Honda CB Series 60th Anniv. Special Movie 1965 Dream CB450

[tankacebo]

I rode my 1970 CB450 from Florida to California to Iowa in summer of 2020. absolute unit of a bike. I'm almost 300lbs, and I had 80 lbs of gear with me. three oil changes, two chains, and one rear tire later... I didn't even have an electric starter until I went through Oregon on the return trip. I rolled into Cedar rapids Iowa to meet my father for the first time, on one cylinder, leaking oil from the clutch push rod boot like it was non existent, a blown head gasket and various other things. I tore down that motor last month expecting to find it had grenaded itself. nope. re-leveled the heads and found out that it didn't even need piston rings. everything was as beautiful as if it had just come from the factory. keep in mind, I would sometimes put a dubious mix of light and heavy oil in it when I couldn't find the right stuff. thing will do 70 on the freeway with absolutely no compression on one cylinder. I will always love this bike. when Honda built these, they built them to last.

[bandaddie]

My CB450 took me through almost every state and province in North America, never once experiencing any sort of mechanical issue. Much of that was traveling with friends who rode a BMW 750 boxer and H-D panhead. Where they could go, I could go. I took on some fire roads and paths through Appalachia which confounded them. My Honda carried me and all my camping gear with ease. It was traded in only when I took a wife and needed a larger bike. I wish I still had my 450.

[mattthomson]

Memory Lane...AAMRR & AMA membership got me on the road racing track one summer on a 250 (almost) CB, all decked out with a fairing, clip-on bars and megaphone exhaust. A true DIY, with help from friends, Jay’s garage, and a magnificent road crew, to have put up with me! Four races, completed one, made a few laps at Mosport (Holy Grail to me). Even got a rider sponsor proposal from a pro with bikes and deeper pockets than mine....declined the offer, with some regret, but other life paths opened up, so whatever. Such a beautiful machine to ride, just as two strokes were coming up strong. A pleasure to work on professionally, Honda still remains my choice for hero worship. And the CB 160 with its double-leading brake So amazing, made for any rider to cream over. Oh yes! I actually rode a very early 750 up Mass Ave! Scary fast, that was. Strongly recommended for a project resurrection, boys and girls....lay down some Hardee Board on that living room floor or kitchen floor and dig in, you still have plenty of time to ride one come Spring! A big thank you to the CB Series folks who put this gem vid together! How about a Honda Dream Series??

[goodgoat]

I had a 1972 CB450 and put about 20, 000 trouble free miles on it. Yea, it needed frequent Castrol GTX oil changes and the plugs needed cleaning often, but oh that sound at 9500 rpm! A clean looking, fun, and trouble free real motorcycle

[skeetersaurus]

I had a CB450...best 'big' smaller bike I ever had...very dependable, excellent ride, 'big bike' feel...wow, that was almost 40-years ago, too! It was such an excellent commuter bike...great fuel mileage! I sure miss the 'simple' design bikes had from the 70's...simple speedometer, big, comfy seat, available luggage rack...I just don't need all the 'bells and whistles' of today!!!

[wolffreebird]

1972 i owned a K 1 with 45 hp.
Years later a 5 with discbrake.
1994 a CB 500 II with 42 hp.
It was hardly to find Spareparts and so i gave up. I really liked this CB 450. Today i drive a MOTO GUZZI CALIFORNIA III, a really decent Bike.

[mikeymike]

How could any motorcyclist give the black bomber a thumbs down, wise up and stop hating, it’s a motorcycle after all, and a world beater at the time.

[jediknight]

Honda make the best bikes i love all honda bikes i have loads myself they can be sat for 40 years and still get them working i love honda and i will until the day i die.

[harryviking]

Ohhh I remember when the first CB450 came to my city in Norway around 1969....it was SO impressive!! The price in those days was 1000 us Dollars! lol!

[darrylford]

This bike was my introduction to motorcycling back in the 70s.. btw the test rider has a good riding style.

[monochromaticlightsource]

Got a 1974 CL450 scrambler not even six feet away from me. Battery on charge, ready to go when the spring arrives.

[janpow]

I thought this must be the ultimate bike the night I paid about $400 for a virtually new one and jumped on it in the fog with my buddy on the back and headed down the 405 to San Diego! How could you want anything more?

[michaeltb]

I had a 1967 just like this one, with twin leading shoe drum front brake before discs arrived. Changed the rear shocks for Girlings which improved the ride. But I had a disaster when the oil system failed temporarily and split one piston. Managed to ride it home by topping up the oil. It was hard to get a new piston as there were not so many around. Somehow did all the work myself. Loved the torsion bar valve springs as all you needed to release and tension them was a Mole wrench! In those days one of the problems with Japanese bikes was that the engine was held together with what I now realise were JIS screws. In the UK you could buy a full set of Allen screws to replace them. I gave motorcycling up after my second accident (neither my fault).

[ianjohnson]

Just wonderful - the glory days of motorbikes

[camgere]

Wonderful video, such great memories. Great bike! I had a 1969 CB450. Ribbed front tire and California freeway rain grooves were a scary combination. Talk about "dancing queen". I'm not sure either exists today.

[stevenlars]

The Black Bomber. Love it! It's my favourite bike.

[paulhatch]

We had a 68 scrambler. I was 14 years old. I rode it through high school. That engine would smooth out above 7000 rpm. I used to run it through the gears to redline. Great memories. I still have the owners manual and a chilton shop manual.

[polychronisrempoulakis]

I miss so much my CB N 400 Super Dream, my first bike 30 yrs ago. Rode it for 6 yrs and ~ 200K KM without ever visiting the mechanic, all fluid and filter changes and valve adjustments by myself and friends, never let me down! Simply amazing machines!

[jdsmort]

Had one in New Zealand, also about 1971-2, slightly different than the one shown... twin instruments, rev counter separate from the speedo.. great machine, brilliant engineering. No real comparison with Brit bikes of the same era.Traded in on a CB 750-4 K2.

[peterroberts]

Had one of these in Australia in 1971..Great bike.