SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550
Help needed to identify my CB500-4
Trigger:
--- Quote from: B11sey on February 01, 2023, 06:10:04 PM ---Great looking bike. I’ll be pleased if mine ends up half as good as that.
Impressively tidy workshop as well :)
--- End quote ---
Yours look completely original apart from the tank and side panel paint. Nice to see the original master cylinder cap and the chrome bolts on the master cylinder clamp.
I have owned two of these in the past 10 years and once restored correctly to original spec, make good money at resale time.
Oddjob:
--- Quote from: Seabeowner on February 01, 2023, 07:06:17 PM ---All the US bikes had a vin plate up front. I only see the Made in Japan, so that would make it almost certainly Europe. Anyone know why Europe got K0s, but UK got next to none.
--- End quote ---
Could be something as simple as supply. Maybe Honda knew it couldn't supply both Europe and the USA as well as the UK. As the smallest market would have been the UK we were left out. As it turns out that wasn't to our detriment as the K0 had quite a few problems that have been well documented. The seat lock was a step backwards, the K1 lock is far superior. The reflectors are better bigger as well. Not to mention the switchgear which was slated so much by the press that Honda had to change it for safety reasons. The only thing that the K0 got right IMO was the gold colour, Starlight Gold is nicer IMO than the Candy Gold custom of the K1. No idea why they changed that, maybe they thought it looked better with bigger metallic flakes. What I'd like to know is who made the decision not to import the Candy Jade Green model, far better than the awful brown model, again my opinion.
philward:
I had a new 500K1 in 1972 (bought from Queens Park Motors) but can't remember the combined horn/pass button on the LH switch - it is a long time ago but remember being chuffed to have the flash button on later bikes I bought after the 500 was sold.
Oddjob:
Standard on UK models Phil, USA didn't get it though, just a horn button for them.
Looking at the pics it looks like it might be an expensive restoration if all the chrome doesn't clean up well. Certainly very dirty, lets hope it's ok under the muck.
B11sey:
You’re right Oddjob. All the brightwork needs re-chrome or replacing. Luckily I bought a new set of pipes 30yrs ago which will save a lot.
However I’m not doing this for a profit but to relive some of the memories of the riding we did back in the day.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/GYFFBn9hnBEzJmyW8
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