[MNellis]

I should be picking up a 70 CB450 that I recently purchased tomorrow and I had some questions re: handlebars. Currently it has clubman bars on it which I don't care for at all and I wanted to replace them with the stock bars. Additionally, I was thinking of installing a set of "Superbike" bars which are similar in height to the Honda 400F bars but wider.

Question

• #1 - Does anyone have a set of stock CB450 Handlebars that are in good shape and want to sell?
  #2 - Does anyone have picture of a CB450 with "Superbike" style bars, on an otherwise stock 450, they could post?

 

[MNellis]

I found this picture on bikepics.com and it shows the handlebars that I was talking about although they are possibly a little narrower than what I had in mind. This is also the color I am going to paint my bike instead of the current blue/green color. Bike Pics lists this bike as a '72 but the pips look like an earlier model, '69 maybe? I don't know much about the 450's yet....but I'm willing to learn.

 

[66Sprint]

IF it was a US model, the gold tank stripe would say it was a 72 K5 model...However, the early finned caliper(1970 in US) and "Euro" or "export" style turnsignals and taillight, and early style pipes SUGGEST it is a compilation of several years AND a non-US model..... Those APPEAR to be stock Honda "Euro" style handlebars...

 

[MNellis]

IF it was a US model, the gold tank stripe would say it was a 72 K5 model...However, the early finned caliper(1970 in US) and "Euro" or "export" style turnsignals and taillight, and early style pipes SUGGEST it is a compilation of several years AND a non-US model..... Those APPEAR to be stock Honda "Euro" style handlebars...

Interesting comments. I noticed the turn signals were unique but I figured they were just aftermarket. Did they do the Ruby Red color in different but with different stripes? Is the a web link that over views the different colors for different years? I've seen something like that for the 350 but not the 450.

 

[66Sprint]

Try here... http://www.motorera.com/honda/h0450/sport/sport.htm

 

[Flugtechnik]

I have some stock CL bars with the crossbrace you can have for $5. I like the CB bars better....of course I like the clubmans I put on too.

 

[tbpmusic]

I found this picture on bikepics.com and it shows the handlebars that I was talking about although they are possibly a little narrower than what I had in mind. This is also the color I am going to paint my bike instead of the current blue/green color. Bike Pics lists this bike as a '72 but the pips look like an earlier model, '69 maybe? I don't know much about the 450's yet....but I'm willing to learn.

Mike -

I'm inclined to agree with Steve, that's probably a Euro model - the rear fender alone gives that away.
Euro models saw many features that don't correspond to US models.
It may be an out of the box Euro configuration, or like Steve says, parts from several K-series on a Euro base......

Here's a web link, but this info apllies to US models only...

http://www.motorera.com/honda/h0360/sport360/sport360.htm

 

[tbpmusic]

For instance, here's a Euro K1 - US folks will notice some "non-standard" things here.

The rear fender, lights, what we would call K2 air cleaner covers, fork gaitors and forks in general, low bars, US K2/K3 style seat, front fender, etc.
Probably more stuff that I haven't even noticed...

 

[MNellis]

Thanks for the replies. The last picture also has different shocks and the mud flap on the front fender. I feel like a kid again with my brother sitting at the breakfast table with the cereal box playing "find the differences". Unfortunately, I don't know much about what I'm looking at.

Thanks also for the offer of the handlebars, but I think I'm going to go with a 'Dayton' style or the 'European Style' similar to what this company offers. I haven't check if they have the cable routing hole drilled, but if not, that'll just be some more work.

http://www.streetbikerider.com/h-bo...odyparts-handlebars-bikemaster-handlebars.htm

 

[MNellis]

I've got another ID question. Based on the link that was posted, it says that in '72 they used a 'Light Ruby Red' and the stripe was gold. Was the stripe a different color on the Ruby Red '70 model? It looks like the '71's had a black strip but but I haven't been able to find a Ruby Red one with a black strip.

Thanks for all the help.

Mike

 

[66Sprint]

Hey Bill....Did you notice that "Euro K1" has a four-speed engine? (Starter is the give-away)... Steve

 

[tbpmusic]

Hey Bill....Did you notice that "Euro K1" has a four-speed engine? (Starter is the give-away)... Steve

I did notice the starter cover - I'm not expert enough to know if that definitely means Bomber or if there was some weird 5-speed starter configuration that I don't know about.

I'll bet Chris would know for sure.

