New member intro

[Bitsa (Ralph Wright - RIP)]

 
Great
Bitsa

[Trigger]

New member from roundabout city
Proud owner of a 500 K0 US import
Also own and run 500K3 the runt in the 500-550 series

I think i know that bike. Does it have the wrong clocks ?

[triplE675]

Thanks for the greetings.
I thought somebody might recognise the bike, and yes it does have the wrong speedo without the trip meter
I live within a mile of Station X , and prefer Bletchley.
The 500 K0 was purchased a couple of weeks ago from a VJMC member who retired to West Devon.
I had to bribe my mates with diesel money and breakfast but  it was worth it. (No van of my own.)

The K0 was imported from America in 1999 thro' a grey importer in surrey
It was bought by the owner and mot'd for 5 years and never used it then spent 10 years in a garage and just fired up every now and then.

I didn't know about the imported bikes until after I bought the K3 a german import on a 71 J plate   

The K0 is really original and didn't think I would get an import that had not been restored.
All the pipes are original with no holes and good chrome.
Overall the bike has the look of an unmolested 43 year old bike.
The clocks and MOT's say 15 k.
The resto should be pretty easy compared to my K3.

Regards
TriplE675

 

[AshimotoK0]

So I was right first  time with Bletchley and then thrown a curved ball by Googling it and coming up with Basingstoke! My son works for Network Rail in York and they have new offices in MK .. he's always banging on about 'concrete cows'.

Anyone who hasn't visited Bletchley Park ..I can really recommend it.. plus you can go back any time within the year for free (well it was that  way a few years ago).

I will leave it to CB500/550K aficionados to comment on your bikes as I am a 400/4 ..750 man myself  but your bike  looks mighty fine to me. (don't know how 500F ownership has  eluded me).

Ash

[Drew400]

Ditto Ash.

I went tthere about 5 years ago and was shown around by a (very clever) lady who worked there during the war. Fascinating and deeply respectful!

I don't know if she still works there as a guide, but if she does, get down there now coz she and her collegaues aren't going to be around much longer.

D.

[SteveD CB500K0]

.. he's always banging on about 'concrete cows'.

The concrete cows now live in the Midsummer Place shopping centre in MK (I believe they kept getting vandalised in the fields).

My company has been involved in LiDAR scanning the centre to create a 3D virtual environment as part of a Government sponsored R&D programme.  The cows scan perfectly (but the trees are difficult!)

Steve

[Bryanj]

Oddjob, the 500K3 was the little sister to the 550K3 just had smaller pistons and bores. Never officialy came to UK but did to Europe

[triplE675]

My k3 is on a J plate because when it was imported in 2002 DVLA confused it with the 500K0 .
The K0's have frame & engine numbers that start with 1___
When Honda made the K3's in 76/77 they reverted Frame numbers back to 1___ series although the engines are 22__
I went to the ACE café about 2 years ago on the Japanese day and it confused the anoraks no end.
Both of my friends run UK k1's and until recently mine was the only one on historic zero rated road tax.

I hope that I have explained the wrong reg plate.

[Trigger]

Finished a full restoration on a 500K0 last year. I am in spitting distance from you if you require any help.

[petersy]

Welcome to the forum.
I bought a brand new CB500 K2 in 1974 and really liked it - the best of the early Honda Fours in my opinion.
I now have a 1974 CB550 which I am recommissioning, as well as the immaculate CB350 pictured on my profile.
Next I hope to acquire a really good CB500 Four (71 or 72).

[triplE675]

That's very kind of you ,
                                   I presume yours is a US import unless you have one of  Honda UK's original press fleet bike's
  A gold low mileage one turned up on Evil-bay a couple of years ago .Spent its life in a farmers outhouse.

I'd like to take a look at your K0.
 Reading Steves blog and his recent conversion to the goldie's
I didn't realise there were so many differences to the K1/2'S.

I'm having trouble locating the UK spec  handlebars
any idea's ?

Regards
TriplE675

[Bryanj]

Yes the Historic date has changed and is now a "rolling" year, can't remember how many tho.

EDIT:- Just looked it up and its 40 years but a bit more complicated that just that as if built January 1975 you have to wait till after 1st April for it to be exempt, typical beurocratic up cock if you ask me

[Trigger]

That's very kind of you ,
                                   I presume yours is a US import unless you have one of  Honda UK's original press fleet bike's
  A gold low mileage one turned up on Evil-bay a couple of years ago .Spent its life in a farmers outhouse.

I'd like to take a look at your K0.
 Reading Steves blog and his recent conversion to the goldie's
I didn't realise there were so many differences to the K1/2'S.

I'm having trouble locating the UK spec  handlebars
any idea's ?

Regards
TriplE675

Not many differences between the K1 to K2 but, a lot from K0 to K1. Yes, mine is a UK CB500K0 (not import) Handle bars can be bought from DSS. My K0 is in the MK area.

[matthewmosse]

One of my 500/4s is probably a k0 by the numbers plus bits and has a k plate too. It is also very tired and in bits. Not being an expert I wouldn't restore it as such but do plan to put it back together and get it on the road.

[Bryanj]

I think Speedo without trip was a 450 item, i got one from DS cheap when i first put the bike i bought from him on the road