Topic: What the heck bike do I have? (Identifying via serial number)

[Deltarider]

yet, there's the ad.

Yeah... two different bikes too...

[jlh3rd]

well...I'll be damned......look what I just learned.....it has an official alternate name....
like i said, it can be interesting doing research....the ad is correct...

except the ad says jade green and the " official":honda says " jet" ....go figure...

[bryanj]

Add also says Black but i dont think that was imported to US. There are a lot of subltle differences K0 to K1 but not as many K1 to K2 and just to confuse you even more all at the same time Honda were producing CB 500 K1; CB500 K2 AND CB 550 K0

[jlh3rd]

Add also says Black but i dont think that was imported to US. There are a lot of subltle differences K0 to K1 but not as many K1 to K2 and just to confuse you even more all at the same time Honda were producing CB 500 K1; CB500 K2 AND CB 550 K0

they were making previous year models at the same time as the current year?.....like the same assembly line?

[Tracksnblades1]

Add also says Black but i dont think that was imported to US. There are a lot of subltle differences K0 to K1 but not as many K1 to K2 and just to confuse you even more all at the same time Honda were producing CB 500 K1; CB500 K2 AND CB 550 K0

they were making previous year models at the same time as the current year?.....like the same assembly line?

I read that as the tank panel was black.....as pictured in the advertisement....
Handlebars look like the taller American versions...

Honda first paragraph in their advertisement mirrors Delta's post of the 4x4x4x4....😇

[Tracksnblades1]

well...I'll be damned......look what I just learned.....it has an official alternate name....
like i said, it can be interesting doing research....the ad is correct...

except the ad says jade green and the " official":honda says " jet" ....go figure...

Perhaps "Jade Green" and "Jet Black" didn't make the complete translation to your book...

Jet Green 🤔.....  Naw that's a typo......

[roach374]

So wait, I'm confused. Does "CB500F" mean the same thing as "CB500 Four"?

[bryanj]

Yep, and the K1 was made for UK up till 76 and we never had 550 till  the K3 and F1

[Deltarider]

BTW, is that the same book that mentions a CB550F3 model that actually never existed and also shows the wrong picture of a CB550K2?
Like I posted before: In the first few pages of every CB500 Parts List you will find the engine- and framenumbers listed in connection to the 'area code' and you will also learn what carbs are supposed to be fitted. You will find all CB500 Parts Lists here:  http://www.honda4fun.com/materiale-documentazione-tecnica/parts-list/parts-list-cb500 It's all you need to know. Denominations like 'year' and Four are for advertising and often lead to confusion. If you use the denomination that Honda uses in their documents, the whole world can know what model you're talking about.

[Scott S]

well...I'll be damned......look what I just learned.....it has an official alternate name....
like i said, it can be interesting doing research....the ad is correct...

except the ad says jade green and the " official":honda says " jet" ....go figure...

Perhaps "Jade Green" and "Jet Black" didn't make the complete translation to your book...

Jet Green 🤔.....  Naw that's a typo......

 I've seen the '71 CB500 referred to as Jet Green, with the later 500/550's using Jade Green for what I think is the same color.

[jlh3rd]

BTW, is that the same book that mentions a CB550F3 model that actually never existed and also shows the wrong picture of a CB550K2?
Like I posted before: In the first few pages of every CB500 Parts List you will find the engine- and framenumbers listed in connection to the 'area code' and you will also learn what carbs are supposed to be fitted. You will find all CB500 Parts Lists here:  http://www.honda4fun.com/materiale-documentazione-tecnica/parts-list/parts-list-cb500 It's all you need to know. Denominations like 'year' and Four are for advertising and often lead to confusion. If you use the denomination that Honda uses in their documents, the whole world can know what model you're talking about.

not in Honda's book ....there's no " F3" ......
and is this pic the wrong "76" ?.........
also, honda didn't print K2,K3 after the "75" model which says CB550K1......that doesn't mean they weren't......like i said, honda's own documentation can be misleading.....

[jlh3rd]

Yep, and the K1 was made for UK up till 76 and we never had 550 till  the K3 and F1

please explain....the K1 you're talking about is the CB500K1 ? which was released in 4/01/72 ?...and produced through 1975 in the UK ?

"we" meaning U.S. , had a 550 introduction in 1974, which is a K0, and the 1975 550F is labeled an F0...according to the official honda reference book....

[Deltarider]

and is this pic the wrong "76" ?.........

No this one seems correct. Maybe I mistook your book for another. Also your book does not mention 'years' which is a good thing. When was it edited?

[jlh3rd]

well...I'll be damned......look what I just learned.....it has an official alternate name....
like i said, it can be interesting doing research....the ad is correct...

except the ad says jade green and the " official":honda says " jet" ....go figure...

Perhaps "Jade Green" and "Jet Black" didn't make the complete translation to your book.
Jet Green 🤔.....  Naw that's a typo......

 I've seen the '71 CB500 referred to as Jet Green, with the later 500/550's using Jade Green for what I think is the same color.

according to lubritech back in the day, it is a typo....maybe.....

