We are used to today’s superbikes, which are the technological peak that one can aspire to before having a racing motorcycle. But the concept is by no means new. In fact, we can say that superbikes were born as such at the end of the sixties of the last century, come on, about 60 years ago.
Of course, at that time they were very different motorcycles in concept from what we know today as a superbike. It was the cream of the cream, with tremendously powerful engines for a time in which the brakes were beginning to be more effective with the arrival of discs, but in which the important thing was neither maneuverability nor stopping, but rather that it ran.
And if there is a first generation superbike that is the Honda CB750, the first of all, a true revolution that seen today would fit more with the concept of naked than sports that we have but which back then was a tremendously efficient machine compared to the rest. It had its inline four, five speeds, front disc brake and rear drum brake, electric start as well as kick start… quite a technological extravagance.
So much so that in the United States the CB750 was used as a Police motorcycle. We are used to seeing Harleys, but there was a time when a superbike was the perfect motorcycle for patrol and there were units in service. Of course, the motorcycle did not take to the streets like the production model but included all the functional elements of a patrol motorcycle. That is, it had auxiliary lights, front and rear bumpers, some only had a driver’s seat and had a small box to carry things.
The same thing that happens to us if we compare this superbike with modern ones happens to us if we compare this police motorcycle with a current one, where the most basic one has many other elements. But one that they share is the siren that, curiously, in many units was activated when a type of dynamo rubbed against the rear wheel and produced the sound.
Now one of these “police” superbikes has gone up for auction
There is no doubt that we are facing an interesting chapter in the history of superbikes, because at the end of the day, using a super sports car for patrolling is still striking and, to be honest, impractical.
The fact is that at H&H Auctions they have a CB750 with police preparation that is up for auction. It is known that we are dealing with a motorcycle from the first series, from the early seventies, and that it has been conveniently restored by JMC Classics & Restorations of Bassingbourn in 2015.
Since then the bike has been in a “dehumidified environment” although they state that the bike will need a tune-up before returning to service. The curious thing is that although it looks like a police motorcycle, there are no documents that can certify that it was in service, and that makes this model with just over 45,000 kilometers on the odometer more or less affordable.
And it is expected that when the auction starts at the National Motorcycle Museum the price will range between 7,000 and 9,000 pounds, that is, between 8,240 euros and about 10,600. We are talking, therefore, about a price similar to what a restored model without preparation from the period could cost, and even somewhat less.
