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Difference between revisions of "Honda CB77"
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== | At the start of the Sixties, motorcycling in Europe was heading into one of its darkest periods, America was rediscovering the joy of two-wheeled transport and Japan (led by [[Honda]]) was planning the revolution which would kick-start the world market. | ||
==Honda Sets Off to Conquer the World== | |||
In 1959 Honda revealed its global ambitions, setting up the American Honda Motor Company and entering its first [[Tourist Trophy]]. In order to take over the New World and Old Europe, Honda devised a strategy based on customer psychology. No bikes seemingly designed exclusively for "experts" or juvenile delinquents: instead, Honda produced bikes that were popular and easy to use, thanks to built-in electric starters. Honda became the world's No.1 producer in 1960, building half of the Japanese industry's total output of 1,800,000 [[motorcycles]] and exporting over 45,000. Five years later the latter figure was multiplied tenfold! | |||
==A New Breed of Sports Bike== | |||
Honda launched its top-of-the-line sports bike, the [[Honda CB72|250cc CB 72]], in 1959; its brother the 305cc CB77 "Super Hawk", appeared in 1961. The Super Hawk was Honda's first real commercial success, it would overshadow the finest European marques right up to its replacement by the [[Honda CB350K|CB350K]] in 1968. Its flowing lines contrasted with the marque's angular touring models and the CB 72 and 77 incorporated many innovations, like electric starters, four-bearing crankshafts (English bikes had two bearings!) and engines that ran at an unprecedented 9000rpm. With low slung handlebars, they were designed to be raced. | |||
==1961-68== | ==1961-68== | ||
[[Image:1961_honda_Cb77.gif|left|thumb|1961 Honda CB77]][[Image:honda_Chromecb77.jpg|left|thumb|Honda CB77]][[Image:honda_Cb77.jpg|left|thumb|Honda CB77]][[Image:honda_Cb77a.jpg|left|thumb|Honda CB77]][[Image:1977-Honda-CB77-Superhawk-Black.jpg|left|thumb|1977 Honda CB77 Superhawk in Black]][[Image:1965-Honda-CB77-Red-0.jpg|left|thumb|1965 Honda CB77 Superhawk in Red]][[Image:1965-Honda-CB77-Red-1.jpg|left|thumb|1965 Honda CB77 Superhawk in Red]][[Image:1965-Honda-CB77-Red-2.jpg|left|thumb|1965 Honda CB77 Superhawk in Red]][[Image:1965-Honda-CB77-Red-3.jpg|left|thumb|1965 Honda CB77 Superhawk in Red]][[Image:1965-Honda-CB77-Red-4.jpg|left|thumb|1965 Honda CB77 Superhawk in Red]][[Image:1965-Honda-CB77-Red-5.jpg|left|thumb|1965 Honda CB77 Superhawk in Red]][[Image:1968-Honda-CB77-Black-124-0.jpg|left|thumb|1968 Honda Super Hawk (CB77) in Black]][[Image:1968-Honda-CB77-Black-124-1.jpg|left|thumb|1968 Honda Super Hawk (CB77) in Black]] | [[Image:1961_honda_Cb77.gif|left|thumb|1961 Honda CB77]][[Image:honda_Chromecb77.jpg|left|thumb|Honda CB77]][[Image:honda_Cb77.jpg|left|thumb|Honda CB77]][[Image:honda_Cb77a.jpg|left|thumb|Honda CB77]][[Image:1977-Honda-CB77-Superhawk-Black.jpg|left|thumb|1977 Honda CB77 Superhawk in Black]][[Image:1965-Honda-CB77-Red-0.jpg|left|thumb|1965 Honda CB77 Superhawk in Red]][[Image:1965-Honda-CB77-Red-1.jpg|left|thumb|1965 Honda CB77 Superhawk in Red]][[Image:1965-Honda-CB77-Red-2.jpg|left|thumb|1965 Honda CB77 Superhawk in Red]][[Image:1965-Honda-CB77-Red-3.jpg|left|thumb|1965 Honda CB77 Superhawk in Red]][[Image:1965-Honda-CB77-Red-4.jpg|left|thumb|1965 Honda CB77 Superhawk in Red]][[Image:1965-Honda-CB77-Red-5.jpg|left|thumb|1965 Honda CB77 Superhawk in Red]][[Image:1968-Honda-CB77-Black-124-0.jpg|left|thumb|1968 Honda Super Hawk (CB77) in Black]][[Image:1968-Honda-CB77-Black-124-1.jpg|left|thumb|1968 Honda Super Hawk (CB77) in Black]] | ||