1979 Honda CB750 F2 "Honda Britain" in Phil Read replica colours by Colin Seeley

1979 Honda CB750 F2 Honda Britain

Selling on customers behalf

In November 1976 Honda introduced the CB750F2. It had larger valves than previous models, peaky camshafts and developed a healthy 73bhp. So, when Phil Read rode an 820cc Honda CB750F2 to victory at the 1977 TT Formula one, Honda Britain saw an opportunity.

They also saw what the future may hold. They had been begging the factory to build race replica motorcycles direct from the factory, but the Japanese company was too conservative. So to celebrate the racing victory and to make the road going Phil Read Replica more like a race bike, Honda Britain commissioned Colin Seeley to build the bikes.

150 machines were built by Colin Seeley, it was the first ever fully faired race replica available straight from the showroom from any Japanese motorcycle importer in the world. Of these 150 machines, only 35 are thought survive today. It cost a whopping £360 more than the standard machine at £1895 (a considerable sum at the time ).

It came with a five-gallon alloy works replica hand made petrol tank with a custom made filler cap. Rear sets, ace bars, single race saddle, full fairing, twin Cibie headlights, a hand made works exhaust with a fantastic note and little one-off parts to complete the package.

These motorcycles are the original pre-cursor to the GSXR, GPZ and FZR ranges. There would  probably never have been homologation specials such as 888/916SP, RC30/45, OWO, ZXRR or Desmosedici without the birth of the Phil Read Replica. This was the test pilot for the homologation special. Honda Britain proved the public would pay the extra for such machines. They also proved that there was a market for race replicas.

According to an article in ‘Bike’ magazine August 1978, 220 separate parts went into the conversions in Seeley’s workshop in Kent, ranging from the twin headlight full fairing, 5 gallon alloy petrol tank,rear sets and works style exhaust. The exhausts rotted from the inside and were soon replaced by systems available like Piper, Marshall, Dunstall, etc.The rear brake pedals were of poor quality and easily broke so were often replaced.  

When Colin Seeley continued the project with his Honda Britain models, he fitted his own design exhaust tail pipe and a slightly different alloy tank. It was common though to repaint the Honda Britains into the colours of the arguably more desirable Replica.