Topic: Question about VINs and title:

[MikeJW]

Bought this bike six months ago.  PO said it was a 1973 CB750 and title says the same thing, i.e., 1973. The VIN on the plate riveted to the bike is CB7502006308. The VIN on the title says CB75020063C8. The guy I bought the bike from is a very upstanding gentleman with a good job, nice house, etc. According to him, this was his first bike, he had it 18 years and bought it from another guy who purchased it new. So, I’m the third owner and all owners have resided in Tennessee. When I checked the VIN at a website devoted to vintage bikes, it says that number indicates the bike is a 1972 and the top line on the plate on the bike says- MFD IN JAPAN BY HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD  11/71.
The plate doesn’t look altered in any way.
So, my question is how could this have happened? Is it a simple clerical error which has been perpetuated down thru the years because no one really gave a crap?
I haven’t transferred the title yet. Plan to do it next month. Should  I make any mention of it when I do…try to get it corrected or just let it slide through. Apparently, I’m the only one concerned about it, after 37 or 38 years. Thanks
Mike in Memphis

[Johnie]

How does that VIN compare to the number on the motor near the starter? The bike was built in 11/71 which would make it a 1972 model, but it was not titled until 1973. I would think of it as a 1972 and not sure if you could get it changed to that or not. Not sure how hard that is in your state. I bought a K4 last year and there was a 1 digit error from the title and the engine number. I had to send a pic of the engine number to the DMV with a note and they got the title corrected.

Another thought, the K2 had the blinkers mounted to the front of the fork ears. The K3 had the blinkers mounted to the center of the fork ears. There is a separate bolt at the front of the fork ear to hold the headlight bucket. If yours is a true K2 you will have the blinkers mounted at the front of the fork ears. Below is a pic of a K3 style fork ear. Click the pic to enlarge...

[MikeJW]

My blinkers are mounted at the front of the ears and that bolt goes on through to hold the headlight.
Mike

[Johnie]

My blinkers are mounted at the front of the ears and that bolt goes on through to hold the headlight.
Mike

There you go...it is a 1972 model that did not get titled until 1973. 1973 started with the blinkers as shown in the pic.

[MikeJW]

Still wondering if I should bring it up when I go to transfer the title??? I guess I can understand that the bike wasn't titled until 1973, but shouldn't the title still have the correct model year?? AND, there is a one-digit discrepancy between the bike plate and the title...  Thanks
Mike

[Johnie]

Still wondering if I should bring it up when I go to transfer the title??? I guess I can understand that the bike wasn't titled until 1973, but shouldn't the title still have the correct model year?? AND, there is a one-digit discrepancy between the bike plate and the title...  Thanks
Mike

Check the engine number and see if that matches the title. My KO, K1 & K4 show the engine number on the title. That may be a WI thing I am not sure.

[MikeJW]

No, apparently it is not a Tennessee thing. No engine No. on title. My engine number is: CB750E - 2014094
Mike

[kck3]

Mike-

It was titled when it was sold-'73, so it becomes an '73 dont worry about it-just how they did it then.  Seems like when these were sold it was a US thing to actually have a year associated with the bike.

[mycb750k6]

Looks to me like the person recording the title mistakenly replaced the 0 with a C. The VIN number doesn't have any letters in it anyway.