A CB72 Dream from 1960. Soichiro
Honda had originally hoped to race tuned versions of his production road bikes at the TT, but when he visited the Isle of Man he soon
realized they would be hopelessly underpowered compared with the purposebuilt European racing motorcycles.
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 12v
electrics, electric starter, indicators, dual seats and other advanced
features, not common to most motorcycles of the period.