Author Topic: Bike Identification  (Read 1826 times)

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Offline dmose81980

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Bike Identification
« on: September 12, 2009, 04:15:54 PM »
Hi, I own and ride a 1978 CB550k Honda. My question is how do I tell which "K" Version it is, K1, K2 etc. Many thanks for any advice...

Offline TwoTired

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Re: Bike Identification
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2009, 04:28:06 PM »
A 78 CB550K is a K3 model.
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline dmose81980

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Re: Bike Identification
« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2009, 05:26:51 PM »
Thanks very much for the info.

Offline lone*X

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Re: Bike Identification
« Reply #3 on: September 12, 2009, 05:43:36 PM »
Lone*X  ( Don )

75 CB550K1  
VTX1800C for two up cruisin.
Several others have come and gone but whose keeping track.
52 years on two wheels and counting.....
"The best safety feature of any motorcycle is the one God put between your ears.  It's also the least utilized"

Offline TwoTired

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Re: Bike Identification
« Reply #4 on: September 12, 2009, 05:45:12 PM »
You should know that the K3 was first introduced in 1977.  Some refer to the 78 as a K4.  But, I haven't found any Honda documents noting the 78 model as a K4, through there are some small differences between them.  They both have the same product code; 404.

I know, you want an exhaustive list.  I don't think there have been any published.
Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline lone*X

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Re: Bike Identification
« Reply #5 on: September 12, 2009, 06:07:17 PM »
No issue.  Just quoting our own site documentation.  Since I haven't specifically researched the 78 I defer to the documentation at hand.
Lone*X  ( Don )

75 CB550K1  
VTX1800C for two up cruisin.
Several others have come and gone but whose keeping track.
52 years on two wheels and counting.....
"The best safety feature of any motorcycle is the one God put between your ears.  It's also the least utilized"

Offline Deltarider

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Re: Bike Identification
« Reply #6 on: September 12, 2009, 11:00:49 PM »
Honda's Parts List differs between K3 and K4. Some minor modifications, different buddyseat for example.
« Last Edit: September 13, 2009, 12:22:19 AM by Deltarider »
CB500K2-ED Excel black
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Offline CaféElite

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Re: Bike Identification
« Reply #7 on: September 12, 2009, 11:35:56 PM »
I have the Honda Identification Guide and it does not show a super sport model for 1978, only the K. On the frame serial number it should be CB550F-######### for F models and just CB550-##### for K models.

If im wrong please correct me..

It doesnt say anything about K versions though.. sorry..

EDIT: I was wrong above..
The 1975 CB550F has CB550F0 below its name
The 1974 CB550 has CB550K0 below its name
The 1975 CB550K1 is list just like that in its bold title unlike the others

There are nine different listings for the CB550's in the manual and only those have a indication of something more then just K.

« Last Edit: September 12, 2009, 11:43:04 PM by CaféElite »
CB550's
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Offline JohnG

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Re: Bike Identification
« Reply #8 on: September 13, 2009, 06:49:44 AM »
I have the same book, published by Honda.

Looking at both CB750s and 550s, it appears that about 1976 they abandoned the Kx  designation  which had been used on the CB750s.

Beginning in 1976, they seem to have embedded the actual year into the name, rather than K6 or K7 or whatever.

Thus we seem to have CB550K'76, CB550K'77  and CB550K'78 .Same thing in CB750K land.

I put some stock in this as it is Honda's own publication.   Reference is page 231.
1976 CB750F - original owner
1971 CB450
1979 CB750F
1982 CB900F
1983 CB1123F - Rick Stetson motor

Offline TwoTired

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Re: Bike Identification
« Reply #9 on: September 13, 2009, 10:47:52 AM »
The Honda Shop manual supplements identify a CB550 K0 through K3 mainly with their wiring diagrams.  No mention of a K4.  There really is little point.  It was the last year for the 550.  The differences with the 77 model were the stepped seat, color & trim, and some minor carb jetting.

The F models were F0 in 1975, F1 in 1976, and F2 in 1977.

All the above applies to American Honda models.  Honda did some strange variations for other countries.  Some models weren't available, and others had different configurations based on where sold.





Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.