Which Modal Honda CB500 Four Do I Have?

[Nagoshak]

K0? K1? K2? I just have no idea. Also could i find out from the number on the engine and the frame?

[Ewan 500 K1]

if you can give the engone and frame number's it can be worked out no probs

[Nagoshak]

Engine Number: CB500-E-2136282

Frame Number: CB500-2070837

[Bryanj]

K2 never came to UK officialy, all the UK bikes were K1's no matter how high the frame number went!

From collected numbers i have I suspect that is a 1974/5 K1 UK model and it may well be the original engine number.

Honda UK will, for a fee, confirm the year(and sometimes month) of build but cannot tell you any other details at all, even the original engine number

[Ewan 500 K1]

if you can give the engone and frame number's it can be worked out no probs

  "no probs""  ... he he 

[Aurelia B20]

I think you have a correct engine (but not the original one) for a K1 sold after end of 1973 !

500 Four K2 with engine number beginning by 2 1xx xxx were sold in USA from october 1973 but imported in France (and maybe the same in UK ?) only from december 1975. All the K1 made after end of 1973 were fitted with K2 engine.

That's the case for my K1 sold in August 1974 : frame 2 058 XXX  -  engine 2 146 XXX
Anf for another K1 sold in June 1975 :  frame 2 074 XXX  -  engine 2 163 XXX

So your K1 has probably been made in April or May 1975 for the frame and May or June 1974 for the engine.

[Nagoshak]

Thanks i appreciate the response, your information seems to be the best so far.

[cantarauk]

On the back of this forum post could someone also enlighten me as to the model of CB500 I have. Suspect it too is a import with different year engine to frame -

the engine number is -  CB5002048XXX
and frame number -  CB500E2136XXX

on the V5 I have the bike registered in Nov 1973

Thanks in advance

Glenn 

[Bryanj]

distinctly possible the engine is original, from my list the bike was built approx. 8/72

[deltarider]

Engine Number: CB500-E-2136282
Frame Number: CB500-2070837

Yours is a K1. Luckily you have the modified engine with 4 rocker arm shafts and not 8 as in the earlier models that sometimes gave problems.
You may consult this:
http://www.honda4fun.com/pdf_parts_list/pdf_spac500/CB500-K1-K2/CB500-K1-K2_1.pdf

[cantarauk]

Thank you both for the reply. At least I can work on a good assumption that this is a K1 now

[Bryanj]

Unfortunately it wasn't the conversion from 8 to 4 shafts that totally cured the wear problem it was the 76 onwards cover where the shafts were locked into the cover by cotter bolts that cured it. Having said that I have only ever seen 2 worn out rocker covers

[cantarauk]

Engine will be stripped soon so will have a better idea of there state then. Will let you know what I find but fingers crossed here