It’s amazing how things change in just a decade. There was a stark difference between life in 1969 compared to how it was in 1979. And then there was 1989, 1999, etc. Not just in fashion but also in technology, medical advances, and certainly vehicle design and engineering. This 1979 Honda CB750K is a 10th Anniversary Edition, and it’s listed here on eBay in Smyrna, Tennessee. The seller is asking $8,500 or you can make an offer.
We flew to the moon, landed, walked around, and then flew back to earth again in 1969, and by 1979, the Space Shuttle was well on its way to taking its first of many flights (in 1981). Vehicles, of course, are of utmost importance to all of us here on both sides of the Barn Finds screen. The first Honda CB750 came out for the 1969 model year, and, to quote the great sage Arthur Fonzarelli, it was nutso.
It was a true world beater, a superbike like no other that we had seen up to that point. Well, I was about six years old, but we as in society. I do remember seeing them at a Honda dealership where I grew up, and compared to what was out at the time, they were beautiful. Equally beautiful but in a different way, this 10th Anniversary, 1 of 5,000 CB750K is gorgeous in its deep Candy Bayard Brown and Candy Muse Red two-tone paint scheme.
Traveling just 7,442 miles since new, this one is hardly broken in yet. The selling dealer doesn’t go into specifics about how this example operates, but they talk about them in general terms. We have to believe that everything works as it should. The 10th Anniversary Edition was only sold for the 1979 model year, and they came in this one color scheme and with the black Comstar wheels as seen here.
The engine is similar to the original series, but different in that this 748-cc inline four has a DOHC rather than a SOHC, as the original 750s had. With around 77 horsepower and 49-59 lb-ft of torque humming through a five-speed manual to the rear wheel, we assume it runs well. You can see discoloration (or is it coloration?) of the exhaust pipes, the HONDA name on the back of the seat is a bit faded, and there are hints of other things here and there. For a limited-edition bike like this one, $8,500 seems like a good price. Have any of you heard of a Honda 750 10th Anniversary Edition?
This is a beautiful bike. The color scheme is absolutely 1979, and it looks great. I remember these from when I was a kid. The condition of this one I would without hesitant describe as a creampuff without a doubt. Scotty, I couldn’t agree more about how things change drastically in 10 year incriments. Even with music. Music that was popular from 1960, most certainly does not sound like anything from 1970.
Great article Scotty I really enjoyed it.
lot less than a decade in some cases, take ’64 to 6 or ’66 to 9.
Some big changes… ’73 to 6 or 7… 2016 to 2020…
Great looking bikes, always wanted to take one for a ride, maybe someday. Scotty you made me think how neat it would be to have a bike from the 70s andone from every decade on up, in a collection. Only bike that wasn’t a 1cyl thumper that I’ve ridden was a GSX-S 750… a 100hp ‘standard’ style bike. Totally different motorcyling experience than what i was used to. Hard to beat the fun on 2 wheels 😎 🏁
The Fonz said that? We’ll just see about that. Another knife in the gut, give it a turn, my friend. Oh how I wish I had the chutzpah to have another bike. So many on the market right now, heck, I bet couple grand ( or even trade for the Jeep) would get me a decent 90s Electra Glide or even a Limey. Not to sound redundant, but at my age you think of these things, the owners are dying off. Had a chance to buy a ’74 Honda 750, in perfect shape 2 towns over, for $3500, I bet $3 would have got it. Then what? It’s tough to admit my 2 wheel days are over, and this is a nice bike, but going with this style, I’d rather have the 900 Custom, but great bikes. I think it’s the chrome polish used that turns pipes blue, I happen to like that look, but $8500 they’re dreamin’. Couple grand tops, and that’s just the way it is. Very few want a bike this anymore, and that’s too bad.
Absolutely right, Howard, too much $$.
To put that in perspective there’s a pristine and restored ‘67 Norton P11 in a friends garage he’ll let go of for $7k, though only to a buyer he believes will take care to it as he has.
howards right its a beautiful bike but its almost in cbx territory. way overpriced
9500 rpm red line, Comstar wheels, FVQ shocks. Stock pipes were double walled. Rainbow coloring on these. One smooth bike, though.
In 1980,I decided to buy a new road bike.
I’d decided on a Honda 750,which was right
around $3,000.I was all set to buy one,until I
checked on insurance.They wanted $500/year.
I decided that was way too much,so I bought
a Black Suzuki 550-4.Really nice looking bike,
but a real nothing bike to ride.
After laying it down,I traded it,& a little money,
for a ’64 Elan that had a hole in the block.
Never met one of them, but I did – briefly – have a 900 of the same type. Bought it, fixed it, sold it. Silver with a blue stripe.
My 1st bike,brand new in 1974.
Bought the same bike and color from a policeman who had it fitted with plastic bags traveling and a windscreen, took it all off and put on a metzler exhaust , was great bike, never a problem, pretty big frame which I like, sold it then bought all kawasakis zx1100 ninja 1100 etc.
I would have bet 78 750 K model was the last one built. Best bike I ever had, and I got it for1800.oo. Had a dream about it last night, oh boy, the good ol days.
Nice bike! Had a new ‘78 CB 750K, rode great but it was heavy! Also rode a new CBX hard to get my legs over all the engine and it was so powerful it scared me! Brought it back in 1 piece and kept the 750!
Had a friend in the mid 80’s owned a black one-probably not an anniversary model.
But I loved that bike, seriously the most fun I was having in those years as it far outrode my Yamaha 500 twin
I had a 79 Honda 650 that I loved. It was the first (and only) bike I bought new. $1999. Walked into Honda Fairfax (VA) on Friday after work, left my van there in the parking lot. Brought the bike back in Monday for the 600 mile checkup. That year the 650 was a SOHC, so not as much horsepower, but was still a decent wheelstander. Unfortunately I also remember that when the bike tipped over, those turn signal stems were about $45 each which was a fortune to me back in those days.
Purists(?) like myself tend to prefer the earlier, SOHC models.
I boat this bike in ’79 when I came back to the states in the military. It was a great riding bike
I bought one of these used back around 1989 and it was an awesome riding bike, had lots of power. It was a very fun ride. Have never seen another one on the road. This posting brought back great memories. I do believe that it is way overpriced. Hope the new owner enjoys it as much as I did mine.
My Dad bought one of these new and it’s still in his barn. Lots more miles than this one though. What I can tell you is those are not the stock mufflers. Stock it had 2 on each side instead of 1. But that upgrade was apparently popular ass my dad’s has similar ones on it now, but he has the 4 stock ones sitting on a shelf.
Had the opportunity to “bike sit” a ’72 version for a co- worker while he was attending a training school. The sound of the engine spooled up was enough to make goose bumps.