Author Topic: Honda Identification Guide 1959-1998 "Red Book" (Read 6372 times)

goodtryer · « **on:** February 07, 2021, 12:44:40 PM »

Got this from a PDF I was given when I picked up a neglected CB500 a few days ago. It's an almost-500-page book with all the details of all the bikes up to 1998. The whole thing is 149MB so I can't attach it here and it's too big to go through email.

I extracted a few pages with 750cc models as a sample. But there's so much more: all the official model names, index by frame number (up to 1980), index by VIN (1981+), explanation of model names, etc.

Mods, please let me know how to get the full document to you. Hopefully it's worthy of going on the manuals & documents page.

Enjoy.

bryanj · « **Reply #1 on:** February 07, 2021, 02:18:13 PM »

There is a newer version of the red book which s white and has a honda art number on the back, give me a day or two to find mine and i will post the number

goodtryer · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2021, 04:55:28 AM »

Extracted pages by model.

SOHC 750 Identification Guide

goodtryer · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2021, 04:56:24 AM »

SOHC 500 550 650 Identification Guide

goodtryer · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2021, 04:57:03 AM »

SOHC 400 450 Identification Guide

goodtryer · « **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2021, 04:57:42 AM »

SOHC 350 Identification Guide

jlh3rd · « **Reply #6 on:** February 10, 2021, 05:33:34 AM »

Quote from: bryanj on February 07, 2021, 02:18:13 PM

There is a newer version of the red book which s white and has a honda art number on the back, give me a day or two to find mine and i will post the number

this?.....i bought mine on amazon a few years back.... $31...supposedly this one has a little more info than the first one...

Deltarider · « **Reply #7 on:** February 10, 2021, 05:49:47 AM »

Quote from: goodtryer on February 10, 2021, 04:56:24 AM

SOHC 500 550 650 Identification Guide

Now who is the editor? Is it Honda, Tokyo, Japan or is it American Honda? I ask this, because there are errors and omissions.

Stev-o · « **Reply #8 on:** February 10, 2021, 06:24:24 AM »

Hey Goodtryer...I bought my daughter of what I thought was an S90 but turns out to be an SS50 with a big bore kit! Trying to find out the year, can you check if that bike is in there? Thx

goodtryer · « **Reply #9 on:** February 10, 2021, 06:28:46 AM »

Stev-o,

I couldn't find "S50" or "SS50".

Take a look at this attachment. It's the index by model designation. Let me know if the one you're after is in there & let me know the pages you want. Ten pages is about the limit that fits in a 4MB PDF file.

david 750f · « **Reply #10 on:** February 10, 2021, 06:34:10 AM »

Stev-o, is that a new Corvette hiding in your garage?

MauiK3 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 10, 2021, 08:09:41 AM »

Steve-o's garage looks like a dealership!

jlh3rd · « **Reply #12 on:** February 10, 2021, 08:55:07 AM »

Quote from: Deltarider on February 10, 2021, 05:49:47 AM

Quote from: goodtryer on February 10, 2021, 04:56:24 AM
SOHC 500 550 650 Identification Guide

Now who is the editor? Is it Honda, Tokyo, Japan or is it American Honda? I ask this, because there are errors and omissions.

says american honda.....and they admit it.

goodtryer · « **Reply #13 on:** February 10, 2021, 05:29:12 PM »

Index by Model Name. It's 12 pages, too big for the 4MB file limit, so I split it in 2. (Half-split, chop, chop!)

Enjoy

goodtryer · « **Reply #14 on:** February 10, 2021, 05:41:25 PM »

Index by Frame Number. 1959-1980

goodtryer · « **Reply #15 on:** February 10, 2021, 05:44:19 PM »

Index by VIN - 1981 and newer.

1 of 3

goodtryer · « **Reply #16 on:** February 10, 2021, 05:44:39 PM »

Index by VIN - 1981 and newer.

2 of 3

goodtryer · « **Reply #17 on:** February 10, 2021, 05:44:58 PM »

Index by VIN - 1981 and newer.

3 of 3

grcamna2 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 10, 2021, 06:06:20 PM »

subscribed

I've got the Red Book somewhere around here.Where can I purchase the white one for a good deal ?

jlh3rd · « **Reply #19 on:** February 10, 2021, 07:03:30 PM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on February 10, 2021, 06:06:20 PM

subscribed

I've got the Red Book somewhere around here.Where can I purchase the white one for a good deal ?

i bought mine from amazon in may of 2019 for $31....they might still be selling them...

jlh3rd · « **Reply #20 on:** February 10, 2021, 07:26:48 PM »

the SS 50 wasn't sold in the U.S. so it will not be in the identification guide..

grcamna2 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 10, 2021, 08:02:26 PM »

Quote from: jlh3rd on February 10, 2021, 07:03:30 PM

Quote from: grcamna2 on February 10, 2021, 06:06:20 PM
subscribed

I've got the Red Book somewhere around here.Where can I purchase the white one for a good deal ?

i bought mine from amazon in may of 2019 for $31....they might still be selling them...

