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

[roach374]

I just bought a bike off of eBay that is either a CB500, a CB500F or a CB500K1. I have the serial numbers of the frame and engine, but looking them up is producing confusing results.

I'm a total bike newbie, and depending where I google, the CB500F is not even a real thing.

My engine serial number starts with CB500E-2004XXX. So according to this, my motorcycle... doesn't exist.

Okay. My frame serial number is CB500-2017XXX. Again, according to this, not a real frame serial number.

The seller claims this is a "CB500", with no additional model info, and the bike has been modded extensively enough that all the visual cues I would use (badges, side plate shape, and the like) are useless.

I'm not concerned about whether I got value for money, I just want to make sure I'm shopping for ocmpatible parts, and consulting the right service manual. How can I tell?

[Deltarider]

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 If the numbers you have communicated are correct, I'd say yours is a CB500K1-D, the General Export type. You can consult CMSNL for the appropiate partnumbers: https://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb500k1-four-general-export_model14659/partslist/#.XbKyXa9cJVc

[bryanj]

If you pm me the full numbers both engine and frame i have a list i compiled that means i may be able to tell you month and year and there is nothing wrong with those numbers, its probably a CB 500 K2 but need the full numbers to confirm.

[roach374]

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 If the numbers you have communicated are correct, I'd say yours is a CB500K1-D, the General Export type. You can consult CMSNL for the appropiate partnumbers: https://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb500k1-four-general-export_model14659/partslist/#.XbKyXa9cJVc

Thanks for those links! Will definitely come in handy.

If you pm me the full numbers both engine and frame i have a list i compiled that means i may be able to tell you month and year and there is nothing wrong with those numbers, its probably a CB 500 K2 but need the full numbers to confirm.

Looks like the forum won't let me see your profile or send PMs. Don't really know why, but thanks anyway!

[Bankerdanny]

It looks like the chart switched the engine and frame numbers for 1972 and 1973. My experience is that the engine serial number is the one with the "E" in it, like the chart shows for '71. E = engine.

You would appear to have a 1972 frame and engine, but probably not the engine that came with that frame. The VIN and engine numbers never match, but the spread is usually only a few hundred numbers, not a few thousand

[Scott S]

 There's no such thing as a 500F. At least, not when you're talking about the vintage SOHC4.
 You have a '72 CB500.

[roach374]

There's no such thing as a 500F. At least, not when you're talking about the vintage SOHC4.
 You have a '72 CB500.

Yep! Figured this out after the fact. Thanks!

EDIT: By the way, what does the "Four" signify, anyway? I always thought it just meant "four cylinders", but clearly that's not it.

[Scott S]

 What else would it be?

[Stev-o]

What else would it be?

Four stroke?!  [no]

Model guide....    http://www.sohc4.net/cb500-model-guide

[Deltarider]

Four stroke
Four cylinders
Four carburetors
Four exhausts
Well, there you have it: four reasons to call it a 'Four'.

[jlh3rd]

this is from the honda identification guide. Both of your numbers appear to fall in the K1 category.

[Deltarider]

this is from the honda identification guide.

Yeah... Honda identification guide... but by WHOM?
If it is the book I suspect it is, you might as well bin it.
According to the Honda Parts List it's a K1, could be the A (US) or the D (General Export) type. http://www.honda4fun.com/pdf_parts_list/pdf_spac500/CB500-K1-K2/CB500-K1-K2_1.pdf Is the speedometer in kms or in miles?

[PeWe]

Four stroke
Four cylinders
Four carburetors
Four exhausts
Well, there you have it: four reasons to call it a 'Four'.

That's a good way to explain it.
It last Fourever
It is not a Fourd....

[Bankerdanny]

It is a very common error for people new to the SOHC4 bikes to refer to their bike as a ###F without understanding that in the case of the 550 and 750 that is a specific model and that the 350, 500, and 650 never used that designation.

[jlh3rd]

this is from the honda identification guide.

Yeah... Honda identification guide... but by WHOM?
If it is the book I suspect it is, you might as well bin it.
According to the Honda Parts List it's a K1, could be the A (US) or the D (General Export) type. http://www.honda4fun.com/pdf_parts_list/pdf_spac500/CB500-K1-K2/CB500-K1-K2_1.pdf Is the speedometer in kms or in miles?

he said he's a newbie....I'm just putting it out there....he can do as he pleases.......
"Whom" ...2000 American Honda Motor Co.....that's WHOM.......
I don't think I'll " bin it". Although there are mistakes in it, it's still a go to source for information.
lol....what's the deal?....The info says K1,...you say K1....

