Honda CB 72

Honda (motorcycle)
Honda CB 72 Super Sport from 1961
CB 72
Manufacturer	Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Sales description	CB 72 Super Sport
Production period	1959 to 1967
class	motorcycle
design type	All-rounder , sports tourer
Motor data
Four-stroke engine , air-cooled two-cylinder with two carburetors
Displacement  (cm³)	247
Power  (kW / PS )	19/24 at 9000 min -1
Torque  ( N m )	20.2 at 7500 min -1
Top speed (  km / h)	155
transmission	4-speed
drive	Chain
Brakes	V: Duplex drum brake Ø 200 mm H: Duplex drum brake Ø 200 mm
Wheelbase  (mm)	1250
Dimensions (L × W × H, mm):	2,025 × 615 × 950
Seat height (cm)	approx. 78
Empty weight  (kg)	153
Previous model	CB71
successor	CB 250

The Honda CB 72 Dream Super Sport is a motorcycle model from the Japanese vehicle manufacturer Honda , which was produced from 1960 to the end of 1967.

After the CB 92 and the CB 71, the CB 72 was the third model from the CB series with the product code 268, and also the first model with a tubular frame instead of the sheet metal shell frame that had been used exclusively until then. The abbreviation CB comes from the Japanese "C" LU "B" MAN RACE, which took place from 1958 in Suzuka , Honda's own racing circuit. (C stands for the type, B for the sporty variant). In the USA it was called the CB 72 Hawk.

Development history

The 72/77 model series is the further development of the first two-cylinder C 70 (without electric starter) or C 71. The layout of this engine is based heavily on the NSU Max engine, with dry sump lubrication, OHC, final drive on the right. The dry sump lubrication, which saves height on the NSU Max Motor, was no longer required, and important changes concerned the primary drive with clutch, ignition and cylinder head. The gearbox was still used. The tire size was 2.75-18 at the front and 3.00-18 at the rear. The basic version was the Honda C 72 from 1959, the CA 72 was a touring version, the CS 72 had the exhaust system higher on the left and right, each with a sheet metal shell frame. The CL 72 was a scrambler with larger 19-inch wheels and a closed tubular frame, which as an independent construction differed significantly from the CB frame. She didn't have an electric starter and the kick starter was to kick backwards. Unlike the C 72, which had a synchronized crankshaft, the crank pins of the CB 72 and CL 72 were offset by 180 degrees. The model had two round slide type PW 22 carburettors with a 22 mm passage.

In Japan 1961-1962 there was the Honda CM 72, a cross between the C 72 and CB 72. The engine was from the C 72 with a 360 degree synchronous crankshaft and only one carburetor. The frame was from the CB 72. It had higher handlebars, a short seat and a luggage rack. The successor to this was the CBM 72, also with a 360 degree synchronous crankshaft. The sporty engines with 180-degree crankshafts have the lettering Type 1 on the ignition cover, the 360-degree synchronous engines have the designation Type 2. The engine type can also be identified by the engine number. If the second number in the number is a 4, 5, 6 or 9, then it is a Type 2 engine.

The CB 72 as well as the C 72, CS 72 and C 77 , as well as the 125 cm³ scooter M80 were built from the spring of 1960 in the Honda factory of Saitama (now Wakō Plant).

Launch

The model was launched in Japan in 1960. According to the frame and engine no. History in the original spare parts book from 1966, the frame number began with 10001, an end number is not noted, which suggests a so-called pilot series. The presentation in the USA, the most important market, took place on February 1st, 1961. In Germany it was presented in Frankfurt in 1961 and imported by the Hamburg motorcycle dealer Karlheinz-Heinz Meller. The European Honda Motor Trading GmbH (Honda Germany) was founded in May 1961 and sold this model from 1962 with a few changes until 1965. In 1965 the model was revised and the name was changed to CB 250 Super Sport in the course of a power reduction due to noise emissions . The power decreased from 24 to 22 HP, the top speed was given to only 130 km / h. The main changes were lower pistons, encapsulated air filters, more effective silencers and no more power jet nozzles. The machines were available in black, blue, and red, with the blue machines also having blue bench seats with straps; the others had black benches, also with straps.

