Frame and Engine numbers

[JezzaPeach]

I understood my bike was an import from Italy, and it had the riveted type steering lock (pic attached) which I think is Italian spec which would ring true. The frame starts CB50020407xx which I believe is K1.
The engine starts CB500E21232xx which seems to be K2.

Other than the steering lock clue it doesn’t seem possible to tell country of origin from the honda4fun list but it’s said to be brought from Italy in 2003 after being in storage for some time.

I’m probably misunderstanding but the honda4fun parts list I’ve found does not show the engine  CB500E2xxxxxx  anywhere other than in the USA K2 list (surely there was a EU/UK K2)

This seems to imply the frame is Italian with a USA K2 engine, but seems more likely an Italian K2 engine if there was one.

Any authoritative answer very welcome.

[Bryanj]

There was no K2 in UK dont know about Italy.
Engine numbers were consecutive so what apears as K2 in US is a K1 in UK up to 77 when 550 K3 came in.
There were no differences in engines anyway

[JezzaPeach]

Many thanks Bryan. I’m pretty sure only K1 in Italy too then, makes sense on the list. It sounds then that if the numbers aren’t too far apart the frame and engine very probably started life together.

There was an old Fiamm relay attached to the frame, probably for air horns which sounds rather Italian too!!
Just off to test my tacho with damper restored just arrived back from Peter Horton! Nice job Peter.
Best J

[Trigger]

There was no K2 in UK dont know about Italy.
Engine numbers were consecutive so what apears as K2 in US is a K1 in UK up to 77 when 550 K3 came in.
There were no differences in engines anyway

I thought the UK CB500 K1 was made for the UK up to 1975 and then the CB550F1 was released in 1976 Bryan 

[deltarider]

Italy definitely had the CB500K2-ED. Simplest way to identify a K2-ED, F, G frame is the central grease zerk under the swing arm. Is this page http://www.honda4fun.com/home/faq/generali/111-cb500-differenze-k0-k1-k2 useful? (scroll down). Up to engine number 2170314 the engine had the 8 rocker arm shafts. From engine number 2170315 it had 4.

[Trigger]

Italy definitely had the CB500K2-ED. Simplest way to identify a K2-ED, F, G frame is the central grease zerk under the swing arm. Is this page http://www.honda4fun.com/home/faq/generali/111-cb500-differenze-k0-k1-k2 useful? (scroll down). Up to engine number 2170314 the engine had the 8 rocker arm shafts. From engine number 2170315 it had 4.

A lot of incorrect info on UK K0 and K1.

Wrong R/H switch for early UK K0
Wrong L/H switch for early UK K0
Wrong info on master cylinders
Wrong info on kick start
Wrong info on kick start rubber 

Don't believe everything you read   

[Bryanj]

I saw 500K registered in 76/77Graham but probably held over stock, if you put the frame/engine numbers of the UK 500 into the US number list the numbers say they are all earlier.
From the numbers arround it seems that Hond were building 500 K1, 500K2 and 550K0 all at the same time

[Trigger]

I saw 500K registered in 76/77Graham but probably held over stock, if you put the frame/engine numbers of the UK 500 into the US number list the numbers say they are all earlier.
From the numbers arround it seems that Hond were building 500 K1, 500K2 and 550K0 all at the same time

The USA numbers list is only for bikes sold in the USA mate.

You are correct in thinking that Honda were building the CB500K1 for the UK market ( and a few other countries ) The CB500K2 for some european markets and the CB550K0 for the USA market all at same time.

Honda was all about sales figures and not engine or VIN numbers 

[Bryanj]

Yes Trigger but from the list i have the early 500 in uk that were verified by Honda do fit into the sequential US list, they start to deviate when the US K2 came along but engines seem to stay sequential.