[jlh3rd]

and is this pic the wrong "76" ?.........

No this one seems correct. Maybe I mistook your book for another. Also your book does not mention 'years' which is a good thing. When was it edited?

no, it mentions years.....up to 1973, it published both the selll date and the release date.....after 1973 it just publishes the model year.
    It appears i have the second edition,published in 2000.....according to one expert i go to, this edition is , overall, better than the first......still, there is misleading info in it....

it is official honda though..

[Tracksnblades1]

well...I'll be damned......look what I just learned.....it has an official alternate name....
like i said, it can be interesting doing research....the ad is correct...

except the ad says jade green and the " official":honda says " jet" ....go figure...

Perhaps "Jade Green" and "Jet Black" didn't make the complete translation to your book...

Jet Green 🤔.....  Naw that's a typo......

 I've seen the '71 CB500 referred to as Jet Green, with the later 500/550's using Jade Green for what I think is the same color.

Not disputing what you know or read, but I still believe it's a typo....

Jet, a gem stone is black, very black, hence "jet black" been used as jewelry since mankind.....
Even Honda would have known. It may happen during the translation or it's just a typo, my Japanese is non-existent....

[jlh3rd]

well...I'll be damned......look what I just learned.....it has an official alternate name....
like i said, it can be interesting doing research....the ad is correct...

except the ad says jade green and the " official":honda says " jet" ....go figure...

Perhaps "Jade Green" and "Jet Black" didn't make the complete translation to your book...

Jet Green 🤔.....  Naw that's a typo......

 I've seen the '71 CB500 referred to as Jet Green, with the later 500/550's using Jade Green for what I think is the same color.

Not disputing what you know or read, but I still believe it's a typo....

Jet, a gem stone is black, very black, hence "jet black" been used as jewelry since man...
Even Honda would have known. It may happen during the translation or it's just a typo, my Japanese is non-existence...

it's all good, i'm not posting anything as a " I'm right,you're wrong"......i consider this all info sharing and research.....
Honda did publish a disclaimer saying there could be errors in their book.
I think it's a typo also.....but they used it twice, along with jade green....

[roach374]

BTW, is that the same book that mentions a CB550F3 model that actually never existed and also shows the wrong picture of a CB550K2?
Like I posted before: In the first few pages of every CB500 Parts List you will find the engine- and framenumbers listed in connection to the 'area code' and you will also learn what carbs are supposed to be fitted. You will find all CB500 Parts Lists here:  http://www.honda4fun.com/materiale-documentazione-tecnica/parts-list/parts-list-cb500 It's all you need to know. Denominations like 'year' and Four are for advertising and often lead to confusion. If you use the denomination that Honda uses in their documents, the whole world can know what model you're talking about.

Thanks Delta. So if I understand you right, I should just always refer to my bike as a CB500K1, instead of a "1972 CB500 K Four Super Sport" or some other marketing model number that means nothing really.

[Scott S]

 Practice this: "I have a 1972 CB500".

[roach374]

Practice this: "I have a 1972 CB500".

The real answer. 🙏🙏🙏

[Deltarider]

Practice this: "I have a 1972 CB500".

Why? Do you know any Honda document titled thus or that somewhere in it refers to a 1972 CB500? Apart from that, a "1972 CB500" may refer to a different model in Europe than the US. This happens to be an international site. When you use the proper Honda domination, the whole world knows (or can know) right away what bike you're talking about. Owners will have immediate access to the appropiate Honda documents and - last but not least - lots and lots of unneccessary posts and dito misunderstandings can be avoided.

[Scott S]

Practice this: "I have a 1972 CB500".

Why?

 Because he has a 1972 CB500.

[Deltarider]

Practice this: "I have a 1972 CB500".

Why?

 Because he has a 1972 CB500.

As if that is what the OP needed to know... With all due respect, Sir, reading over this thread, I'd think all in all OP now has much more info at his disposal than he would have, had he only received your answer, what do you think? Thank you very much.

[roach374]

Practice this: "I have a 1972 CB500".

Why?

 Because he has a 1972 CB500.

As if that is what the OP needed to know... With all due respect, Sir, reading over this thread, I'd think all in all OP now has much more info at his disposal than he would have, had he only received your answer, what do you think? Thank you very much.

OP here. Thanks everyone for your help. I went to register it at the DOL yesterday, and according to their computer systems, the official name is a "Honda CB500 Four".

So I guess the answer is "Call it whatever the hell you want, as long as it starts with CB500, and doesn't end with 'Twin'".

[Russell-72CB500]

well...I'll be damned......look what I just learned.....it has an official alternate name....
like i said, it can be interesting doing research....the ad is correct...

except the ad says jade green and the " official":honda says " jet" ....go figure...

Good Thread, I believe I have a 1972 CB500K Made from June 1971 thru March 31 1972. Mine is titled as a 1972

VIN
CB5001015436

Motor#
CB500E-1015881

Thanks