORCYCLE	SUPERB FLAT FOUR ENGINE

1978: THE 'GL400' SPORTS TOURING: A huge turn around in design by Honda, the GL400 Sports Tourer incorporated a V twin transversely mounted with an OHV 'pushrod' engine. The engine heads were 'rotated' to allow the carburettors to be tucked under the seat and allow the headers to sweep out and back in a conventional form whilst allowing for a radiator, the radiator was not huge however the plastic enclosure was! The design evolved into the CX500, CX500 Turbo, CX650, CX650 Turbo, GL600 etc. Other features included shaft drive, comstar wheels and a touring seat.

The engine was a V twin liquid cooled transverse type of 396cc capacity with OHV four valve heads, producing 40PS at 9,500rpm, a high rev limit for a pushrod motorcycle.


KNOWN AS THE 'UGLY DUCKLING'	ROTATED HEADS

HONDA'S PRODUCTION BIKES: For more of my coverage of Honda's Production Bikes please select from the following pages, note that Page 5 is devoted exclusively to the magnificent CBX1000/6 of 1979:

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