Topic: 1978 CB750 INCORRECT VIN??

[adsVA83]

I have a 1978 CB750 that is titled as a 1979 (I'm in the process of fixing the year, it's definitely a 78 SOHC), but the frame VIN has a "K" in it.  I have 6 SOHC CB750's and they all have a frame VIN that start with "CB750" and then a dash and the normal VIN number associated with the bike/year.  None of them, or any I've ever had have a letter after the CB750 in the VIN.  The VIN on the bike matches my title, and it doesn't look like the frame has been re-stamped or messed with.  The VIN plate riveted to the opposite side of the neck also has the "K" in it, and doesn't look like it was re-stamped.


Were there bikes sold outside the USA that would have had a letter designation in the VIN?

[Bankerdanny]

I don't know about K bikes, but my '76 750F has F in the vin

[Don R]

 I'd guess that's a late model thing, they were moving towards the modern VIN system with more digits.

[adsVA83]

I'd guess that's a late model thing, they were moving towards the modern VIN system with more digits.

I did a little more looking on sold listings on ebay, and it looks like in 1977 they started using a F and a K in the VIN.  All the 77 and 78 CB750's I found had it.  All of them I own are 1976 and before, so it seemed off.

[Bankerdanny]

The 74 550K frame I have doesnt have K in the VIN, but I know my 75 550F did and so did my 77 550K.

Since the 550 and 750 were the only ones with F and K versions Honda probably started doing this sometime in 75 when they introduced the F models.  But it might not have been consistent at first.

[slikwilli420]

If the title says '79, that means it was first registered in 1979, not 1978, which isnt hard to believe at all. There is no issue with it and no need to get the title fixed.

[adsVA83]

If the title says '79, that means it was first registered in 1979, not 1978, which isnt hard to believe at all. There is no issue with it and no need to get the title fixed.

I wouldn't be worried about it at all if it were say a 1973 CB750 titled as a 1974.  I have seen that happen and isn't too uncommon.  But a 1979 CB750 is a DOHC model, not the SOHC, so it's a completely different design of motorcycle.  If i showed up to buy a CB750 titled as a 1979 and it was a SOHC bike, i would think something was fishy.  Unfortunately this thing was so cheap i didn't check the title very close when i bought it.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I don't know about K bikes, but my '76 750F has F in the vin

Same with both my 75 CB750F's.

[bryanj]

1978 bike not sold till 1979 and year goes off sale date not made date

[Bankerdanny]

1978 bike not sold till 1979 and year goes off sale date not made date

It varies from state to state. New vehicles typically come with a certificate of origin that say where and when they were made. I think all states now title based on model year as stated on the COO, but in the past some used the year the vehicle was sold brand new.