Help needed to identify my CB500-4

[B11sey]

I’ve owned my bike since 1978 and always thought it to be a standard early UK bike until I recently started renovating it. Now it appears many things are not correct.
Frame number 1015211 identifies it as a US only K0 ??
All black colour is UK only spec??
Number plate mount is UK version
Tank pinstripe is non std red and chrome
First registration Aug ‘72
Any experts out there who would know which country this would have been originally shipped to

[Bryanj]

You cant tell what country from the number, there were a few K0 in this country that dealers brought in from europe, the tank has obviously been resprayed if the stripe is red so that means nothing.
Put up some pics of the handlebar switches, fork reflectors, seat lock and general bike and i can give you some ideas

[B11sey]

Hope this link works
https://photos.app.goo.gl/AuMd9kuz1FdHD4CU7

[Oddjob]

Yep, that's a K0.

Be aware that when the 3 test ride bikes were shipped in by Honda (I found the reg number of the Gold one the other day, GTT 131K, it's no longer registered BTW) the bike magazines were very critical of the right hand switchgear, they found it was far too easy for the rider (especially wearing gloves) to accidentally turn the lights off completely when going form high to low, resulting in total darkness and lets be honest, if you've got main beam on you're somewhere bloody dark. As a result Honda changed that switchgear and fitted a separate On/Off switch on the other side of the bars. You may want to keep the switchgear as it is original but if so watch what you're doing when you use it.

[Bryanj]

Definately K0 reflectors and seat lock, UK switches and it looks like somebody painted the space between the two white stipes in red.
Look at the block connectors under the lh sidepanel and see if they have round pin or spade type, that would date it a little bit
You could have a proper UK K0, it might be worth paying Honda the about £30 for a proof of date of build letter

[Bryanj]

My list puts it about 5th month 1971

[Oddjob]

First reg Aug 72 Bryan, most likely brought from Europe to complete an order as the K1 might have been all sold out at that time. My K1 is registered earlier than that. August would have been new reg day so dealer might have oversold and have shipped one in in desperation.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Nice original looking Horn - when was it last a runner?

[Bryanj]

That 5th month is build so august reg would be about right with shipping, fotget that its 15 months so probably old stock in europe brought into uk by dealer

[B11sey]

Quote
Definately K0 reflectors and seat lock, UK switches and it looks like somebody painted the space between the two white stipes in red.

The “white” stripes are actually chrome/silver and is a vinyl graphic not paint. Although not too difficult to produce 1 off’s with todays tech I’m not sure how this would be done in early 70’s.

[B11sey]

Last run in ‘87 Ted

[B11sey]

I think the engine number dates it before the gearbox mods. Was wondering if Honda stopped shipping to the USA after the lawsuit and send the remaining pre-mod bikes to the UK? No evidence for this but it may explain the anomalies.

[Oddjob]

No, the K0 never officially came to the UK, they'd have shipped them to Europe instead, which is where yours has come from I reckon.

According to the head mechanic at Honda, who I asked about the 500 when at a training course in the late 70s approx only 3 were officially imported by HondaUK, these were gold, black and brown. One was written off whilst being test ridden by a magazine, the general consensus was it was the black one IIRC, the gold disappeared and the brown was sold to an employee who later scrapped it.

[B11sey]

So probably a European bike that had the tank re-sprayed to suit its first owner I guess.
Is there anything to differentiate European and UK bikes?

[Nurse Julie]

This is what it should look like.
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