The CB

[Hoko]

Ok, I'm going to show my ignorance.  What does the CB in CB750 mean?

[TOOLS1]

COOL BIKE!!!
TOOLS

[sgtslag]

I researched the history of the CB750, and the general history of bikes from the 1930's forward.  I never found anything explaining it, other than to say the "CB" models were Honda's street bike line of products.  Never found anything more.  Cheers!

[LukeM]

There is a branch of the US Navy called the Construction Battalion, otherwise known as the SeaBees. I dont' think the CB in CB750 is related.  There is a CM series (CM400, for example) which is a bit less flashy (only a speedo, no tach, no frills). I remember reading somewhere that the C in CB stood for Commuter, and the older small Hondas were CA-50 and CA-90.  Maybe CB were the next generation?

Luke M

[Hoko]

Ok, I'll take a guess.  How about Carrion Blaster.  These bikes have special stealth technology so you can sneak up on buzzards having lunch on the highway and blast them while they still have road kill in their mouth.

[shinyribs]

I'he read that some people believe it stands for 'citizens bike'i kinda doubt that myself. Always seemed strange to me that a Japanese bike is denoted in english letters:CB,K,F,C...good question.


Is Soichiro Honda still alive? Reckon we could email him?

[Hoko]

hmmmmm

[Rockwork]

This question came up again (in my mind). If others have already been satisfied then I apologize. But I found samcr750's explanation most informative at http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php?topic=3060.0 .

[free2ride]

TOOLS1 wrote

COOL BIKE!!!
TOOLS

+1

[Hoosier Daddy]

Found this reasonable explanation

More interesting to me was the meaning of "CB"... this was first used on a 125 twin, back about 1960. Not sure what the Japanese words were, but the translation was "combustion bicycle", thus "CB"

Weren't the CM's all 'Matics? bet thats where the M comes from.
CR's were Race bikes after all.

[TOOLS1]

I have a CM 185T, and it's not a matic. However I have 6 CB 750 A's that are matics.
TOOLS