Honda-SOHC

Could someone edit it with the correct info and I’ll put it in Aladdin’s Cave.

I can’t as I don’t know what’s incorrect


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I’ve never seen anything quite like that.

Do the bars extend and fix to the front forks (instead of the top yoke)?


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Philips Electronic Engineer kit.



Made my first radio receiver at about 8 years old.


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Some of us had to learn it in order to read the value markings on resistors.




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I had a 550K3 tank on my 500

The fittings all worked but there’s a gap to the seat.

So I fitted a 550K3 seat as well. The mounting points didn’t line up so a bit of hammering and bending was required.


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What’s the most off the wall improvised roadside repair you ever did or saw?

A couple spring to mind:

Camping in Cornwall with my mate and his Mk1 Cortina. Cooling system blew a leak at the thermostat housing. Tightening the bolts only managed to strip the thread...
So we took the thermostat out to reduce the internal pressure and tied the thermostat housing together with a wire coat hanger and a steel rod (like a tourniquet)

Riding my first 500/4 home to Brighton from Derby and engine started rattling. It was dark so pulled onto the forecourt of a car dealer and started taking bits off.
Removing the top cover of the engine showed that the recent rebuild had neglected to sufficiently torque the bolts holding the camshaft sprocket onto the cam. Indeed, one of them was missing (presumably in the sump!)
Called the RAC and the patrolman spent a while marvelling at how small the parts of the engine were - presumably he was used to Morris Marinas and the like.
Long story short - he scavenged a bunch of different bolts from the cars on the forecourt until he found one that fitted...   No CCTV in those days.
Those of you with particularly nice anoraks will know that the bolts in question are special having a smaller head than the norm. That may be so - but it worked!

1972 Honda CB500/4 - CJF937K

Originally published January 2009



Here she is in when “new”, 5,627 miles on the clock and MOTs going back to 1982. The engine is not original as the number suggests that it is from a K2, whereas the frame/VIN is from a ‘72 (”K0?”)

“Wrong” bits [anorak mode ON]

* Tank paintwork and lack of pinstripe
* Seat (no strap)
* Hagon shocks
* Front mudguard has only rear stay so must be from a later model (probably a 550)

[/anorak mode]

After 500-odd miles in the first year of ownership I was shocked to fail an MOT! The tester informed me that one of the steering lock stops was missing (broken off) on the bottom yoke which meant that the bars touched the tank on full lock. It had obviously been like this for years, but the tester was adamant and I had to take it away and get it fixed.

David Silver had an NOS bottom yoke in stock for just £23.50 and a set of taper roller bearings for £27.61 - yes, the bearings cost more than the yoke!



Here's a picture of the instruments



The grab handle



Front brake



It has been suggested that the Japanese script on the front brake master cylinder cap says "Stop looking at this and watch where you are going!"

By January 2009, I'd had an MOT Advisory for the last two years about my front tyre which was badly feathered and almost down to the wear lines. I decided to order up a new one from Gary at www.gsmotorcycletyres.co.uk - he supplies and fits tyres for all my bikes (as well as being my IAM Observer when I was training and all-round good bloke).

I've gone for a straight replacement of the existing Avon Roadrunner. Thought about having a ribbed front (like in the old days) but decided to stick with the pair.

Front: AM20 90/90H19
Rear: AM21 100/90H18

Here's a picture of Gary "struggling" with the installation (no quick-release stuff on these old bikes...)



Since then, the bike has hardly covered any miles (see my exploits with VFR Hondas and Triumph Triples) but has been begging me to sort out the gearbox, which jumps out of third gear when under load. This is bad as third is the "powering out of roundabouts" gear!

This is a common fault on these early fours and may form part of the explanation as to why the model only lasted 2 years before the "new" CB550 came along with an extra 50cc and a redesigned clutch and gearbox...

The problem lies with wear to the selector forks. These are now "unobtainium" but I have managed to pick up a complete 500/4 gearbox from Warehouse Motorcycles, a breaker in Godstone (Surrey), not perfect but between the two I should be able to put together a working replacement.



The bike is currently on SORN - I spend too much time riding my Sprint!

CJF was sold to a fellow enthusiast Malcolm Avery in September 2011. He was looking for a 500/4 that was good but that needed a bit of work. He took the gearbox bits and promised to let me know how he got on. I first met Malcolm at a Classic Bike magazine photo-shoot. His T150 Trident was being featured alongside Eamon's CB750K0 and a Mach III Kawasaki in Jim Moore's "Back to 1969" copy in July 2009. It was sad to see her go, but I needed the money to put "Goldie" back on the road.

I'll post a photo of the proud new owner when I can get one.