HONDA The Power of Dreams

The Dream CB750 FOUR, launched in 1969, became a big hit in the United States, its main market, as well as in Europe and Japan. The smooth and powerful characteristics of the newly developed air-cooled, 4-stroke, in-line 4-cylinder OHC engine impressed many riders.

Due to its overwhelming popularity with sports bike fans, Honda decided to expand its lineup of 4-stroke, in-line 4-cylinder models.

The first of these models came in the form of the Dream CB500 FOUR in 1971. As the CB750 FOUR had more than enough power, the CB500 FOUR was powered by a more manageable engine on a lighter chassis.

As expressed by its catalog tagline, “500 for the Quiet Man,” the CB500 FOUR was a motorcycle for the relaxed rider, despite its high-performance 4-cylinder engine.

Compared to the CB750 FOUR’s 67 PS output, the Dream CB750 FOUR’s maximum power was 48 PS. Its dry weight was 184 kg (compared to 218 kg), 34 kg less than its 750 cc sibling. This allowed its rider to enjoy a relaxed riding feel with gentle power characteristics.

The CB500 FOUR was designed with the hope that more people would enjoy the feel of the 4-cylinder engine.

The Dream CB500 FOUR was the first Honda model to feature a helmet holder, designed with safety in mind.

In Japan at the time, helmets were not mandatory when riding motorcycles, but Honda actively adopted helmets for its subsequent motorcycles, to protect riders.

The Dream CB500 FOUR, along with the CB750 FOUR, expanded the road sports market and had a significant impact on other companies’ offerings.

In 1974, the CB500 FOUR evolved into the Dream CB550 FOUR, with a larger engine and better handling in the mid- to low-speed range, and updates continued.