When the Best Motorcycle in the World is a Failure

bart
6 Mar 202413:35
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe script delves into Honda's pioneering yet underappreciated CB450 'Black Bomber', a motorcycle that predated the iconic CB750 and was a technological leap with its double overhead cam engine. Despite its impressive specs and high-revving capabilities, the bike faced styling and market acceptance challenges, ultimately influencing the design and engineering philosophy of the more successful CB750. The CB450's story is a testament to Honda's innovation and the evolution of motorcycle technology.

Takeaways
  • 🏍️ The CB450, also known as the 'Black Bomber,' was Honda's first attempt at a high-performance, big sport bike before the iconic CB750.
  • 🚀 Honda was already the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer by the late 1950s but lacked a model to compete with the fastest and most desirable bikes of the time.
  • 🔧 The CB450 featured a double overhead cam engine, which was a first for a mass-produced motorcycle and contributed to its high-revving capabilities.
  • 🏁 Despite its advanced engine, the CB450 did not perform as well on the road as it did on the track, lacking the speed and torque of its competitors.
  • 🛠️ Honda faced several mechanical issues with the CB450, including carburation problems and an underperforming gearbox.
  • 🎨 The CB450's styling was not as appealing as its competitors, which affected its market reception and contributed to its lack of success.
  • 🏁 The bike was eventually banned from FIM's Brands Hatch 500m race for being too advanced, highlighting its superior performance capabilities.
  • 🛣️ The second-generation CB450 addressed many of the initial issues and improved both performance and aesthetics, becoming a more competitive sport bike.
  • 📈 Lessons learned from the CB450's shortcomings influenced the development of the CB750, which combined a cohesive design with performance-focused engineering.
  • 📊 The CB450's failure to become a best-seller highlighted the importance of styling and practicality in addition to technological advancements in motorcycle design.
  • 🚧 The CB450 served as a stepping stone for Honda, demonstrating the company's commitment to innovation and learning from its experiences to achieve market dominance.
Q & A

  • What was Honda's first significant entry into the big sport bike market in the late 60s?

    -The CB750 is often pointed to as Honda's first significant entry into the big sport bike market at the end of the 60s.

  • Why is the CB450 considered more radical and potentially world-changing than the CB750?

    -The CB450 is considered more radical and potentially world-changing because it featured a double overhead cam engine, which was a first for a mass-produced motorcycle and made it the most advanced production four-stroke engine of its time.

  • What was the state of the motorcycle market when Honda started exporting to the West in 1959?

    -When Honda started exporting to the West in 1959, they were the biggest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, selling half a million motorcycles worldwide. However, their motorcycles were not sport bikes, and they were not branded as a company capable of making fast motorcycles.

  • What was the nickname of the Honda's 450cc twin with rumored race specs?

    -The nickname of Honda's 450cc twin with rumored race specs was the 'Black Bomber'.

  • Why did Honda pursue the development of a high-powered 450cc twin motorcycle?

    -Honda pursued the development of a high-powered 450cc twin motorcycle to compete with the biggest, fastest sport and touring models available and to dominate every segment of the market, as they did not have a model that could compete with these at the time.

  • What was the key to the performance of the CB450 engine?

    -The key to the performance of the CB450 engine was its ability to rev way past what the big British Twins or Harley's V Twins were capable of, thanks to its double overhead cam design.

  • What was the problem with the first generation of the CB450's carburation and gearbox?

    -The carburation was off on the first generation of the CB450, and the gearbox ratios were not ideal, leading to growing pains with the model.

  • How did the CB450's styling affect its reception among motorcycle enthusiasts?

    -The CB450's styling was not as appealing as its competitors, and it didn't stand out from Honda's family of small displacement bikes, which affected its reception among motorcycle enthusiasts.

  • What improvements did Honda make to the second generation of the CB450?

    -The second generation of the CB450 had a better-looking design, increased compression for more power, and was paired with a new 5-speed gearbox, which made power delivery more linear and resolved fueling issues.

  • What was Honda's response to the failure of the Black Bomber in terms of motorcycle development?

    -In response to the failure of the Black Bomber, Honda went back to the drawing board and developed the CB750, which incorporated lessons learned from the CB450, focusing on better styling and a more suitable engine configuration for road use.

  • Why was the CB450 eventually banned from the FIM's Brands Hatch 500m race?

    -The CB450 was banned from the FIM's Brands Hatch 500m race for being too advanced, which demonstrated its superiority over the British motorcycles at the time.

Outlines
00:00
🏍️ The CB450 Black Bomber: Honda's Overlooked Innovator

The first paragraph discusses Honda's entry into the advanced sport bike market with the CB450, known as the 'Black Bomber'. This model was a radical departure from the British twins that dominated the streets at the time. The CB450 featured an advanced double overhead cam engine, capable of revving much higher than its competitors, and was arguably the most sophisticated production motorcycle of its era. Despite its impressive specs, including a high-revving 450cc twin engine and the use of torsion springs, the Black Bomber was not as fast or torque-heavy as the British bikes on the road. It also had electric start, a feature that was ahead of its time. However, the bike faced challenges in terms of carburation and gearbox ratios, and its styling was not as appealing as its competitors, which affected its market success.

05:01
🛠️ Evolution and Technological Advancements of the CB450

The second paragraph delves into the technological evolution of the CB450 and the challenges it faced. Honda's pursuit of a high-performance motorcycle led to the development of a 180° firing order, which was better suited for high-revving engines. Despite its mechanical marvels, the CB450 had its share of imperfections, including carburation issues and gearbox problems. The bike's styling was also a point of contention, as it did not stand out from Honda's other models and was considered bulky and top-heavy. However, the second generation of the CB450 addressed these issues, improving its visual appeal and performance, with a new 5-speed gearbox and resolved fueling problems, making it a more competitive sport bike.

