HONDA The Power of Dreams

Honda’s use of the name ‘Bol d’Or’ originates from its four consecutive victories in the Bol d’Or 24-hour endurance race, starting in 1976.

Honda took on the challenge of the European Endurance Road Racing Championship in 1976 to enhance its racing image and prepare for its return to the FIM Road Racing World Championship, from which it had been absent since 1967.

To compete in endurance racing, Honda developed the RCB1000 with DOHC, four valve engine. This model was developed based on the Dream CB750 Four’s four-stroke, OHC, four-cylinder engine. New RCB1000 with this racing bike, Honda won both the manufacturers’ and riders’ championships in its debut year.

Above all, victory at the Bol d'Or 24-Hour Endurance Race in France was a major goal for Honda. The Bol d’Or (Golden Cup) is a long-established and highly popular endurance road race, truly worthy of being called the pinnacle of motorcycle endurance racing.

Honda's endurance racing bikes gave the company an unprecedented four consecutive victories at the Bol d'Or, from 1976 to 1979. In the European endurance racing, Honda claimed both the manufacturers’ and riders’ championships for four consecutive years, significantly enhancing its racing image.

To Honda, the Bol d’Or was a very significant race, and technology cultivated through the RCB1000 was applied to the 1979 CB900F. The racing heritage of the CB900F was clear in its product catalog.

As the CB900F quickly captivated European sports bike enthusiasts, a new CB900F, adorned with the Bol d’Or emblem, was introduced in 1980.

The CB900F incorporated technology from the RCB1000, which had given Honda three consecutive Bol d'Or victories. By bearing the Bol d'Or name, a symbol of glory, Honda was sharing its joy with fans.

In Japan, the CB750F Bol d’Or 2 was introduced as a limited edition model commemorating victory in the 1981 Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race. Furthermore, a full fairing based on the CB900F2 Bol d’Or was also available, albeit offered as a dealer option rather than factory standard equipment.

In October 1985, the CBX750F Bol d’Or was released as a limited edition sport tourer, powered by a new generation air-cooled four-stroke four-valve inline-four DOHC engine, featuring a full fairing with excellent aerodynamics.

In 2005, twenty years after the CBX750F Bol d’Or’s release, Honda launched the CB1300 Super Bol d’Or as a new large-displacement sport tourer, proudly emblazoned with the Super Bol d’Or name.

Its primary aim was to bring the endurance, reliability, and handling stability that Honda honed through endurance racing to a wide range of riders.