Topic: CB450 DOHC info?

[VTCMart]

There is one for sale around me I was thinking about getting.  I know this site is dedicated to the SOHC CB's but does anybody have any opinions on the DOHC CB450?  It is a '72 model.  Thanks.

[Pinhead]

Honda made DOHC's in '72? That's new to me...

[paulages]

they sure did. the 450 twin was a bit ahead of the game in a lot of ways. as i understand it, it had a bit of honda's 1960's racing legacy behind it, much like the 750 did when it came out. not sure when the styling switched over, but the 60's models had german style tanks like a beamer but didn't go ever so well, so they were revamped with the british look that all of the other '70's hondas had.

not sure about a site, but if you look through the "thoughts of hondaman" in the FAQ's, he talked about this one for a minute.

[upperlake04]

try here -  http://www.cb450dohc.com/

[bill440cars]

try here -  http://www.cb450dohc.com/

upperlake,   You beat me to it buddy. I just now found this and was prepared to send him to the 450
           site. Oh well, ya done good.

pinhead, the 1st 450 DOHC came out in 65' and was in production (as a 450) until 74' and then was increased to a 500 for 75' & 76'. Just thought you'd like to know. 

 VTCMart,  In My Honest Opinion, they were and still are a pretty decent bike, all in all.

                                                     Later on, Bill

[bryanj]

Only problem they had was the starter clutches gave up

[bill440cars]

Only problem they had was the starter clutches gave up

 
                I wonder if any of the other Honda starter clutches would swap out or what might could be
       done to solve this problem. Some have converted the valve torsion bars over to conventional
       springs but, I intend to keep the torsion bar setup myself.

                                                        Later on, Bill

[bryanj]

Bill, Dontknow of any other fittment apart from 500 twin, but i do know that if it starts to go bad you need to either fix it or remove it as it can "grenade" and total bothe the stator and rotor. I think its something to do with the "big" twin kickback and compression. The K4 250 used to ocassionaly wreck the starter as well

[bill440cars]

                Well, if I can't figure out a way to make it better, I may end up just taking the whole starter
        system off. I sure don't want to get some damage due to a starter clutch coming apart. That
        would help loose some weight anyway. I kinda like being able to push a button to start but, all
        things considered, might be better off. I'll let you know if I do come up with something though.

                                                              Later on, Bill

[mack808]

Why not just repair the starter clutch? Its a easy fix.  Only three spring, caps & rollers and a rotor puller to remove the rotor on the L/S of the engine.  these were problems on all the twins from the 175s they to the later 500Ts.... Once parts in hand this is about a 60 minute job.....

[Clutch Cargo]

The CB450 is a great bike - very good for urban and back road hops.   Perhaps my next project......

Mike

[bill440cars]

Why not just repair the starter clutch? Its a easy fix.  Only three spring, caps & rollers and a rotor puller to remove the rotor on the L/S of the engine.  these were problems on all the twins from the 175s they to the later 500Ts.... Once parts in hand this is about a 60 minute job.....

     
                          I'll tell ya, I really did like being able to just push a button, instead of a kick starter, to
              get a bike going. I'll check into that thing before I decide to do any chunking.

                                                                  Later on, Bill

[bryanj]

On the 500 twin, which was more common in UK than 450, the starter usually needed the starter clutch outer(cos the screws broke and damaged the screw seats) Also the big gear as the ground diameter that the rollers work on got lots of "flat" spots. Now these two bits were mega expensive then and i believe are nearly unobtainium now.