Honda, the number one motorcycle manufacturer in the world, was the first Japanese Company to appear in World Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing, making their debut at the Isle of Man T.T. race in 1959. Utilizing these races as a "Running Laboratory" Honda has infused every new technique and all of their "know how" into these racing machines every year since 1960, and their struggle for supremacy began to bear fruit in 1961 on a small scale and in 1966 they took every title from 50cc on up to 500cc and the makers trophy as well.

In 1967, Honda suddenly suspended all Grand Prix activity, but by then the name Honda was well known throughout the world. In 1975, they started racing again but were looking at the long distance and endurance events this time. Endurance racing is normally conducted with production bikes, modified for this grueling challenge. Honda developed the RCB which was patterned after the CB750F but it was so much modified that the end result looked little like the prototype.

The RCB captured the trophy three years running and had virtually no competition at all. During the 70's Honda released the water cooled flat four "Gold Wing" and the 6 cylinder DOHC CBX, and in 78 the CB900F was unveiled which inherited all of the RCB freatures, and after its release in Europe shortly became the "The Bike to Own". With an aircooled 4 cylinder, 16 valve 901cc engine, and equipped with the double cradle type frame and FQV damper rear suspension, this bike became extremely popular amoung enthusiasts all over the world of motorcycles.