CB750 BUYING
Paul Jayson on prices for the original machines.
Let’s start at the beginning: sandcast prices vary hugely but there are no bargains out there for genuine machines, those that will increase in value. The sale of the prototype earlier this year at £161,000 has started a meteoric rise in prices that will continue and will raise prices of similar machines. Yes, people are bringing them in for around £30,000 but they will never increase in value and may well never be rideable machines. So, one that is a good investment will cost you around £40-£45,000. Good luck with anything cheaper and get the machine checked out by someone who really understands these machines for what they are. Honda CB750 Die-casts are around the £20,000 mark. Yes, there are cheaper ones out there and they are cheap for a reason. So what of the younger models? Well, for a Honda CB750 K1 to K6, if everything is spot on with these machines they can reach £15,000, but absolutely everything has to be factory original. Of the rest, the Honda CB750 K7 can get up to £5000 for a perfect example, then we look at the F-models. A CB750 F1 can realise up to £8500 for really perfect machines. From there, an F2 could realise £7500 for a perfect example and £6500 for a mint F3. Now let’s talk about a genuine Honda Britain CB750 Phil Read Replica. I believe that prices will seriously explode over time with these machines, due to their place in history, but only for genuine examples. Most are not genuine machines and most do not have all the tiny details that the genuine bikes had. Most are outside of the correct chassis number range, as Honda Britain sold a kit to make your own Phil Read Replica. It is hard to value these, as there are only about 50 left and they are in very strong hands. I don’t know anyone who will let theirs go for anything under £25,000. There may be cheaper ones around, but you need to definitely know that it is genuine and one of those built by Honda Britain. And what about a Honda Britain CB750 F3? If this is one of the originals and has all of those little details they came with, then they are worth a bit less than the Phil Read, as many more were produced and they are the second year of production, but I’d say up to £15,000. Whether or not you know loads about motorcycles, if you are interested in any way about your machine being an investment, then get expert advice and help when looking for a machine. You will pay more than on internet auction sites, but if you want a Picasso then look in the right place, as Picassos are not sold on internet auction sites…