[Moto] BIKE OF THE DAY: HONDA CR750 DAYTONA

[#Wittels-]

It only won one race, but it was the fundamental one to consolidate the image of the performance CB750 in America.

A race. A victory. A stellar moment. With this presentation card holder, many fans remember the 1970 Honda CR750 Daytona. One of the most important motorcycles for the projection of the Japanese brand in the North American market, it is also an advertising lesson even with the doubts and reservations put by the Japanese directive in the development of the project. Thus, it is best to start at the beginning, understanding step by step the basic milestones that defined this competition motorcycle capable of winning what, at the time, was the most recognized and mediatic race of the entire North American calendar. Let's go to them.

First of all we have to place ourselves in the mid-1960s. Moment in which Honda has already become the largest manufacturer of mopeds and motorcycles in the world market, growing exponentially in places with consolidated mechanical industries. In this way, the urban plots -but also sports and recreational- of the Japanese company manage to be hegemonic in the United Kingdom and even the United States. Something really striking, since both countries had absolutely consolidated motorcycling brands and traditions. At this point, the question was clear. How they did it?

Well, the truth is that answering this question would not spill rivers of ink totally inappropriate for the brief texts that characterize this section, dominated by wanting to offer an accessible and general tour of historical motorcycling. However, we can summarize it in the sum of several factors, among which the excellent quality/price ratio of the Honda frames stands out, as well as the commitment to the new urban and daily segments. In addition, an ambitious advertising strategy was carried out in which these motorcycles appeared as reliable, well-executed and extremely pleasant and even friendly options. A trend that could no longer be the only one from 1968, when the launch of the powerful and powerful CB750 fully launched a Honda into the exclusive commercial niche of superbikes.

 

Honda CR750 Daytona 1970, an ephemeral history
We'll see. Although a manufacturer can move in the most performance segments without paying any attention to racing, this is still a minority. In fact, to illustrate this with a well-known brand, we have to leave motorcycling to enter motorsport. There we find a Lamborghini, which has never wanted to enter the most recognized competitions despite basing its activity on the manufacture of supercars. A vision that Honda did not share during the sixties, at least in Europe.

After all, since the beginning of the decade, the Japanese manufacturer had beaten the copper in the most prestigious European circuits. But what happened to America? After all, there his sales grew exponentially. However, Honda did not see it clear to enter the very special North American competitions, being able to allow it since, in any case, its range was far from performance. However, when the CB750 appeared in 1968 with its four cylinders and more than sporty behavior, things had to change, necessarily.

In this way, by 1969 the race director – highly specialized in making small private teams win against the official ones – Bob Hansen began to press Honda to enter the North American calendar with a model based on the new and successful Honda superbike. the brand. And well, he had so much persuasive power that he finally succeeded. Of course, it should be under the leadership of Honda Europe, which would move a team of pilots and technicians to the United States to take charge of everything. In fact, the inclusion of a local driver among the four planned was the maximum concession given by Honda to Bob Hansen.

 

That pilot's name was Dick Mann. One of the most experienced and successful motorcyclists in the country, who a priori could not do much against the youngest and most energetic British assisted by Japanese mechanics. And yes, let's underline the "a priori". Because when we arrived at the 1970 Daytona race – a goal set since winning here would generate an unparalleled publicity impact – it was Dick Mann himself who managed to cross the finish line first after an agonizing race in which the mounts were pushed to the limit of the break. All this with live fights between Bob Hansen and the Japanese technicians, interpreting an insubordination that, finally, would cost him the dismissal as soon as the day was over despite having been a key part in the victory. Victory that totally consolidated the image of the Honda CB750 thanks to these circuit derivatives baptized as Honda CR750 Daytona. Apparently similar to the street version, although lightened to the extreme thanks to the use of experimental alloys. Thus giving more vigor to its mechanics, which moved between 86 CV and 92 CV since each machine had different definitions. An engineering that we will deal with another day in more detail, although it would have been useless without the courage and character of Dick Mann and Bob Hansen.

 

Link: https://motos.espirituracer.com/motodeldia/moto-del-dia-honda-cr750-daytona/