 

[66Sprint]

If it was a US model, it would definately be a 4-speed (Hence a K0...Right?)
I'm not an expert on the "euro" or "general export" models, but I know they were often WAY different from the US versions.....
Oh Chris!......Help us out!.....
Steve

 

[tbpmusic]

I've got another ID question. Based on the link that was posted, it says that in '72 they used a 'Light Ruby Red' and the stripe was gold. Was the stripe a different color on the Ruby Red '70 model? It looks like the '71's had a black strip but but I haven't been able to find a Ruby Red one with a black strip.

Thanks for all the help.

Mike

Mike -

You can tell if it's a K5 - K7 tank by the chrome strip along the bottom of the tank - that strip was not present until K5 (1972).
As far as I know, K4's (1971) did not have black stripes on any paint scheme other than the gold color.

Here's what I believe to be a red K5 - the chrome tank strip has been removed on this example......
That "square" seat pleating pattern first appeared on K5 - the side cover emblems shown are also correct for K5 (US models).

But I always add that I could be wrong......

 

[GAMD5]

Well that euro model looks like a KO engine in a K1 frame.My guess is that the frame will have been modified to suit.K1 engine front mounting is narrower at front than K0.I've never seen a K1 5 speed fitted with K0 starter but maybe Ray could throw more light on this possible european annomoly.K1 starter motors are shorter in length than K0.I tend to stick with the UK 4 speed K0 model but Bob & Geoff both have K1's so we can compare & contast.I'll post you a nice pic anyway.Regards Chris.

 

[tbpmusic]

Well that euro model looks like a KO engine in a K1 frame.My guess is that the frame will have been modified to suit.K1 engine front mounting is narrower at front than K0.I've never seen a K1 5 speed fitted with K0 starter but maybe Ray could throw more light on this possible european annomoly.K1 starter motors are shorter in length than K0.I tend to stick with the UK 4 speed K0 model but Bob & Geoff both have K1's so we can compare & contast.I'll post you a nice pic anyway.Regards Chris.

Chris -

I don't think I've seen the mufflers in your photo before....???

 

[Rayfromtheuk]

Regarding the Euro K1. I have a colour picture in front of me and it looks almost identical to the one above. These bikes were indeed European and I think most went to Germany. The picture of the one I have here has the holes drilled in the front mudguard for the UK front numberplate to be fitted. Apart from the engine, the only difference I can see is the K1 had the same rear shocks as the K0, that is black upper cases. I dont think you can tell the difference visually between the K0 engine and the K1 apart from the starter motor. Also the K0 engine was painted silver whereas the K1 had polished cases. (That said I like the polished cases and some of my K0s are polished) The picture on this site has the 4 speed starter motor. Both starter motors do fit but I think its the drive for the motors that are slightly different but can be fitted to both K0 and K1. (I have a K0 with a K1 starter fitted and working) The side covers are correct for the K1. They did change for the K2 as did the stator cover. Just by sheer chance I have both a K0 and a K1 engine on my workbench side by side being cleaned up and polished ready to fit. The K0 is to go into a frame that Chris kindly let me have and the K1 is to go into my K1 police bike I imported from Oregan which is now being restored. Some people still refer to the K1 as a Black Bomber.
Ray.

 

[tbpmusic]

Wow, Ray -

I didn't know there were any K1 Police specials, I thought they were all Bombers (4-speed K0).
I'd love to see photos of that.......
Of course, I'm using US nomenclature here.

The black "K1" I pictured above has side covers that didn't show up in the US until K2.

This stuff can really get confusing sometimes.

 

[66Sprint]

Confusing?... More like impossible to differentiate.... ANY US bike with a 100XXXX serial IS a 4-speed and therefore a "Bomber" (D models included).... ALL the K1's were 5-speed bikes here (although I did know of the Police K1, most P models were K0's).......Other countries got the 360* crank models offered, WE didn't (AFAIK)....
I'm just glad the variations keep it interesting!..... Steve

 

[GAMD5]

Hi Bill, The mufflers on the KO are the Silvers K1 ones fitted this week to latest project with a few new chrome bits.Priced here in the UK at just £350 per pair delivered. Very good chrome but don't have KO front mtg. bracket.I posted a pic under sourcing hard to find bomber parts--author Japjon on this site with a genuine KO pipe laid by a copy K1 ,don't know if you saw it but its still there.The last two genuine sec hand slightly rusty K0 pipes made about £400 on ebay recently so I think these are definitley worth the money.Think I've posted it already but you dont need the joint muffler packings, there a nice sliding fit & the joining brackets are supplied.The added bonus is that the joint clip is therefore a smaller diameter and far easier to fit around that difficult footpeg area.Still looking for any spare front brackets wish --somebody would make a few??
Meanwhile have been putting all left over bits onto this just for a bit of fun.