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Author Topic: Odd frame number  (Read 735 times)

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Offline Kevnz

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Odd frame number
« on: February 01, 2022, 07:32:27 PM »
Would anyone know anything about this frame? It's a CB500 with an early K0 engine ( don't have that number currently to hand) The frame does not appear to have been ground and restamped. Maybe early prototype or replacement frame for damaged bike?
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Offline CycleRanger

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Re: Odd frame number
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2022, 07:57:50 PM »
Interesting. Looks like kanji characters.

Did the bike come from Japan?
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Offline Kevnz

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Re: Odd frame number
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2022, 08:23:34 PM »
Unknown history at this stage.
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Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: Odd frame number
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2022, 12:10:45 AM »
I thought it had been established on the FB site that it was a stolen recovered re stamp in Japan. Is it your bike Kevin?
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Offline Kevnz

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Re: Odd frame number
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2022, 01:32:05 AM »
No Julie, inquiring for a friend. He may have posted elsewhere.
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Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: Odd frame number
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2022, 04:43:40 AM »
Quote from: Kevnz on February 02, 2022, 01:32:05 AM
No Julie, inquiring for a friend. He may have posted elsewhere.
👍👍👍
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Offline Kevnz

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Re: Odd frame number
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2022, 11:50:07 PM »
Bump.
The owner is "97% sure, this is the original engine from this frame". CB500E 1032045.
The frame number does not appear to be an overstamp, and there is no sign of tampering with the original number, if there was a different one, that is. It doesn't seem likely that one would overstamp an original frame number if the bike was stolen and recovered; what would be the point? A pre-production frame seems most likely, but the engine number doesn't seem early enough. No-one able to decipher the Japanese script?
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Offline bryanj

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Re: Odd frame number
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2022, 05:31:33 AM »
That engine number is about 8/71 so at least 6 months into the run.
New frames as a spare came with no number stamped in, is it possible its one like that and wherever it was repaired stamped those numbers, they dont look like Honda font either
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Offline Don R

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Re: Odd frame number
« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2022, 08:36:32 AM »
 Wrecked in another country, new frame and restamped there. Probably brought back by a service member.
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Offline Kevnz

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Re: Odd frame number
« Reply #9 on: February 11, 2022, 06:09:08 PM »
Mmm? Wouldn't all frames, replacement or otherwise be stamped at the factory with a correct series relevant number? Would it not not be difficult to impossible to register a bike with what seems to be a non- factory type number? And if those characters are Japanese, not Chinese or whatever, why not stamp with a correct number? Presumably all normal frames left the factory with CB500E prefix and standard Honda font, regardless of the language\alphabet of the destination market. Or did they?
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Offline Don R

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Re: Odd frame number
« Reply #10 on: February 11, 2022, 07:57:20 PM »
 Replacement frames and cases were stamped at the discretion of the selling dealer. Many techs did not have number stamps and to the best of my knowledge Honda did not supply them.
  My no number/no tag K2 has a title with its original number on it. The PO probably passed away with the tag in his toolbox.
« Last Edit: February 11, 2022, 07:59:32 PM by Don R »
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Offline CycleRanger

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Re: Odd frame number
« Reply #11 on: February 11, 2022, 10:21:50 PM »
Replacement frames could have been stamped with anything back then, at least in the US.
There was no consistency how states registered a bike. Some states went by engine number, some by frame.
My K3 has a replacement frame that is stamped TEX then some numbers. The title uses that number.
I don't know why the original frame number wasn't used. The PO was kinda vague as to when and why the frame was replaced.

Overseas who knows what the rules were.
One thing that would help would be to get a translation of those characters.
« Last Edit: February 12, 2022, 08:12:42 AM by CycleRanger »
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Offline scunny

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Re: Odd frame number
« Reply #12 on: February 11, 2022, 10:42:16 PM »
There goes a mission Kev, how.s your google fen shing ?
It's not something someone would do aimlessly.
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Offline bryanj

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Re: Odd frame number
« Reply #13 on: February 11, 2022, 11:50:26 PM »
As i said Honda spare cases and frames were not stamped ad the repairer was SUPPOSED to restamp the original number in but as others have said few had number/letter stamps so didnt bother.
If the paperwork matches the stampings live with it
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Offline Kevnz

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Re: Odd frame number
« Reply #14 on: February 12, 2022, 12:46:26 AM »
Thanks for all the input, guys. It's not a matter of live with it, I have no skin in this game, just inquiring for a friend. I guess the guts of it is " Is this a frame that has any special significance\value or just what it is? It seems pre-production machines have special value, but whether or not this is one is the question. Thanks again.
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Offline gschuld

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Re: Odd frame number
« Reply #15 on: February 12, 2022, 05:00:33 AM »
I’d examine the frame very closely and compare it to a typical cb500 frame.  If it is identical, it most likely is a normal nothing special production cb500 frame that at some point ended up with a unique stamp.  If the frame has unique features regarding how it was constructed, there is reason to believe it  may well be a pre production or perhaps frame meant for racing.

George
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Offline bryanj

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Re: Odd frame number
« Reply #16 on: February 12, 2022, 06:00:16 AM »
I doubt Honda would use a "standard" frame for racing, its too heavy for a start. The engine number is way too high to be aything special.
A pic of the complete frame would be helpfull
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Remember "Its always in the last place you look" COURSE IT IS YOU STOP LOOKIN THEN!
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