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1969–1972 Honda CB750 K0 / K1 Valuation Report

Date: November 2025

Historical Overview

The early Honda CB750 four – especially the 1969 sandcast K0 – is one of the most important motorcycles in classic bike history. Honda’s 736cc SOHC four effectively created the modern superbike and transformed the big-bike market. Early production was cast in relatively crude “sandcast” crankcases before Honda switched to smoother, cheaper die-cast cases. Today, collectors place a substantial premium on genuine sandcast K0 machines over later die-cast K0 and K1 models.

This report focuses on UK-market values for:

1969 CB750 K0 sandcast (early crankcases, early detail features)
1970 CB750 K0 die-cast (visually similar but mechanically later)
1971 CB750 K1 (updated styling and details)
1972 CB750 K2 (still early SOHC, but less rare than K0/K1)

Values vary sharply between sandcast K0 and later early CB750s, so this model justifies a year-by-year valuation table with an additional “Estimated Value (GBP)” column.

Year-by-Year UK Valuation Summary (Early CB750)

Year / Variant	Typical Value Range (GBP)	Estimated Value (GBP)	Data Source / Notes
1969 CB750 K0 sandcast Early sandcast crankcases, first-series details.	Projects: £10,000 – £18,000 Good riders: £20,000 – £28,000 Excellent / show: £28,000 – £40,000+	£25,000 Good, correct UK sandcast with history.	UK and European auction results for confirmed sandcast K0s, plus top dealer listings and private sales. Strong premiums for correct early details, matching numbers and original finishes.
1970 CB750 K0 die-cast Early SOHC four, but no sandcast crankcases.	Projects: £6,000 – £10,000 Good riders: £12,000 – £18,000 Excellent / show: £18,000 – £24,000	£15,000 Very presentable K0 with sensible mileage.	UK auction hammer prices and dealer adverts for early CB750 K0 die-cast bikes. Still highly desirable, but at a notable discount to genuine sandcast machines.
1971 CB750 K1 Updated styling, still early CB750 four.	Projects: £4,500 – £7,500 Good riders: £8,000 – £13,000 Excellent / show: £13,000 – £18,000	£11,000 Good, useable UK or European K1 with nice paint.	UK and EU sales for K1 models, including classic bike auctions and specialist dealer pricing. These remain desirable but sit clearly below sandcast and K0 pricing.
1972 CB750 K2 (early SOHC) Later early CB750; more numerous.	Projects: £4,000 – £6,500 Good riders: £7,000 – £11,000 Excellent / show: £11,000 – £15,000	£9,500 Well-presented K2 with sensible mileage.	Based on UK auction and dealer data for early-70s CB750 fours. Still strong money, but less of a “halo” model than sandcast and very early K0 examples.

General Condition Bands – Early Honda CB750 Fours

These broad bands apply across the 1969–1972 early CB750 range, with the year/variant premiums already reflected in the table above.

Condition	Typical Band (GBP)	Notes
Project / Non-Running Long stored, may be incomplete, will need full recommissioning.	£4,000 – £7,500+ (Higher for 1969 sandcast)	Even rough early CB750s command serious money. A non-running but broadly complete sandcast K0 can reach low-to-mid teens. Later K1/K2 projects are usually in the lower part of the band.
Roadworthy / Presentable Running, MOT’d (or road legal), tidy but showing age.	£8,000 – £18,000+ (Sandcast and K0 at the upper end)	Well-sorted riders with presentable cosmetics, correct pipes and sensible mileage sit here. Early sandcast K0s and very nice K0 die-cast usually pull this band upwards; K1/K2 examples sit towards the middle or lower end.
Excellent / Restored / Collector Grade High-quality restoration or highly original survivor.	£15,000 – £40,000+ (Top sandcast K0s in this region)	The best bikes – especially correct sandcast K0s with matching numbers and proper early detail parts – can achieve very strong money at specialist auctions and through top dealers. Later K1/K2 examples top out in the mid-teens unless unusually original or low-mile.

Sandcast vs Die-Cast – Why It Matters

The term “sandcast” refers to the earliest CB750 K0 crankcases, cast in sand moulds during initial production in 1969. These engines have a distinctive surface texture and a number of small detail differences. Honda quickly moved to smoother, mass-production die-cast cases, which are mechanically similar but far more common.

Collectors pay a pronounced premium for genuine sandcast bikes because they are:

Limited in number (early production only)
Historically significant as the first superbike “off the line”
Often associated with period press and early sales literature

As a result, sandcast K0 values are in a different league to later K0/K1/K2 models. Confirming a bike as a genuine sandcast – and verifying its numbers and features – is critical before applying the top-end figures above.

Value Influencing Factors

Sandcast status: Genuine 1969 sandcast K0 cases and correct early features are the single biggest driver of value.
Originality: Original paint, correct exhausts, period-correct seat, clocks and switchgear are all highly prized.
Matching numbers: Frame and engine numbers in the correct range for the claimed year/variant are vital for top money.
Mechanical condition: Rebuilt engines, refreshed brakes and suspension, and known good oiling and camchain condition all support stronger pricing.
Documentation: Early history, import paperwork, old photos and long-term ownership records give buyers confidence.
Restoration quality: High-end, correctly detailed restorations can command strong prices; incorrect colours, cheap pattern parts or mixed-year details will soften values.

Conclusion

As of November 2025, the early Honda CB750 four remains one of the blue-chip Japanese classics. Within the 1969–1972 window there is a clear hierarchy: sandcast K0 at the top, followed by die-cast K0, then K1, then K2. Non-running or long-stored projects start in the low-to-mid thousands and climb sharply for sandcast machines, while good, useable riders span roughly £8,000–£18,000 depending on year, originality and specification.

The very best bikes – especially well-documented 1969 sandcast K0s with correct early features – can achieve £25,000–£40,000+ in the right setting. Later K0, K1 and K2 models remain highly desirable but generally trade at lower levels, offering more accessible ways into early CB750 ownership while still benefiting from strong demand and an active international market.

Sources & Methodology:
Sources include UK and European classic motorcycle auctions, specialist Japanese classic dealers, Car & Classic and similar listing sites, and known private sales where achievable prices are available. Value bands are evidence-based estimates as of November 2025; upper bands, particularly for top sandcast examples, may be informed by ambitious asking prices and a small number of high-profile sales rather than frequent hammer results.

All Valuations

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