Well, not exactly…the tariff that created your VFR700 wasn’t imposed because of the 1969 CB750. At least not directly. The original Honda 750 did kickoff the Japanese onslaught of fast, capable large-displacement motorcycles but the 80s tariff that H-D lobbied for was imposed because the Japanese Big 4 were “dumping” motorcycles in the US market. They were selling well under their own cost in order to maintain market share and keep the home production lines running. Now, there’s plenty of room to argue that the import duties Japan levied on motorcycles imported to Japan had little to do with H-D sales there and that H-D Big Twins and Sportsters really weren’t viable competition for any 80s Japanese bikes over 700cc but dumping was happening. Was a tariff the best response by the US government? Not if you think truly free markets provide the consumer with the best bang for their buck. And as moribund as H-D appears in 2019, the early 80s to mid 90s Harleys were as innovative and desirable bikes as H-D developed before and since. Though I’d rather have an early CB750K over any Super Glide from the 70s!
