Topic: I believe the CB450 is the most impressive bike ever made! [part 2]

[Stev-o]

I believe the CB450 is the MOST IMPRESSIVE bike ever made!   -Fenders


Let me start by saying that I LOVEEEEEEE CB750s. They are the king of fours, no doubt.

Is it not far fetched to say CB450 is the best bike Honda ever built? Far ahead of it's time. I believe the engine was being designed in the 50's, which is out of this world.

444cc (.444liter) @ 45HP works out to be more than 100 hp a liter. And that's at a weight of 430lbs wet. I will also bet the CB450 will take the CB750 in the 1/8th mile.

The 450 is a ground up race engine, without any doubt. They are also becoming very rare.[/i]

Well, ever since Fenders "convinced" me that the CB450 was the most impressive bike ever built [June 15, 2013]  I have wanted one!  So I went out and picked one up, better late than never, right?!  So I am going to come up with a plan on how to race myself, I will once and for all, prove the the CB450 is indeed quicker and more importantly, more impressive than the CB750!

In this corner is the mighty 1967 CB450 affectionately known as "The Bomber"...



And in this corner, the contender, a 1975 CB750 known as the "Fiddy-dolla Special"!!



Here is a link to the original "impressive" thread if you are totally bored out of your brain and want to revisit it!

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,123002.0.html

[ekpent]

  Send me a cheap red eye plane ticket and I will pilot the K5. Only problem is I won't want to leave and will be 'that guy' living in your basement. Kind of like having your very own Kato Kaelin hanging around 

[kmb69]

I believe the CB450 is the most impressive bike ever made until.....the CB750. VERY technologically advanced at the time - DOHC, Torsion Bar valve springs, CV Carbs, electric start, ......

A used 1965 CB450 was my 4th ever Honda, I bought in 1966. It would outrun every stock Triumph 650 and BSA 650 in the neighborhood. They had to bore them to 750cc to keep up with my 450.

1965 CB450-1000196, with 4,613 original miles on it, is in my warehouse needing a little TLC. Other priorities right now.

[carnivorous chicken]

That 450 looks to be in decent shape and pretty complete. What're your plans?

An early 450 is on my list. I had a CB77 project that was also on my list that I had to let go when I moved. And being where I am, both are pretty out of reach for now.

[Stev-o]

That 450 looks to be in decent shape and pretty complete. What're your plans?

Since it appears to be mostly all original, I’m just going to clean it up and ride it, the patina will stay. 
The handlebars are incorrect so I am on the lookout for some originals.
It starts right up and runs great, no mechanical service is required right now.

[grcamna2]

 "Impressive"  Lol 

[Don R]

 My brother agrees, he bought a 450 when the 750's were just arriving. His boss at the Honda shop encouraged him to wait until the 750's were proven so he got the 450. It came with multi purpose tires and a side pipe. He put street tires and a 2-1 hooker header on it. Later when he got his new K4 750 he was disappointed because it didn't feel faster than the 450. He was a more experienced rider and him on that 450 ran rings around my new 73 cb500. 

[Don R]

 I did witness the 450 get a high speed wobble that scares me to this day, it looked like a wet dog shaking off water. It got traded in with the knobbies and side pipe.

[grcamna2]

Stev-o,
The front brake on that Bomber of yours looks Huge:how does it stop the bike from high speeds ?

[HondaMan]

I did witness the 450 get a high speed wobble that scares me to this day, it looked like a wet dog shaking off water. It got traded in with the knobbies and side pipe.

That happened when the stock ball bearing races in the steering got 'dimpled'. They needed the tapered steering bearings to fix it. Done that more than once to them. I had the CL450 first (wheelie machine!) and the CB450 (next to my 750) later. My father-in-law borrowed it one day and had to have it after that, so I sold it to him after a few years. He rode it for 8 years before 'stepping up' to the Silver Wing (with removeable rear trunk!) and later a Gold Wing, but the last time we talked bikes he said he was sorry he ever sold the 450.

[Stev-o]

Stev-o,
The front brake on that Bomber of yours looks Huge:how does it stop the bike from high speeds ?

The brakes are adequate and not ridden at high speeds!  [I have the Z1 for that]

[ekpent]

 Still waiting on my plane ticket to show up in the mail Steve !   

[Stev-o]

Still waiting on my plane ticket to show up in the mail Steve !   

Airline tickets are pretty cheap right now Eric!

