Topic: New here, couple questions about cb500

[persson-johan@hotmail.com]

Hello everyone. I just found this place and im already hooked Im a 21 year old from Sweden whos looking to buy a cb 500.

Ive got a quiestion about the different year models.
The one im looking at is a -77 that is sold very cheap. Its really ugly but im doing a café so all the stuff is going anyway.

So, is there something specific about the 77 or is it like a 73 and up? Can i buy a seat that fits a 74 and its good? Same for the rearsets and so on?

This seems to be a great forum!

Regards
/Johan

[CBGhia]

77 and 78 are different from the 73-76 models.  The seat, tank, carbs ect are all different.  Good luck with the build.

[TwoTired]

In the US, there are K0, K1, and K2 models of CB500; 71,72,and 73 year models
Europe got a K3 CB500 that was simply 50 less cc than a US K3 CB550 model for 77-78.
The difference in the engine units between these models K0,K1,K2 vs., K3 is vast

We will probably need to see pictures, or see frame/engine numbers to sort out if you have 77 import K3, or an earlier model government stamped with the year of importation without regard to actual manufacture date.

Cheers,

[persson-johan@hotmail.com]

ok! thanks for the fast answers. i dont have a pic on the exact bike but it is exactly like this:



(and yes, it is pretty much as ugly )

[TwoTired]

That would appear to be a K3 CB500.
The earlier engine unit had a big 3/4 inch screw head in the middle of the front sprocket cover for clutch adjustment.

Don't look for much to interchange with pre 77 models.  But still, it's on a case by case basis for parts interchange.

The pre 77 models had a shorter tank and the seat was moved more forward.  Interchange involved changing both, as well as the grab bar around the back.

Cheers,

[persson-johan@hotmail.com]

Ok, so this is the engine with less cc?

Ill probably look for another bike then

[bryanj]

As TT said very little will interchange from the early models to the 77/78 one unfortunately.

The 77/78 K3 550 is bad enough to get parts for and the 500 version sold even less!!

[dave500]

i learn something everyday,i never knew a 500 was put on the 550 bottom end from the factory for europe?with those carbs and sprocket cover id swear its a 550?

[dave500]

Ok, so this is the engine with less cc?

Ill probably look for another bike then

look at the cylinder barrel at the front right hand side,just above where it mates to the cases,,itll have the CCs cast into a little flat pad like 498cc or 544cc

[persson-johan@hotmail.com]

Hello again!

Maby i have found another bike.

This is a cb 500 k3 1977:

Something i should look out for? Hard to get parts etc.?

[dave500]

i think the euro 500s got the 550 bottom end at some point,look at the engine size on the pad as i posted before.

[Deltarider]

    Hello Joper,

 Download the parts list of the 500K3/550K3/550K4. I have it in print, but you can find it at www.honda4fun.com under Parts Lists. http://www.hondacbfour.com/download/pdf_spac/pdf_spac500-550/CB500-550_K3-K4.pdf to be precise.
I have the impression most 500K3s went to Scandinavian markets. One of the early members in this forum (Harry Teicher in Denmark) has one as well. Frame differs from the earlier 500 models. Most of the engine is the same, but not the carbs, airfilter, clutch and exhausts.

[strynboen]

have this danish /scandinavia type500 the new type chlutch..strange denmark have no special tax for bikes over 500 cc..so why sell a 500 anyvay??
have seen more 500,,but thrught it vas vrong sidecover on them..
velkommen på forum fra danmark..

[Stev-o]

First off, welcome from Texas!  That is a nice looking bike, have you one and ridden it yet? If not, I suggest you go see it in person and see/hear how it runs.

Good luck!

[Deltarider]

Honda CB 500 CB500 Four K3 Baujahr 1978 Auspuff 4 in 4 / 4-4 Exhaust

Apart from handlebars, windscreen and cases, pretty original.

[Danno]

the bike in the 500 k3 version will have a much better clutch and the transmission other than neutral being a bear sometimes will be better also you just have to remember cb550 parts fit the bottom and cb 500 parts fit the top

however the valve train on both bikes was the same as well as the heads the only difference was the barrels for the cylinders and the bore  size

I would think that if you wanted to you could change the rods and pistons and barrels and end up with a 550 of course you would also have to rejet the carburetors

[dave500]

rods are the same.