Author Topic: CB400F Matching Numbers  (Read 491 times)

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Offline CB400JAY

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CB400F Matching Numbers
« on: June 18, 2019, 09:17:52 AM »
In all my decades around vintage Hondas I have never seen one with matching numbers.  My CL77 is close being 10 numbers off.  My very early CB400F has matching numbers.  The numbers definitely look original on the cases so I don't think they have been changed.  Bike was manufactured in 9/74, is titled as a 1974 and has numbers in the 300 range. Someone suggested this might have been used as an early promo show bike but that doesn't sound likely to me.  What do you think?

Offline Bodi

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Re: CB400F Matching Numbers
« Reply #1 on: June 18, 2019, 09:37:09 AM »
It's pretty much random, so matching numbers can happen. Engines and frames are numbered sequentially - engines or frames that needed rework were pulled off the line and the next ones in line used to assemble the next bike. Engine serial are usually higher than frames so presumably more engines than frames were reworked or scrapped.
Possibly some effort was made to match numbers on your bike for some unknown reason, there's no way to tell that I know of. I've heard of people asking Honda for info on particular bikes but they got no useful answer.