Honda C71

The 250 cc (15 cu in) Honda C71 and C72 Dream, and the identical C76 and C77 bikes with 305 cc (18.6 cu in) displacement, were the first larger-capacity motorcycles that Honda mass-exported. They were characterised by a pressed steel frame and alloy overhead cam twin-cylinder engines, and were very well equipped, with 12 volt electrics, electric starter, indicators, dual seats and other advanced features, not common to most motorcycles of the period.

These bikes started out as the Honda C70 Dream. Soichiro Honda had dubbed many of his earlier bikes 'Dream' after his dream of building complete motorcycles.

The C70 was a 250cc pressed-frame motorcycle, with a very similar frame to later machines, released in 1956. It was usually seen with a single seat and rack, with clip-on pillion pad.

The C75 was the 305cc version of the C70. It had a square head-light and shock absorbers, leading link forks, pressed-steel handlebars and were somewhat unusual in appearance. The engine was dry sumped, and had six-volt electrics. The design of both the frame and engine was heavily influenced by bikes built by NSU Motorenwerke AG, which Soichiro Honda had seen on his visit to Europe in 1955, including the Isle of Man TT races.

The C71 and C76 were later developments, from 1957 or 1958 onwards. The C71 was the 250cc bike, while the C76 was 305cc. Not much had changed visually, but they were fitted with electric starters. Dual seats were common on export bikes, but the single seat/rack combination was available. They were exported to Europe and the US, and other markets. A C71 was shown in the Netherlands in 1958, and shown at the Earls Court show in either 1958 or 1959, while the C76 became the flagship bike for the Honda range released into the US in 1959.

There was a version specifically built for the US market called the CA76, which came equipped with conventional tubular handlebars, although the standard pressed-steel bar C71 and C76 were also sold in the US. In the end, only a small handful were exported around the world. These were the first of the Honda 'Dreams' sold outside Japan. Also available was the 'Dream Sport' bikes with high exhaust pipes, the CS71/CS76 and CSA71/CSA76. All sold well in their home market, and have attained cult-status amongst Japanese collectors.

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Wikipedia