Topic: New member 1974 CB450 DOHC in North Texas

[Fixitruss]

Hello everyone,

Just picked up a 1974 CB450. Looking for any information on them. The DOHC forums seem to be nonexistent.

Ordered a manual from Randakk last night.

The issues:
Frozen engine, no plugs, water in right side. No oil in the case. A small amount of oil and water came out when I pulled the drain plug. I’ve put penetration oil in both cylinders letting it soak.
Hasn’t been tagged since 2013. 9700 miles. No keys.

The good:
All side covers are present. Tank looks good from the outside. No gas left in tank or carbs. Looks like it will be fairly easy to get running.

The goal:
Teach my 19 year old daughter to ride and give it to her. She’ll be helping me with the work.

The immediate problem:
Trying to find the patience to wait on the manual.

Fixitruss

[ekpent]

 A "most impressive" bike.If you had been around the forum a lot longer you would get what that meant      Good Luck on it and there are some guys here that have one of those I am sure. Now go get a 750 SOHC to go with that thing !

[02z06dave]

https://www.hondatwins.net/

Thats the forum you want for twins. I'm not sure how much traffic they get anymore, as it's been a while since I've gone there myself. CB450s are cool bikes. You should enjoy it quite a bit. I currently have a 66 and have in the past owned at least 1 of every year 450 or 500t both CBs and CLs.

[02z06dave]

I would also recommend checking out common-motor.com for new parts and their YouTube channel for good videos on working on not just the cb450, but all of the twins.

[HondaMan]

Chances are 100% that you will have to bore the cylinders for oversized pistons. Look to Crusinimage for a set of decent ones at lower cost. MAKE SURE the machine shop sets the pistons clearance at 0.0010"-0.0018", NO MORE. If this isn't observed, the bike will both burn oil and will refuse to idle from Day One following the rebuild.

Is your daughter adventurous? The 450 has the most-sudden launch of any smallbore twin  I've ever seen. When I had my 2nd one I wanted my wife to take it up: the strong, sudden launch scared her too much, so she never rode it again. Sad, it was gorgeous: her dad bought it from me and rode it for a decade before he bought a Silver Wing.

[Alan F.]

https://www.hondatwins.net/

Thats the forum you want for twins. I'm not sure how much traffic they get anymore, as it's been a while since I've gone there myself. CB450s are cool bikes. You should enjoy it quite a bit. I currently have a 66 and have in the past owned at least 1 of every year 450 or 500t both CBs and CLs.

It's still there, lots of good folks with lots of know-how just like it is here. It's my other favorite forum.

Be wary of videos showing how to do anything on a DOHC CB450.

[Stev-o]

Welcome from Lake Travis!  The CB450 is the "most impressive" bike!

BTW - good info from the guys above....

[onepieceatatime]

I am working on the '74 CB450 that my Dad bought new.
If you don't want to wait for the manual, here is a PDF copy:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16OajpO4NFrW61XP9MfdZU3hHEVN0oQFV/view?usp=sharing

[tbpmusic]

HondaTwins has been taken over by non-experts.
There has been a mass migration of experience to a new site at https://www.vintagehondatwins.com/forums/forum.php
You'll find people there who know a lot about the 450...........

[tbpmusic]

.......The CB450 is the "most impressive" bike!

Yuk, yuk - I never get tired of that.
I just heard from "fendersrule" a couple of weeks ago.

[Stev-o]

.......The CB450 is the "most impressive" bike!

Yuk, yuk - I never get tired of that.
I just heard from "fendersrule" a couple of weeks ago.

He did entertain us!   I thought about him last Friday when I rode over a rather large piece of plastic in the road!

[carnivorous chicken]

HondaTwins has been taken over by non-experts.
There has been a mass migration of experience to a new site at https://www.vintagehondatwins.com/forums/forum.php
You'll find people there who know a lot about the 450...........

This...

[bill440cars]

https://www.hondatwins.net/

Thats the forum you want for twins. I'm not sure how much traffic they get anymore, as it's been a while since I've gone there myself. CB450s are cool bikes. You should enjoy it quite a bit. I currently have a 66 and have in the past owned at least 1 of every year 450 or 500t both CBs and CLs.

I check in, over there, now & then & they are doing well. Like the SOHC4 has a lot of info and assistance from folks, they do as well. Check them out. Several 450 builds been done on there & probably more to come. The moderators there, are pretty up, on the ins & outs. One of the moderators has a Beautiful 450 build and has done a lot with them, over the years & another. Be
worth looking into, I assure you. Not that there aren't foks here, who could give an assist, info & experience wise.