[bryanj]

Delta the book is an AMERICAN Honda produced ID Guide and is an excellant resource for id ing Hondas imported to AMERICA.
Of courseit does not include other countries, it was never meant to

[Deltarider]

Delta the book is an AMERICAN Honda produced ID Guide and is an excellant resource for id ing Hondas imported to AMERICA.
Of courseit does not include other countries, it was never meant to

I dunno about American Honda publications, Bryan. All I know there's this other American Honda publication (1977!) that gives deviant carb setting data for the CB500, data not found anywhere else... I still don't know what to think of that. Also the American Honda CB550, CB550K1, K76(sic) parts list is not consistent with reality for instance where it concerns the CB550K2 airscrews. So I'd rather stick to the official Honda documents that also give the numbers related to the area codes and you know as well as I that, now that our bikes surface just about anywhere, it can be info much needed. Anyway, both the official Honda and that American Honda edition inform us the CB500K2-A has both the engine- as well the framenumber from 21xxxxx on, so according to both editions, Roach his bike can't be a K2. But maybe you have extra info that I don't know of. Feel free to edit the attachment below. Curious in it is that the CB500K2 (ED, F, G) which was marketed in Europe in 1976-7 had framenumbers that were lower than the CB500K2-A that was already on the US market in 1973. Yet the European CB500K2 shared the 'modern' frame the CB550K2 had. But... Honda and serialnumbers... it's enough to drive you crazy.

[jlh3rd]

Delta the book is an AMERICAN Honda produced ID Guide and is an excellant resource for id ing Hondas imported to AMERICA.
Of courseit does not include other countries, it was never meant to

I dunno about American Honda publications, Bryan. All I know there's this other American Honda publication (1977!) that is the only one that gives deviant carb setting data for the CB500, data that are found nowhere else... I still don't know what to think of that. I'd rather stick to the official Honda documents. Anyway both the official Honda and that American Honda editions inform us all K2s have both the engine- as well the framenumber from 21xxxxx on, so according to them Roach his bike can't be a K2. But maybe you have extra info that says otherwise.

you can't get more official than this book. Where is anyone saying the bike is a K2? ...
Any frame/engine number from 2000001 to 2100000 is a K1 according to all the info and references in this thread,  and not just mine....including the original post.....
K2's start at 2100001 and up ......

[bryanj]

Unless you are in the UK then the K1 carried on till 1976 and had higher engine numbers

[roach374]

There's no such thing as a 500F. At least, not when you're talking about the vintage SOHC4.
 You have a '72 CB500.

Yeah, like I said, the internet has many opinions about this stuff. Example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CB500_Four

'course, that assumes that "CB500F" means the same thing as "CB500 Four". Probably not. Who knows.

[PeWe]

The good Service Bulletines were also published by American Honda.
USA was the biggest market so they had some customers to service.

The best oil recommendation list for Audi cars is published by the US part of the company/ reseller.

Im sure there are more examples of US branch of companies giving good service documentation.

[Tracksnblades1]

There's no such thing as a 500F. At least, not when you're talking about the vintage SOHC4.
 You have a '72 CB500.

Yeah, like I said, the internet has many opinions about this stuff. Example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CB500_Four

'course, that assumes that "CB500F" means the same thing as "CB500 Four". Probably not. Who knows.

How Honda advertised their CB500Four SuperSport.....even in your wiki link there is no reference of a cb500f......

Perhaps Honda included the /Four/ to eliminate confusion with the CBT (twins) of that time, sharinging similiar displacements.

[jlh3rd]

honda did toss the " super sport" moniker around some. Here they call the 350 and the 450 a super sport yet i never saw an ad decades ago stating such. ..This is from the AMERICAN honda guide book...
     Maybe the european exports marketed the 500 as a super sport....

[Tracksnblades1]

Jlh3rd,

Great book.  It looks like all the SuperSports in your book are CB twins...of that era...

[jlh3rd]

it's the official honda guide book....researching hondas can be interesting....funny, they don't show the 500 in the book as a super sport......yet, there's the ad.