A CB450 K0 speedo/tacho combo reading in km/h is almost impossible to find for a reasonable cost so I'll have to settle for something that looks similar. I bought this speedo/tacho combo announced as an early CB125 item on an auction site here in Sweden but to me it looks more like a CB77 meter.

Does anybody have a clue what Honda model it's from and does it have the same dimensions as a Bomber meter?

 

I like the direction you're going and really like your daughters drawing, very nice work
The gauge unit looks like a CB77 Super Hawk to me.

 

Really looking forward to watching your progress on this one. You mentioned that you might be looking for a 500T engine and bore it out to max. My personal experience (and that of some local historic racers) is that the 500T engine vibrates quite a bit more than the 450 engine due to it's longer stroke. One mate used to have a 500T race bike and found it very difficult to rev the motor to 10000 rpm. He have now replaced it with a 450 (modified) and finds it a lot better for racing and also less viby.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Drifter, I have understood from other projects on the forum that the 500T engine might vibrate a bit more than the 450 but I'm not going to race the bike so I'll rarely touch 10000 rpm. Matter in fact I quite enjoy the 450's vibrations (compared to my CB500 four) on long rides as I feel it stimulates the circulation in my arms, legs and back (seriously, I'm not joking). I wouldn't mind some more vibration and if it becomes too bad I can always remove the top engine mount. Some years ago I rode my CB500 four together with a guy on a stock CB500T and I had problems keeping up. He had so much torque out of the corners.

Looks like a great project. Just so you know, it looks like a K1, not a K0. The tank is from a K1, not a K0. Good luck!

Gtprend, as I mentioned in the first post the frame is a 1966 K0 and I will build the bike with left over parts from other 450 projects so you are correct that the tank is from a K1. I have had my eyes on a dented Bomber tank with scratched and dented side covers but it's simply too expensive for me at the moment.

Hi Ronny,

Speedo is from a CB125 K2/K3/K4, starting the red line at 11.750 rpm. Also a possible fit for the CB160 and CB93. p/n is 7200-304-xxx. It's certainly not for the CB72/CB77 range, hence the redline.

Personally I do not like the way you go with the bomber, as I do like original, but I do understand the reason why. I really hope it turns in something special. If you need specific parts, you can always ask, I might have it. I'm curious about the way you build up your engine, thus following this threat with great pleasure

Jensen

Jensen, thank you for stating what model the meter is from. That will make it easier for me to find a headlight housing that it fits into. If you look at the pictures below you can see that the frame is heavily modified in several areas. I will restore the frame to as close to stock as possible so I feel that I'm saving an old bike from ending up at the scrap yard. It will be a rolling restoration/transformation so hopefully it will look pretty good in a couple of years.

Hi Ronny it looks the same size as my Bomber meter as far as I can tell, the only difference in the photos is that yours is KPH and the red lines are 11,500 to 13,000 on yours and mine is 9,500 to 10,500 also the overall depth is about 60mm, not including the cable fittings etc.Hope this helps.
Lee
View attachment 34348 View attachment 34349

Hope-Springs, what are the measurements of the outer edges of the chrome ring on your Bomber meter?

When I measure my meter it's 95 mm and 130 mm.

 

Looks like a great project. Just so you know, it looks like a K1, not a K0. The tank is from a K1, not a K0. Good luck!

 

Hi Ronny it looks the same size as my Bomber meter as far as I can tell, the only difference in the photos is that yours is KPH and the red lines are 11,500 to 13,000 on yours and mine is 9,500 to 10,500 also the overall depth is about 60mm, not including the cable fittings etc.Hope this helps.
Lee

 

Hi Ronny,

Speedo is from a CB125 K2/K3/K4, starting the red line at 11.750 rpm. Also a possible fit for the CB160 and CB93. p/n is 7200-304-xxx. It's certainly not for the CB72/CB77 range, hence the redline.

Personally I do not like the way you go with the bomber, as I do like original, but I do understand the reason why. I really hope it turns in something special. If you need specific parts, you can always ask, I might have it. I'm curious about the way you build up your engine, thus following this threat with great pleasure

Jensen

 

Nice one Ronny, let me know if you plan to put the original steering damper assembly back in - I still have some new old stock parts to suit.

Do you have a frame number? It looks K0 to me with the tube steel rear pegs/exhaust mount on the frame, but they may have done that to K1 frames too - dunno.

 

Could somebody help me out and measure the outer edges of the chrome ring on their Black Bomber meter?

When I measure my (apparently CB125) meter it's 95 mm and 130 mm. Wonder if it's the same dimensions as the Bomber.

 

 

Jensen, from your measurements it looks like the Bomber meter is quite a bit smaller than the CB125 meter. I'm surprised as I would have thought it was the other way around, smaller meter on the smaller bike.

 

Ronnie, its not the top you have to worry about but the actual lower body part that slides into the headlight shell. Also bear in mind the BB sits on a cushion and is held in place by a bracket inside the headlight shell. I have no dealings with the 125 but bear in mind the CB72/77 does fit the BB but is held in place by two outside screws.

 

Ray, I do have the measurements from the lower body part but didn't think anybody had a loose meter as I did not get any answers on my question earlier in this topic. I'm very interested in finding out if this meter would fit in a Bomber headlight shell, otherwise I'll have to settle for now with a headlight shell from a 125/160/175, just to get the Bomber look.

I must say I did know that Bomber parts were quite expensive but the cheapest I've been able to find a dinged Bomber tank with scratched and dinged chrome side covers is over £300 and I payed more than I dare to admit for the rusty side covers. :shock:

Ronnie,When you find something that fits pay particular attention to the live/earth wires when wiring up.If I remember right some of the clocks have small insulation blocks fitted on the casings.I do know I've blown loads of fuses & been scratching my head in the past when things haven't worked correctly but sure you will get there.Regards Chris.

