Topic: 1973 K3 - trying to work out where to start (VIN decode would be great!)

[Whitek3]

Per my intro post, my wife kindly bought me a present.....

1973 K3

it's in the UK, and it was a US import, like most here.

Someone has clearly spent a fair bit on it already, but I'd like to get it 'sorted'.

I like the white/red and red frame, but it's almost certainly an aftermarket non-standard.  And if I am going to throw money at it, I may as well do it original.

It seems to run fine (if a bit wet sumpy), and has had new wiring loom etc.

Chrome is a bit meh at best, and the fenders are both dented - but hopefully will repair and rechrome. It will also need the Grail exhaust/muffler.

What I'd like to find out is what colour it was to start - the white paint (though supposedly recent) is pretty poor quality - the first sign of water near the fuel tank and it's all bubbled near the filler cap and looks like water has got under it (the paint). So it won't last long. Hence I have an early big decision to make - it needs paint anyway - so do I have it stripped entirely and go back to a black frame and original colour, or stick with red and just get the tank done....

I believe 1973 colours were gold, green and brown (so I suspect this may have been brown) - but am no expert, as you can already tell...

the VIN is CB750-2302881.  I tried the online VIN Decoders but got nowhere because it's insufficient digits.

Any help, pointers, guidance welcomed. Especially re colour etc  I have never played with a bike this old before - and I suspect it's out of my skills league to strip and redo.  so I am likely to have to be the person who has to throw money at a problem.... (i didn't pay for the bike, so I can spend more - is how my man maths goes...)

Thank you all

[newday777]

Welcome again
Unfortunately honda didn't put any paint colors in the vin to know what it was shipped as. So pick the color you like of the 3. (73 and 74 was actually Flake Sunrise Orange not a gold) you might be able to tell what color it was under the tank, if it wasn't stripped and painted. The original color might be under the current color, use some paint stripper under the tank to start.

You actually have a 1974 model according to your vin. Production started in late 73 for the 74 model year. Do you have the vin tag on the steering neck that shows the manufactured date?

If you haven't read through this link of the differences in years this is a good resource to learn through.

http://honda750expert.com/

[jlh3rd]

yes, a 1974, K4 frame #. what is the engine #, since you say you want originality. Therefore , where to start is at the beginning, see what you have.
The picture is from the U.S. Honda motorcycle identification guide, orange, green, maroon were the colors.
Maybe the back side of the side covers were not painted over so there might be original color overspray. Possible underside of tank also.
750expert does give valuable info, but it pays to double check any and all "facts" using different sources.
Yamiya of Japan makes complete painted sets of 750 tank/side covers and repop exhausts. I do not know if they cover '74 models........
They, along with others, have other pieces for 750's. You'd be surprised at what's available for 750's. You could almost make yourself a brand new one.......not cheap....
In no way am I a 750 expert, but there are many here who are.
So it just depends on your time, and money as to what you want to do.
CMS and David Silver Spares are other go to's

[Whitek3]

Thank you both -  The VIN says 6/73 top right.
 Though of course, in 50 years, a lot can change..... (sadly including VINs... -especially when they get exported)

Thank you for the guide. 5 minutes on it tells me I have a lot of bedtime reading..... I instantly noted I have the 'wrong' side covers - for a 72, not the 73-76, because they don't have the black background.

 I haven't had time to look for the engine number yet..... I suspect it won't be the original - we care far less about matching numbers over here..... (or at least I do)

I suspect what I will find is that my bike is a mishmash of various model years and bodges.... which may actually help - in that I can then afford to keep a bit of poetic licence and so get a bike that looks and feels right to me, as opposed to obsessing over every last bolt and detail. 

The colour info is great, especially if I am moving towards a 'reimagination' than ever being able to perfectly 'recreate' [flake sunrise orange is what I'd go for [I am actually pretty badly colourblind so I regularly get colours wrong, but am usually quite good at spotting differing shades of the same colour.... useful buying second hand cars (I can't tell it's red or green, but I can tell you if the paint don't match...)]].

starting to look like I should have filled my luggage allowance back to the UK from NY and FLA last week !

Thank you both again

[jlh3rd]

since you appear to be new at this:
Honda engine/frame #'s never matched. Opinions as to how close vary but can be a few to 100's.
Also, as the pic shows, later years could be 1000's off.
And, if you look at the previous picture, you'll see that before 1974, Honda didn't go by model year. There were sell dates and release dates.
Official model year designation didn't start until 1974...at least for American releases.
Prior to that you went by the model designation: KO, K1, etc.
BTW, my '75 550F's frame manufacturer date is 12/74....irrelevant to model year...it is a 1975 550F, based on engine and frame#'s...
just fyi...