1979 HONDA CB750 FOUR PHIL READ REPLICA

Make: HONDA

Model: CB 750 F2

Year: 1979

Engine Capacity: 750

Rego: None

Odometer: 13,116kms

Phil Read captured the TT Formula 1 title at the 1977 Isle of Man campaigning a factory-prepared Honda CB750. The win, however, was somewhat controversial.

That’s because in 1972, Read was one of several Grand Prix racers who began boycotting the Isle of Man TT course as too dangerous.In 1976, as a result of the boycott, the FIM declared the Isle of Man was no longer a part of the Grand Prix circuit.

That included Honda Britain. To commemorate the win, they enlisted Colin Seeley, a legendary British frame builder and racer, to transform standard CB750F2s into race replica motorcycles. There were supposed to be 400 built, but only 150 examples of the Honda CB750 Phil Read Replica were ever made. Such a low production number means the motorcycle is a rarity, and by some accounts, fewer than 40 are known to still exist.

In 1977, Read was offered the ride aboard the race-prepped 820cc Honda CB750 during the first Formula 1 race at the Isle of Man, where he also raced a Suzuki and won the Senior event. He couldn’t repeat his performance for Honda in 1978, and his last competitive race was at the Isle of Man in 1982. Whether viewed as a hero or a villain of TT racing, Read’s winning ways earned him a tremendous amount of respect.

Turning attention back to the Phil Read Replica, Colin Seeley based the model on Honda’s brand-new for 1977 Honda CB750F2. After its introduction in 1969, the CB750 was slowly detuned to improve efficiency. The 736cc machine lost horsepower in the process, but in 1975 Honda released the CB750F Super Sport. The Super Sport was an improved machine, complete with a 4-into-1 header and muffler system, revised frame geometry featuring shorter trail and lengthened rear swingarm, a rear disc brake and a longer gas tank with a new seat and rear cowl. Honda returned some of the lost horsepower, too, with various internal improvements, including an increased compression ratio (from 9:1 to 9.2:1) and revised cam timing, pushing output to 58 horsepower according to a May 1975 Cycle magazine test.

When Honda released the CB750F2 in 1977, the bike featured numerous new features, including the ComStar 5-spoke wheels and dual front disc brakes. The 61mm by 63mm bore and stroke engine was still a 736cc powerplant, but there were larger cooling fins on the crankcase. Where Honda spent most of its development time was on the cylinder head. Four Keihin 28mm carburetors were attached to intake ports that expanded from 28mm to 30mm in diameter, and the inlet valves were also 2mm wider, up from 32mm to 34mm. On the other side of the combustion chamber, where compression had dropped from 9.2 to 9.0:1, the exhaust valves went from 28mm to 31mm. Lobes on the single overhead cam were changed, as was cam timing, and stiffer valve springs were installed. As a result of these cylinder head changes, the redline increased from 8,500rpm to 9,500rpm.

Honda finished the crankcases, cylinder, cylinder head, rear fender, fork sliders and muffler tip in flat black. Speaking of the muffler, the 4-into-1 header pipes were redesigned to bring everything tighter to the frame, allowing for greater cornering clearance.

To produce the Phil Read Replica, Seeley removed the stock Honda headlight and signal lights, handlebar, gas tank, seat and rear seat cowl. In their place, a twin Cibie headlight fairing attached to the frame rails and a clubman-style bar went atop the fork. A 5-gallon hand-hammered alloy gas tank (the first 15 replicas have the petcock on the right side of the tank, while the rest have the tap on the left side) went on the frame, as did a set of Seeley’s rear set footrests, a new seat and rear cowl. It’s unclear whether an entirely new exhaust system was installed from the exhaust ports back or if the headers remained and the minimally baffled muffler with its distinctive upswept curve was the only piece replaced.

The Phil Read Replicas were painted red, white and blue, the same as the Honda Britain Racing Team, and were released in the spring of 1978. However, after building just 150 examples of the motorcycle, it’s reported Phil Read got into a disagreement with Honda Britain over royalties owed him and he pulled his support for the project. After that, in 1979, Honda asked Colin Seeley to use the remaining parts, including the gas tanks and fairings, to convert approximately 300 more CB750F2s. Finished in white with either a blue or a red stripe, they are devoid of any of the race graphics or Phil Read’s name and were simply called the Honda Britain.

This bike is in immaculate condition except for a few minor bumps and cracks which would account for its age. Come see the bike today and own a part of history.

Make An Enquiry