Let’s face it—the in-line four-cylinder engine in a motorcycle was really nothing new when Honda rolled out the CB750K0 at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1968 to be available in showrooms for the 1969 model year.

In 1917, the French Militaire Champion came with a 1,306cc inlet-over-exhaust in-line four, Cleveland built a bike with a 750cc four-stroke in-line four in 1926, Ace offered a model with a 1,299cc inlet-over-exhaust in-line four in 1923, Italian brand Garabello offered a liquid-cooled inline-four in 1926, Henderson had a model with a 1,301cc in-line four in 1913 and Laurin & Klement offered an in-line four as early as 1905 to name a few.
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