[Terry in Australia]

They were a truly impressive bike, a mate of mine had one when I was 15 (and he was 14) and we rode the wheels off it. Got chased by the cops a couple of times (never got caught) and saw 100 MPH several times. Was a bit vibey though, and once I bought my first CB750 I never had a desire to buy a 450. Still very impressive though, even though 100 HP per litre is nothing special anymore, my 1996 VFR750 makes a little over 100 BHP, and it's a slow-coach compared to modern bikes.

[Just John]

Found this drawing in some of my stuff

[Terry in Australia]

Found this drawing in some of my stuff

That's a very impressive picture, John!

[Kevin D]

I have told this story here before, maybe you have seen it maybe not. It’s worth retelling.

About 1969 we took a hi-miler Black Bomber in trade. I don't remember it coming in or going out but I do remember it sitting there gathering dust in the corner of the shop for a long time. I'd never before seen a cycle with 50,000 miles on the odo. The bike was complete and in decent condition but it was nearly worthless as it's dated styling couldn't compete with the candyapple and chrome on the newer models. So I took it out for for some exercise, no I took it out and thrashed it, to see what it was made of. The session was cut short by a flat rear tire from one hole shot too many. As I fixed the flat I had my first realization that a Honda might be something special...bulletproof and indestructible...

[Kelly E]

We are currently resurrecting a 70' CB450. It's pretty rough but all there. We're painting the frame and going through the mechanical stuff so it will be a rider again. Not doing the bodywork and it is already sold.

[MauiK3]

Great bikes!

[Stev-o]

I have told this story here before, maybe you have seen it maybe not. It’s worth retelling.

About 1969 we took a hi-miler Black Bomber in trade. I don't remember it coming in or going out but I do remember it sitting there gathering dust in the corner of the shop for a long time. I'd never before seen a cycle with 50,000 miles on the odo. The bike was complete and in decent condition but it was nearly worthless as it's dated styling couldn't compete with the candyapple and chrome on the newer models. So I took it out for for some exercise, no I took it out and thrashed it, to see what it was made of. The session was cut short by a flat rear tire from one hole shot too many. As I fixed the flat I had my first realization that a Honda might be something special...bulletproof and indestructible...

Hey Kevin....I have not heard that story, it is a good one! 

So the moral of the story is dont do one hole shot too many?!

[grcamna2]

I have told this story here before, maybe you have seen it maybe not. It’s worth retelling.

About 1969 we took a hi-miler Black Bomber in trade. I don't remember it coming in or going out but I do remember it sitting there gathering dust in the corner of the shop for a long time. I'd never before seen a cycle with 50,000 miles on the odo. The bike was complete and in decent condition but it was nearly worthless as it's dated styling couldn't compete with the candyapple and chrome on the newer models. So I took it out for for some exercise, no I took it out and thrashed it, to see what it was made of. The session was cut short by a flat rear tire from one hole shot too many. As I fixed the flat I had my first realization that a Honda might be something special...bulletproof and indestructible...

Hey Kevin....I have not heard that story, it is a good one! 

So the moral of the story is dont do one hole shot too many?!

I think it would be safe to say 'stay away from too many of the most impressive hole-shots'   

[Kevin D]

I have told this story here before, maybe you have seen it maybe not. It’s worth retelling.

About 1969 we took a hi-miler Black Bomber in trade. I don't remember it coming in or going out but I do remember it sitting there gathering dust in the corner of the shop for a long time. I'd never before seen a cycle with 50,000 miles on the odo. The bike was complete and in decent condition but it was nearly worthless as it's dated styling couldn't compete with the candyapple and chrome on the newer models. So I took it out for for some exercise, no I took it out and thrashed it, to see what it was made of. The session was cut short by a flat rear tire from one hole shot too many. As I fixed the flat I had my first realization that a Honda might be something special...bulletproof and indestructible...

Hey Kevin....I have not heard that story, it is a good one! 

So the moral of the story is dont do one hole shot too many?!

I think it would be safe to say 'stay away from too many of the most impressive hole-shots'   

I probably could have bought that bike for $150 but maybe I didn’t have a drivers license just yet.
Never thought I’d be here coveting old Honda’s.
There were at least a half dozen hole shots before the flat.
Most impressive!

[dave500]

when i was a kid my older sisters boyfriend had a cb450,he rode it from adelaide to melbourne to visit,which was impressive to say the least,he was like six foot four plus on that little bike,he was my hero!ill see if i can dig up a photo?

[Terry in Australia]

We are currently resurrecting a 70' CB450. It's pretty rough but all there. We're painting the frame and going through the mechanical stuff so it will be a rider again. Not doing the bodywork and it is already sold.

That one looks just like my mate Ocker Balmer's bike back in the 70's mate, his didn't have as much fade obviously, but same colour, it was a very impressive looking bike!

[70CB750]

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