The Japanese Shockwave How the Honda CB750 Killed British Legends and Launched the Superbike Era

In the late 1960s, the motorcycle world was complacent. British twins leaked oil, and American V-Twins shook themselves apart. Then, in 1969, Honda unleashed the CB750 Four—a technologically revolutionary machine that single-handedly ended the era of the old guard.

This film explores the seismic shift known as the Japanese Shockwave:

The Reliability Crisis: Why were iconic bikes like the Triumph Bonneville and the Harley Shovelhead failing to meet modern consumer demands?

The Four Technological Pillars: How the CB750's smooth Inline-Four engine, mass-produced disc brake, and leak-proof engineering humiliated Western manufacturing.

The Collapse: The immediate, fatal impact of the CB750 on the British motorcycle industry.

Harley's Retreat: How the V-Twin giant was forced to cede the performance market and strategically retreat into the custom niche.

The CB750 was not just a great bike; it was the machine that created the Superbike category and set the standard for every modern motorcycle today.

Thank you for joining Chrome Chronicles. Subscribe to find out what bike came next to redefine speed. And let us know in the comments: If you could save one manufacturer from the Japanese Shockwave—Triumph, Norton, or BSA—which one would it be?