CLASSIC: HONDA CB72

Memories feed the classic motorcycle scene, and for Heinz Tschinkel the motorcycle he remembered most fondly was a 1963 CB72 Honda. The CB72, and larger CB77, did much to create Honda's reputation for building fast, reliable, and user-friendly motorcycles. But today, despite many thousands produced, good ones are hard to come by. When Heinz saw an advertisement for a CB72, he was immediately interested. And when he saw the bike he knew he had to have it. Here was a brand new 1963 CB72, bought new by a Honda dealer in Hamburg, and kept on display for forty years.

The CB72 evolved out of Honda's first 250cc twin, the 1957 C70 Dream. Although much of this motorcycle was unremarkable, the single overhead camshaft engine, with dry sump lubrication and horizontally split crankcases, was extremely advanced. By 1959 it gained an electric start, and while many sniggered that they had no torque and didn't handle, these early twins already typified Honda's engineering approach. They didn't leak oil, were beautifully engineered and finished, and had electrical systems that were reliable. 

While the dry-sump 250cc C70 and 305cc C76 twins were greeted with amiable interest when first displayed in Europe and America, the release of the next generation wet-sump twins in 1960 (as 1961 models) completely changed the public perception of Honda motorcycles. The C72 and C77 Dream may have looked similar to the earlier version, but the CB72 Hawk and CB77 Super Hawk lost the ungainly angular styling of the Dream and were real sporting motorcycles. The 153kg CB72 also handled surprisingly well, and to the chagrin of British motorcycle enthusiasts, a well-ridden CB77 or CB72 could humiliate many British 500cc twins, and run harder all day long than some 650s.

The CB72 engine was wet-sump, and featured a 180 degree crank instead of the earlier 360 degree. As on the factory racers, the combustion chamber featured a cast-iron skull, with the valve seats cut in. The compression ratio was 10:1, and with dual PW 22mm carburettors the power was 24 horsepower at 9000rpm. Instead of the earlier pressed-steel frame, the CB72 included a single-loop, tubular-steel frame, incorporating the engine as a stressed member. Earlier Hondas had a leading link front fork, but for the CB72 there was a telescopic front fork, albeit an under-damped one with skinny 33mm fork legs. Very early examples had a single leading-shoe front brake, with a double leading-shoe rear, but during 1961 all brakes were 8 inch double leading-shoe. The 18 inch wheels were shod with narrow 2.75 and 3.00 inch tyres. With its abbreviated mudguards, simplified headlight, and instrument layout that included a tachometer, the CB72 was far more purposeful than the chunky Dream.

As the CB72/77 was so advanced, development was minimal during the 1960s. Most of Honda's R&D engineers were involved in developing racing motorcycles, and there were only minor updates to the CB72/77 through until 1967. By that stage other Japanese companies were producing high performing 250s and 350s and the Honda was outdated. Honda retaliated with the CB250/350. These soon became the most popular motorcycles in the world but lacked the sporting finesse of the CB72/77. For many enthusiasts, the CB72/77 was the motorcycle that started it all.

Five fine things you didn't know about the Honda CB72 and CB77