Honda CB72 tachometer and speedometer

In the test of the magazine MOTORRAD , Ernst "Klacks" Leverkus drove on the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring (with a track length of 22.8 km) in twelve minutes and 40 seconds about an average lap of 108.05 km / h with a standing start.

The appearance of these Japanese motorcycles was controversial in Germany. The starter equipment was unusual. One distrusted the high rotational speeds up to 9000 rpm ^-1 . The German manufacturers in the 250 cm³ class had nothing to counter the comparatively high performance of these motorcycles; The standard at that time in German motorcycle construction were motorcycles with 15 to 18 hp such as B. the NSU Max or the BMW R 27 .

With this Honda model began the boom in motorcycles, which sparked motorcycling as a recreational sport. According to the price lists from 1962 and 1965, it cost 2,675 DM .

CB 77

Honda CB 77 in the museum

The sister model CB 77 with 305 cm³, product code 275, differs through the enlarged bore from 54 mm to 60 mm, appropriately adapted cylinder head and 26 mm carburetors type PW26. It had 28.5 hp at 9,000 min ⁻¹ and a higher torque of 24.5 Nm at 7,000 min ⁻¹ . According to the brochure, it had a top speed of 160 km / h and its weight had grown to 159 kg. Most prominent CB 77 driver was Elvis Presley , whom he moved in the 1964 movie Roustabout . The machine was also offered in Germany from 1962 to 1966, but was of no interest with the introduction of the CB 450 , as it was extremely unfavorably positioned in the German insurance classes . In the USA it was called the CB-77 Super Hawk and was sold there until 1968. The CL 77 was a scrambler that was mainly marketed in the USA and was the successor to the CL 72. Famous owners were Steve McQueen (actor) and Jim Morrison . The CYP 77 police machine was based on the CP 77, which was a touring version of the CB 77, with options such as a high handlebar, side stand and stable footrest system. The CYP 77 again had a synchronized crankshaft and a rotary shift pattern for the gearbox. When shifting, you could shift from 4th gear directly to 1st gear. The later machines had 17-inch wheels and the curb weight was 269 kg.

According to the price lists from 1962 and 1965, it cost 2925 DM .

Racing

In motorsport, the CB 72 was also used by private drivers. A success among other things was the class win at the 24 hour Avus ride in 1962 and at the 1000 km ride in 1963, driven by the Japanese rider K. Shimada, who lives in Hamburg, and the German rockerseder. A commercial racing machine Honda CR 72, which has been used by private drivers had 25 horsepower at 9500 min ^-1 with a six-speed transmission. With this machine the Japanese Kunimitsu Takahashi won first place at the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man in 1963; the Englishman Bill Smith took third place.