10:02
🚀 From Black Bomber to CB750: Lessons Learned and the Path to Domination

The third paragraph reflects on the impact of the CB450 on Honda's motorcycle development and the lessons learned from its shortcomings. The CB450's advanced engine and performance were not enough to make it a commercial success, leading Honda to rethink its approach. The company decided to focus on styling and creating a motorcycle that was not only powerful but also appealing to the masses. This led to the development of the iconic CB750, which incorporated lessons from the CB450, such as the importance of design and a more road-oriented engine configuration. The CB750's success marked a new era for Honda and solidified its position as a leader in the motorcycle industry, while the CB450 remains a significant, though often overlooked, stepping stone in Honda's journey to dominance.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡CB750
The CB750 is a motorcycle model from Honda, often recognized as Honda's first significant entry into the advanced big sport bike market in the late 1960s. In the video, it is mentioned as a later model that overshadowed the earlier CB450, which was arguably more radical and potentially world-changing.
💡CB450
The CB450, also known as the 'Black Bomber,' is a Honda motorcycle that was more advanced than its time, featuring a double overhead cam engine and a high-revving twin. It is the main focus of the video, being discussed for its innovative design and the challenges it faced in the market.
💡Double Overhead Cam
A double overhead cam engine is a type of internal combustion engine that features two camshafts located above the cylinder head, one for the intake valves and one for the exhaust valves. This design was a key feature of the CB450, allowing it to rev higher and be more powerful than its contemporaries, as highlighted in the script.
💡Torsion Springs
Torsion springs are a type of mechanical spring that works by twisting, unlike the more common coil springs. In the context of the CB450, the use of torsion springs for the valves was a racing-derived feature that contributed to the engine's high-revving capabilities and was a notable departure from traditional coil springs.
💡British Twins
British Twins refers to a class of motorcycles from British manufacturers like Triumph and BSA, known for their parallel-twin engines. In the video, they are depicted as the dominant motorcycles of the era, with a distinctive sound and nimble handling, but were eventually challenged by the technological advancements of the CB450.
💡Grand Prix Racing
Grand Prix Racing is a form of motorcycle racing that was dominated by Honda in the 1960s, as mentioned in the script. The company's success in this racing class influenced the development of their production motorcycles, including the high-revving engines found in the CB450.
💡Black Bomber
The term 'Black Bomber' is a nickname given to the CB450 due to its all-black and chrome paint scheme and powerful performance. It symbolizes the motorcycle's aggressive and advanced nature, as discussed in the video.
💡Styling
Styling in the context of the video refers to the visual design and aesthetics of a motorcycle. The CB450's styling was considered less appealing compared to its competitors, which affected its market success despite its advanced engineering.
💡Firing Order
Firing order is the sequence in which the cylinders of an engine fire. The CB450 had a 180° firing order, which was different from the 360° firing order of British vertical twins. This difference contributed to the unique sound and feel of the CB450 compared to its competitors.
💡CB750
The CB750 is mentioned again as a follow-up model to the CB450. It incorporated lessons learned from the CB450's shortcomings, particularly in styling and engine design, resulting in a more successful and iconic motorcycle that further established Honda's dominance in the market.
Highlights

The CB450, also known as the 'Black Bomber', is considered by some as Honda's first foray into the advanced big sport bike market before the CB750.

In the 1960s, British twins like Triumph and BSA 650s dominated the streets with their light and nimble design.

Honda was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world by 1959, selling half a million units but lacked a fast sport bike in their lineup.

The CB450 was rumored to have race specs and a high-powered 450cc twin engine, causing concern among Bonville Riders.

Honda's pursuit of a diverse model range led to a lack of hardcore motorcycle enthusiasts interested in their models.

The CB450 featured a double overhead cam engine, a first for a mass-produced motorcycle and a key to its high-revving performance.

The CB450's engine used torsion springs for valves, derived from racing, offering less friction and weight at high speeds.

Despite its advanced engine, the CB450 was not as fast or torque-rich on the road as its British competitors.

The CB450 had electric start, a feature not available on Triumph twins until a decade later.

The 'Black Bomber' was technologically advanced but faced mechanical issues such as carburation problems and gearbox ratios.

The CB450's 180° firing order was better for revving but didn't provide the same sound as British vertical twins' 360° firing order.

Styling was a significant issue for the CB450, as it didn't stand out from Honda's smaller displacement bikes and lacked the appeal of British twins.

The CB450 was unveiled in the UK in 1965, showing off its 100 mph capability but was not considered as good as Triumph or BSA 650s.

In 1967, Honda released a revised CB450 with improved styling and performance, becoming a better sport bike for the road.

The CB450's failure led Honda to develop the CB750, learning from the 'Black Bomber's' mistakes and focusing on style and a more suitable engine for road use.

The CB450's innovative features were ahead of their time, and its influence can be seen in the shift towards double overhead cam engines by Japanese manufacturers a decade later.

Despite its technological advancements, the CB450 was a stepping stone for Honda, showing the importance of research and development even if it doesn't immediately translate to sales.

Transcripts

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Honda MotorcyclesCB450 Black BomberSport BikesDouble Overhead Cam60s RacingMotorcycle HistoryRacing TechnologyBritish TwinsMotorcycle DesignPerformance BikesVintage Motorcycling