That was a good deal.I've been looking for one for a deal,haven't seen one lately.I checked Amazon but they're $70-80+.

bryanj · « **Reply #22 on:** February 10, 2021, 11:39:59 PM »

There is a part number on the back cover of the white book, i ordered mine from a uk dealer

grcamna2 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 11, 2021, 12:15:27 AM »

Quote from: bryanj on February 10, 2021, 11:39:59 PM

There is a part number on the back cover of the white book, i ordered mine from a uk dealer

Bryan,what is the part number ?

bryanj · « **Reply #24 on:** February 11, 2021, 06:32:17 AM »

My book is not with me at moment, i tried to enlarge the picture in a post above(the one with front and back cover) but it went too grainy on my small fone

grcamna2 · « **Reply #25 on:** February 11, 2021, 08:12:09 AM »

Quote from: bryanj on February 11, 2021, 06:32:17 AM

My book is not with me at moment, i tried to enlarge the picture in a post above(the one with front and back cover) but it went too grainy on my small fone

A U.K. version would be nice

jlh3rd · « **Reply #26 on:** February 11, 2021, 08:34:00 AM »

Stev-o · « **Reply #27 on:** February 11, 2021, 01:57:33 PM »

Quote from: goodtryer on February 10, 2021, 06:28:46 AM

Stev-o,

I couldn't find "S50" or "SS50".

I dont see it either, thanks for looking. My buddy, an ex-Honda tech, said it's not a model that was imported into the US. The guy I bought it from was Asian, barely spoke English and prolly didnt know what he had. Oh well, it's just a learners bike for my daughter.

Quote from: david 750F on February 10, 2021, 06:34:10 AM

Stev-o, is that a new Corvette hiding in your garage?

Yes, good eye! My good friend took delivery back in Oct, he's having a garage built and didnt have a place to store it. Being the good friend that I am, I offered my garage for it! [and yes, I have the key].
Awesome car...

1crustycb · « **Reply #28 on:** February 13, 2021, 07:08:06 AM »

Please excuse my ignorance here, I have accidentally become a CB750 enthusiast only recently. I have what appears to be a K3 model with a manufacture date of 11/72 ( vin number 2213926 ) on the frame. The engine is also a K3 ( at least according to the book ) but it is different from the number on the frame ( engine shows 2216984 ) . Did this happen at the factory, or is this just an old engine swap? This thing is a crusty barn find that hasn’t been on the road since the eighties ( 12,000 mls showing on the odo ) . Also, would this be considered an early K4 or just a late K3? Thanks for putting up with such silliness, and I am sorry if this is not the correct thread for this type of question.

bryanj · « **Reply #29 on:** February 13, 2021, 07:44:09 AM »

Honda engine and frame numbers maych so rarely there is usualy something wrong if they do

MauiK3 · « **Reply #30 on:** February 13, 2021, 08:19:06 AM »

There are a lot of reference resources here for you to study.
If you plan to work on it, get Hondaman's book in addition to a factory shop manual. Must haves.
Welcome!
Post photos when you can.

MauiK3 · « **Reply #31 on:** February 13, 2021, 08:34:16 AM »

My 11/72 K3 frame is 2215284, engine is 2213580, I got the bike from the original owner, a friend of mine. Engine was never out.
Also, I'm told I have a late K2 head on it from the factory.

1crustycb · « **Reply #32 on:** February 13, 2021, 08:52:30 AM »

Thanks for the info guys! Always helpful on this forum!👍

hmeleg · « **Reply #33 on:** November 26, 2025, 09:41:24 AM »

Can anybody put up the 400-450 sectin of this guide for me ?. Every link I click on in this thread gives me a 404 - Not Found. Or am I doing something wrong here trying to download existing attachments that have already been posted ?

Thanks in advance.

Henry

bryanj · « **Reply #34 on:** November 26, 2025, 10:03:17 AM »

Do you mean the 400 four and the 450 twin?

scottly · « **Reply #35 on:** November 26, 2025, 10:20:56 AM »

Quote from: hmeleg on November 26, 2025, 09:41:24 AM

Can anybody put up the 400-450 sectin of this guide for me ?. Every link I click on in this thread gives me a 404 - Not Found. Or am I doing something wrong here trying to download existing attachments that have already been posted ?

Thanks in advance.

Henry

Welcome Henry. There is currently an issue with attachments:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,206017.0.html

jlh3rd · « **Reply #36 on:** November 26, 2025, 04:08:40 PM »

Quote from: hmeleg on November 26, 2025, 09:41:24 AM

Can anybody put up the 400-450 sectin of this guide for me ?. Every link I click on in this thread gives me a 404 - Not Found. Or am I doing something wrong here trying to download existing attachments that have already been posted ?

Thanks in advance.

Henry

this?

MauiK3 · « **Reply #37 on:** November 28, 2025, 06:47:49 AM »

I've been having the same problem with links not being there. I thought it was just me.
Hmmmmmmm

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Author Topic: Honda Identification Guide 1959-1998 "Red Book" (Read 6372 times)