Model overview Dream 250/300

Type	Art	Product Code	cylinder	Carburetor	Displacement	PS	at min −1	construction time
C-70	Standard, single seats	250	2	1	247 cc	18th	7,400	1958-1959
CA 70	Touring, bench	252	2	1	247 cc	18th	7,400	1958-1959
C 71	Standard, bench	253	2	1	247 cc	18/20	7,400 / 8,400	1959-1960
CA 71	Touring, bench	255	2	1	247 cc	18/20	7,400 / 8,400	1959-1960
CB 71	Sports, bench	258	2	1	247 cc	22nd	7,400	1959
CE 71	Sports, bench	257	2	1	247 cc	18/20	7,400 / 8,400	1959-1960
CS 71	raised exhaust, bench	254	2	1	247 cc	20th	8,400	1959-1960
CR 71	Racer, racing seat	265	2	2	247 cc	24	8,800	1958-1959
C 72	Standard, bench	259	2	1	247 cc	20 / 22.5	8,000	1960–1962
CA 72	Touring, bench	262	2	1	247 cc	20th	8,400	1959-1963
CB 72	Sports, bench	268	2	2	247 cc	24/24	9,000	1960-1967
CM 72	Touring, single seat	270	2	2	247 cc	24	9,000	1963
CBM 72	Sports, bench	269	2	2	247 cc	24	9,000	1963
CS 72	raised exhaust, bench	264	2	1	247 cc	20th	8,400	1960-1961
CL 72	Scrambler, bench	273	2	2	247 cc	24	7,500 / 9,000	1961-1965
CR 72	Racer, racing seat	2XX	2	2	247 cc	40	12,000	1961–1962
C 73	Standard, bench	2XX	2	1	247 cc	20th	8,400	1959-1965
C 75	Standard, bench	251	2	1	305 cc	21st	7,200	1958-1959
C 76	Standard, bench	260	2	1	305 cc	24	8,000	1960
CA 76 + CSA 76	Touring, bench	261	2	1	305 cc	24	8,000	1960-1963
C 77 + CS 77	Standard, bench	266	2	1	305 cc	23/24	7,500 / 8,000	1960-1965
CA 77 + CAS 77	Touring, bench	267	2	1	305 cc	25th	8,200	1960-1964
CB 77	Sports, bench	275	2	2	305 cc	28.5	9,000	1962-1966
CL 77	Scrambler, bench	278	2	2	305 cc	28.5	9,000	1966-1967
CP 77	Standard, bench	281	2	2	305 cc	28.5	9,000	1966
CYP 77	Police, single seat	282	2	2	305 cc	28.5	9,000	1966
CR 77	Racer, racing seat	2XX	2	2	305 cc	46	12,000	1962
C 78	Standard, bench	279	2	1	305 cc	24	8,000	1965-1966
CA 78	Standard, bench	280	2	1	305 cc	24	8,000	1965-1966

World title motorcycle road racing 250 cm³

1961	Mike Hailwood	Honda
1962	Jim Redman	Honda
1963
1966	Mike Hailwood	Honda
1967

Individual evidence

1. ^ American Honda Motor Company .: Honda motorcycle identification guide, 1959-2000. Ed .: American Honda Motor Co., Inc. 1st ed. American Honda Motor Co, USA 2000, ISBN 0-9642491-1-1 .
2. ↑ Das Motorrad , Heft 6/1963, pp. 150–152 + 168
3. ↑ The motorcycle , No. 11/1962, p 15 + 23
4. ↑ Das Motorrad , issue 24/1963, p. 685

literature

• Roy Bacon: The early Hondas - all one, two and four-cylinder, including racing machines and Gold Wing 1947 to 1977 , Heel-Verlag, Königswinter 1991, ISBN 3-89365-230-2 , pp. 63–79
• Joachim Kuch + Jürgen Gaßebner: HONDA motorcycles since 1948 , Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-613-02451-9 , pp. 35–36 + 55
• Ian Fallon: The Honda story , Haynes Publishing, Yeovil, Somerset, UK 2005, ISBN 978-1-85960-966-8 , pp. 30-33, English

Web links

Commons : Honda CB  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Sound of the CB 72

Maintenance notice

Please incorporate this information - if not already done - into the article text.

Fuel: Super Plus 98 RON	Consumption: approx. 4.5 l / 100 km	Tank volume: 14 incl. X reserve
Bore: 54 mm	Stroke: 54 mm	Compression: 9.5: 1
Front tires: 2.75-18 (4PR)	Rear tires: 3.00-18 (4PR)	Payload  :? kg
Chassis: tubular steel frame, load-bearing motor / front: telescopic fork , rear: swing arm with spring struts and shock absorbers		Weight (ready to drive): 153 kg
Similar models:	Special features: with electric starter