450 road test (+ others)

[K2-K6]

http://www.yeoldecycleshoppe.com/roadtestlibrary/2017/4/10/1970-honda-cb450-road-test

Interesting write up with some technical details from contemporary road test of 1970.

Site is live so you can look up other bikes on there too.

Nigel.

[Laverda Dave]

Excellent link Nigel. Thanks for sharing.

[AshimotoK0]

Yes thanks for sharing. I didn't realize (if the USA article is correct) that Honda almost gave up on the 450 early doors because of poor sales.

In the UK this MCM Test didn't do Honda any favours either.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3r1028k5qhub4rk/AABibmd3hvrD4bMbLDBk86Rpa?dl=0

[royhall]

Yes thanks for sharing. I didn't realize (if the USA article is correct) that Honda almost gave up on the 450 early doors because of poor sales.

In the UK this MCM Test didn't do Honda any favours either.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3r1028k5qhub4rk/AABibmd3hvrD4bMbLDBk86Rpa?dl=0

Depends what you read into it Ash. The Triumph was standard but "put together carefully", the Honda was straight off the production line. To me that means the usual "cooking" Triumph probably couldn't make it to the test. Hands down victory for the Honda to my mind. And it gave away 50cc.

[AshimotoK0]

Yes thanks for sharing. I didn't realize (if the USA article is correct) that Honda almost gave up on the 450 early doors because of poor sales.

In the UK this MCM Test didn't do Honda any favours either.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3r1028k5qhub4rk/AABibmd3hvrD4bMbLDBk86Rpa?dl=0

Depends what you read into it Ash. The Triumph was standard but "put together carefully", the Honda was straight off the production line. To me that means the usual "cooking" Triumph probably couldn't make it to the test. Hands done victory for the Honda to my mind. Ans it gave away 50cc.

I know what you mean but the original UK shipped 66 bikes were still appearing unsold in dealers into the early 1970's.

Compare that road test to the '67 CD175A sloper ..It was selling so well that they couldn't even get a press bike from Honda Uk and had to borrow one from an owner!

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1g45lhqdvjrqn5j/AAAdhcpSluIrpBVlMghLuYppa?dl=0

[AshimotoK0]

And a year later this was a pretty good review too of the CB250SS (K0)

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/aostg1ai2kf2oli/AAAEIMer-LyxCz6Bc6XQEqQna?dl=0

[K2-K6]

http://www.cb450stuff.com/manual/index.htm

I don't know if you've already captured this one Ash.

[K2-K6]

http://www.courtneystubbert.com/blog/2010/5/20/classic-honda-cb450.html

Couple of nice images I've not seen.

[K2-K6]

http://www.chinonthetank.com/2012/12/how-cb450-torsion-bars-work/

Some good split down photos of the torsion bars.

Funnily,  they comment on "no springs" being present. All coil spring are also torsion bar type,  just wrapped in a convenient cylinder but it's the same action with the steel being twisted "torsionally" to give the sprung resistance.

They can both offer the same rate but with very different resonant frequencies for each type due to the material cross section.