Chris, thanks for the heads up about that. I'll keep that in mind.

Hi Ronnie,

Everthing on the bomer is relative small, and I agree, I expected the other way around too.
I have all three speedo's CB125 (yours), CB72/77 and CB450. Next time I can compare them.

Jensen

Jensen, I would appreciate that very much. Any info that will help me find a headlight shell my meter will fit in is helpful.



I know the meter works by the way as I tried it with a drilling machine and a speedo cable.

 

Ronnie,When you find something that fits pay particular attention to the live/earth wires when wiring up.If I remember right some of the clocks have small insulation blocks fitted on the casings.I do know I've blown loads of fuses & been scratching my head in the past when things haven't worked correctly but sure you will get there.Regards Chris.

 

Hi Ronnie,

Everthing on the bomer is relative small, and I agree, I expected the other way around too.
I have all three speedo's CB125 (yours), CB72/77 and CB450. Next time I can compare them.

Jensen

 

Ronny, There were two makes fitted on bombers Nippon Seiki & Fuji electric.If my pic comes through alright this may help you out.I found an old shell & rubber ring from a bomber don't know which make it is as top half isn't there but you can see the insulation bit of plastic and note it will still be insulated from the casing even when the bulb is lit.I.E two wires to bullb live and earth.(sure you will get my drift re this)Without actually taking a meter out of a bomber the best measurements I can give are 12cm one way and the 8.5cm the other i.e to outside of rubber ring.This rubber does push in so far into the shell but also compresses up a bit to hold tight ,it is a soft type rubber foam about 3/4cm thick.Think you could make yours fit(by making a custom rubber) into an original bomber headlight shell if you can find one but the correct dimensions on a bomber clock are 11cm X 7.7cm X 5cm deep.The actual rubber fitted is also same part number for CB160 but now obsolete 37242 222 000 .As Ray says the CB72 one will fit but sides of casing splay out to a wider diameter at the top and hence hold in with two screws through the shell and into the clock itself.Hope this helps regards Chris.

 

This pic gives you an idea how the rubber & clamp ring (proper term meter frame) hold the clock into the headlight shell.(ring fits in halfway up rubber and is clamped to bottom of speedo with 2 nuts.(In my view this clamp is a bit of a nonsense really but it does work. Have seen many clocks trying to make there way out of the top of the headlight shells Regards Chris.

 

P.S. Its the neutral light that must have the two wires on (Be correct holder) and still be insulated from casing as you can see in pic. Regards Chris.

 

PPS. You can see from manual pic this neutral light would not fit the one as my shell pic must be the other make ,probably why I kept blowing fuses years ago.Regards Chris

 

Ronny, that meter WILL fit in a CB/CL160 shell.....
Beam diameter is just the right size to adapt a "Bates" style (Harley Sportster) size halogen Lens into (uses H4 bulbs)....

 

Ronny,The hole in the underside of shells that fit CB160 & CB72 is a lot smaller than on an original bomber shell.Be prepared for a bit of cutting if you go this way.Its nice to keep both the speedo & taco cables in as straight a line as possible.Don't think CB160's had a taco cable at all. Regards Chris.

 

Thank you all for your information. Looks like the best option with the meter I bought is to use a CB125/160 headlight shell then.

 

Are all Bomber tanks and chrome side covers the same from 1965 to 1967?

 

Ronny,

I believe all Bomber tanks are the same, from the 4 or so I've had in my possession, I've not noticed any differences.
I wonder if Ray, Chris or Jensen could verify this for us?

I'm following this project with interest.
It looks like our projects are at similar stages, collecting parts. I don't have many spares, I'm in need of plenty more parts for one of my projects however I have accumulated some spares that I probably wont need and would prefer to see them go to you or another member rather then ebay. Mostly small things - Elephant horn, tool box, triple trees etc.

 

Ronny - Yes.

You need to let us know what you are looking for. Us Bomber owners hoard our spare parts because we know how hard they are to find in good condition. As Andy says, we would rather they went to a good home rather than just cash them in. I think you would be surprised just how many people on the forum would want to help you in your new venture.

 

I agree with Ray.

Once you own a bomber, you do tend to keep a 'box of bomber bits' particularly the rare find new old stock parts, not so much because you need them but because one day someone else might.

For example - I have a bomber triple tree set hanging on the workshop wall, all polished up and fresh powder coat on the lower triple, just in case...

 

That's very kind of you guys. As I've mentioned I will start this build by getting the bike rolling with parts I have got left over from my other 450 projects. There are some Bomber features I want the bike to have from the beginning though as f.ex. the headlamp and speedo/tacho combo, correct rear fender and side covers.

I have found and bought a CB125 speedo/tacho in km/h that will fit in a CB125/160 headlight shell which at least will give me a look similar to the Bomber. I have also bought two rusty side covers from Ebay that perhaps was a bit too pricey but they are rare and I really wanted them.

The Bomber parts I'm looking for at the moment are a rear fender and I don't mind if it's a bit rusty or slightly dented. My original plan was to use a K1 tank but since I bought a right hand Bomber tank chrome panel from Ebay two days ago in good condition (good chrome but a small dent) for a very reasonable price I've now started looking for a left hand chrome panel, both knee pads and a Bomber tank (can swap for a K1 tank in good condition if somebody is interested).

 

Lee,
Thanks for measuring. Yes, that actually leaves me even more confused as your Bomber meter is the same size as my CB125 meter while Jensens is much smaller. :?:


Jensen,
Thanks for confirming that the Bomber tanks are the same(ish) from '65 to '67.



I forgot to mention that as I'm going to mount my K5 front end on my K2 (but keep the drum brake) it frees up the K2 front ent to be used on the Bomber.