[Znabb]

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?

 

[Znabb]

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.

 

[Znabb]

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.

 

[Znabb]

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.

 

[Znabb]

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.

 

[Znabb]

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.

 

[Znabb]

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

 

[Znabb]

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).

 

[Znabb]

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.

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).

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.

 

[Znabb]

Ronny, I can help with good left hand tank panel and both knee pad rubbers. PM me.

You've got PM Ray.

 

[Znabb]

Hi Ronny, just had another quick look through this thread and I noticed that there are no flanges/mounts for the steering head bearings to fit in to, or am I mistaken? Just out of interest what do you intend to do about that, as when manufactured I imagine they would have been welded in place and then machined for the correct rake etc. I look forwards to another one of your amazing feats of ingenuity, good luck. Have you got any further with the speedo saga?
Lee.

As I mentioned, this Bomber frame has been modified in several places. The rear bridge under the seat has been hacksawed off. I will repair this by welding in a new bridge as similar to stock as possible. As you correctly noted the steering bearing seats (upper and lower) has also been hacksawed off and even if it will take some complicated work, these will also be reconstructed.
This is why I feel I'm saving this frame as it could so easily have ended up in a scrap yard. In the fall I will hopefully be fully installed in my new workshop space which will give me the possibility to machine parts and also to expert welding so I have good hope I'll be able to save the frame and turn it into a working bike again.

Regarding the speedo/tacho unit I will try to get hold of a CB125 K3 1970 headlight shell to install it into which will look very similar to the stock Bomber combo until I get my hands on the correct parts. My first priority is to get the bike registered on the road during spring 2015 and from there on it will be a rolling restoration.

 

[Znabb]

UPS is definitely not my favourite company at the moment!
I've decided that my Bomber should have a Bomber tank from the beginning so I won a right hand Bomber tank chrome panel with a small ding on Ebay for a very reasonable price recently. UPS has tried to deliver the package last week when I was not at home but left a note that they would make a new attempt on Friday. I had nothing important to do so I took the day off to wait for the package. On Friday evening I had still not got my package but on the online tracking I could read that they had tried to deliver but that nobody was at home. Apparently the delivery driver was in a hurry to get home early this Friday evening.

Today I got a message that the package can be picked up at the UPS package central...at the Sturup Airport which is a 60 km round trip! Since I don't own a car I jumped on the bike and went to get my package. Sure, it was a great ride on beautiful roads but totally unnecessary if the delivery driver had done his job.

Looks almost like new...

...except for a small ding that I'll try to fix.

 

[Znabb]

Got the Bomber-tank today that I found (quite inexpensive) on Ebay. I'm very glad as it turns out the tank is in much better condition that I thought it would be. Just had to mount the chrome side, put it on the frame and snap a photo.
It's starting to look like a Bomber.

 

[Znabb]

Finally, after over a weeks chase of another UPS parcel I got my toys from David Silver today. Among them this (CB125/CB160) head light bucket I will use to get the Bomber look. Thought the K1/K2 chrome rim and reflector I have laying around would fit but no, it's too big for the CB125 bucket so now I have to start hunting for those parts. :roll: :grin:

 

[Znabb]

Thanks! Jim, I'm actually going to use a CB500T engine but I have not yet decided which route to go regarding the pistons. Either I'll go with hi comp forged racing pistons or a low comp alternative.

 

[Znabb]

I haven't verified this yet, so it only a theory... Honda moved the wrist pin hole higher on the 500T pistons from the 450 DOHC pistons. The distance would be 1/2 the difference in the stroke. Cb450 stroke = 57.8; CB500 stroke = 64.8. 1/2 the difference is 3.5mm. This is assuming the same deck height. This way they could use the same rods. Back in the day, General Motors would do this. I know Pontiac V8 engines from 326 to 455 ci all had interchangeable rods. The bore and stroke varied. The pistons would not interchange even with the same bore.

You got me going on this. There might be a big engine in my future. Have you though about cooling? There were some big Triumph Twins back in the day. I have heard they would run hot.

If it should run a bit hot I have an oil exit on my Cappellini paper oil filter conversion kit so I could install an oil cooler.



EDIT:
The difference in deck height (from top of wrist pin to the piston crown) on a 450 and 500T piston is about 2 mm.

 

[Znabb]

Slang and shortenings can be hard to percieve for the international part of the group - And as for the www in generel!
And mostly one writes to be read (and understood) ;-)

Armand, I'm a neighbour to you (Malmo, Sweden) and I totally agree. From what I understand though the word ding is used frequently in the US while the British use the word dent. Sometimes I adapt my English depending on who I'm having a conversation with (you know, silencer or muffler).

 

[Znabb]

Oh no, You are not You diabolical swede (read: 'Jävla Svenska'!) as much as three waters seperates our neighbourship! ;-) (*)
Actually I had noticed Your whereabouts earlier!

(*): Non understanding readers need to approach with a Scandinavian national humor in mind!

Your words "Jävla Svenska" (don't want to translate such foul language) goes over my head since I'm Norwegian.

 

[Znabb]

Armand,
I don't think your comments are especially funny so please stop cursing in my project topic. Go do something constructive instead.

Captb and 74cb360t,
Thank you for your kind words!