New CB500 K0 project. USA vs UK spec?

[Oceans4]

Hi ladies and gents,
I'm quite new to the forum.
My Dad and I have embarked on a restoration project which is a US import CB500 K0.
My first of many questions I'm sure is what is the difference between the US and UK bike?
We are off to the Normous Newark autojumble on Sunday and don't want to get caught out buying the wrong bits.
Thanks in advance Andy and Pete.
 

[jon stead]

Hello.

To my knowledge, differences I know of, there could be others, are handlebars, higher on US model, light switches, rear light is bigger on US and bracket is chrome as opposed to painted black on a UK model. Paint colours are probably different as well.

I think the running gear and engine parts are the same but others will have more knowledge on that front.

Enjoy the jumble and enjoy doing the bike up.

[Nurse Julie]

Along with the above difference the main one is that the CB500/4 K0 was never imported in to the UK by Honda. There are a quite a few around still that were bought in as ' grey imports ' from Europe back in the day and possibly only 3 official UK press bikes bought in by Honda. No matter what you do to your bike, I'm sure it will be nice but the VIN number / engine number will always denote its a USA model. Happy hunting.
Edit....if you are lucky enough to find any UK K0 parts, they will be about a million times dearer than USA parts.....you made the right choice buying an import from that perspective.

[Bryanj]

Visible differences are rear light bracket( light is same on 500 K0) handlebars, switchgear, rear indicator mounts.
Wiring connectors, front reflectors, seat lock are different from UK model which are all K1

[Seabeowner]

I’ve converted my US K0 to what I believe is a UK/European version.
Lower rise handlebars (which also involves shorter clutch and throttle cables), left and right handlebar switches, number plate bracket and fittings, removed grab rail and repaced by handle on LHS, mounts for rear indicators, larger washer on RHS to retain rear shock at top, headlight. But still looking for correct longer rear mudguard. May try the Vietnam route.

Also UK bikes had metal plug caps (but not sure about K0s) of which I have 3 of the 4. I have been in contact with the US owner of my bike and he confirms it as all original (apart from oil filter, oil and old fuel!) it was fitted with 7.5kohm black caps as standard there.
Cables clutch 22870-323-621, throttle A 17910-323-620, throttle B 17920-323-620, LHS switch 35250-323-013, RHS switch 35300-300-620 (or maybe 621)
Later K1s were fitted with the same LHS switch, but an extra lights on/off switch was fitted also to the left P/N 35150-300-730 and the RHS switch was changed to 35300-323-730 (which had P L H markings)

[AshimotoK0]

I wonder if any very early 500K0  'squared off' crankcase examples ever found their way here in 1971? I doubt it and I guess it would just have been a bog standard US version anyway if they did send one here for evaluation purposes.
My understanding was that the early K0's had serious gearbox problems, which culminated in Honda having a class action lawsuit against them in the US because they  had unmodified K0 stock in showrooms, still being sold despite the fact that there were aware that they had a serious problem on their hands. I guess after the  chain breaking issues with the early CB750 they probably wanted to keep it quiet that there was a serious issue with the 500 and that's possibly why they  delayed exporting the bike to the UK until early '72.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=14675.0

[Seabeowner]

The main change at 1018728 seems to be to the in the the control of the gear shift drum. The indexing cam and location mechanism and the ball bearing guide on the drum is also re-designed. Mine is in the 23k (7/71) range, so should be clear of the problems.

[Oceans4]

Thank you all for the amazing responses.