Author Topic: Honda UK registered CB500K0's  (Read 6012 times)

Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: Honda UK registered CB500K0's
« Reply #15 on: January 02, 2021, 02:16:54 PM »

The world of the proper UK 500 K0's is very, very small Ash and Graham has had his hands on a majority of them now in one way or another 😊😊

Two for sale  on eBay at the moment ..  ;)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1972-HONDA-CB500-KO/124476957001?hash=item1cfb67a149:g:tH8AAOSw101fz6it

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-CB500-FOUR-K0-1972/293906152440?hash=item446e2bfbf8:g:cE8AAOSwNkRfx9RL
[/quote]
Indeed there are Ash. The Gold one looks a bright bike but everytime I see the pics of it, I see it has the Honda Motor company sticker only on one side panel and the black tank panel is far too short, the Honda badge is almost overhanging the black and going into the gold 😊😊😊
LINK TO MY EBAY PAGE. As many of you know already, I give 10% discount and do post at cost to forum members if you PM me direct.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/julies9731/m.html?item=165142672569&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2562

LINK TO MY CB400/4 ENGINE STRIP / ASSESSMENT AND REBUILD...NOW COMPLETE
http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,14049.msg112691/topicseen.html#new

Offline 1234pot

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Re: Honda UK registered CB500K0's
« Reply #16 on: January 02, 2021, 02:29:12 PM »
I don’t suppose anyone would have any knowledge of those first 500’s that actually appeared at the show? I have the original MM issue that reviews it but there’s no real detail on the Honda stand.


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Online Bryanj

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Re: Honda UK registered CB500K0's
« Reply #17 on: January 02, 2021, 02:33:29 PM »
Not sure how a 72 can be K0 as they started in 71 as both ash and i know, may have all the K0 parts but would love to know the frame numbers and how they fit in my list

Offline AshimotoK0

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Re: Honda UK registered CB500K0's
« Reply #18 on: January 02, 2021, 02:42:08 PM »
Not sure how a 72 can be K0 as they started in 71 as both ash and i know, may have all the K0 parts but would love to know the frame numbers and how they fit in my list

I think most UK's are 1972 registered Bryan ... Trigg will know
« Last Edit: January 02, 2021, 02:45:47 PM by AshimotoK0 »
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Offline 1234pot

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Re: Honda UK registered CB500K0's
« Reply #19 on: January 02, 2021, 02:43:43 PM »
Would a March 72’ essentially have been manufactured sometime in 71?

So a K really?


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Offline AshimotoK0

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“Alright friends, you have seen the heavy groups, now you will see morning maniac music. Believe me, yeah. It’s a new dawn.” Grace Slick, Woodstock '69 .. In the year of the Sandcast.

Offline Trigger

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Re: Honda UK registered CB500K0's
« Reply #21 on: January 02, 2021, 03:09:26 PM »
The black one on ebay is not a UK K0 , take a look at the pilot lights Ash. Looks to be a german import trying to look like a UK unit ;)

Offline AshimotoK0

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Re: Honda UK registered CB500K0's
« Reply #22 on: January 02, 2021, 03:26:28 PM »
The black one on ebay is not a UK K0 , take a look at the pilot lights Ash. Looks to be a german import trying to look like a UK unit ;)

 I think it's the one where the original owner filled the exhausts with oil after every season. I guess many of the so called 'UK bikes' will be European imports brought in by dealers /individuals who couldn't wait.
I guess Honda UK were initially reluctant to import the 500/4. as there had been a Class Action lawsuit in the States against Honda  over the early, square crankcase, gearbox failures and trying to palm off unmodified bikes in USA dealers showrooms.
« Last Edit: January 02, 2021, 06:05:46 PM by AshimotoK0 »
“Alright friends, you have seen the heavy groups, now you will see morning maniac music. Believe me, yeah. It’s a new dawn.” Grace Slick, Woodstock '69 .. In the year of the Sandcast.

Online Bryanj

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Re: Honda UK registered CB500K0's
« Reply #23 on: January 02, 2021, 03:43:25 PM »
Anything with a 1 at the begining of the frame number was built in 71 plus a few low 2's were built in december 71, i would guess a maximum of 500. After that has to be 72 but that is BUILD date not sale date

Offline triplE675

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Re: Honda UK registered CB500K0's
« Reply #24 on: January 02, 2021, 04:35:37 PM »
Hi Bryan,
                  My K0 has frame No 1043899
Engine No 1044119
Can you give manufactured date from your
 Iñfo ?


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Re: Honda UK registered CB500K0's
« Reply #25 on: January 02, 2021, 04:59:24 PM »
That should be 10/71 mate

Offline Trigger

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Re: Honda UK registered CB500K0's
« Reply #26 on: January 02, 2021, 06:30:54 PM »
Hi Bryan,
                  My K0 has frame No 1043899
Engine No 1044119
Can you give manufactured date from your
 Iñfo ?


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Yours should show the build date on the VIN plate as, it is a USA unit.

Offline triplE675

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Re: Honda UK registered CB500K0's
« Reply #27 on: January 02, 2021, 11:38:53 PM »
Thanks Gràham,
                                Everyday is a learning day
So parallel imports happened back in the 70's .Honda UK made an error in not bringing  the cb 500 KO in when they were launched in 1971. Thanks for the history lesson. On the black KO You don't get many  49 year old bikes cherished from  day 1.

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Offline AshimotoK0

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Re: Honda UK registered CB500K0's
« Reply #28 on: January 03, 2021, 12:18:54 AM »
Honda UK made an error in not bringing  the cb 500 KO in when they were launched in 1971.

Not sure about that .. there were a lot of major gearbox issues with the 1st 500's in the USA so Honda UK may have made a shrewd move ...only importing it officially when the gremlins had been ironed out.
“Alright friends, you have seen the heavy groups, now you will see morning maniac music. Believe me, yeah. It’s a new dawn.” Grace Slick, Woodstock '69 .. In the year of the Sandcast.

Offline Trigger

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Re: Honda UK registered CB500K0's
« Reply #29 on: January 03, 2021, 08:20:15 AM »
The UK 500K0 is a very rare bike to have and i have only known 7 of them in all my time. Not sure if all were parallel imports from Holland as, Honda must of intended to sell in the UK because the owners hand book shows a wiring diagram for the UK.
The UK wiring diagram does not show the extra HI-LO switch wiring on the L/H handlebar but, the Holland wiring diagram does. The one i have now has the R/H handlebar switch from the 750K1 which matches the UK wiring diagram  ;)

The German Honda owners club has the same problem as the UK, half the owners saying that the 500K0 was sold in Germany and the other half of the owners recon that theirs are from Holland and first registered in Germany.

The truth is out there but, Honda will not confirm in anyway whatsoever. If paperwork and documents were not transferred to a computer they seem to be lost forever.

The UK 500K0 gold press bike, reg number GTT 131K was photographed and tested at Shoreham airfield in early 1972. 
« Last Edit: January 03, 2021, 08:27:08 AM by Trigger »

 

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