New member - need help with serial number

[mike in idaho]

CB350 fork ears. The font size for the CB doesn't match the number font. Two different style 7s, first one appears stamped, second one looks like it has been touched up with some sort of engraving tool.

[linmictil2]

Bells and whistles going off!! I would take the numbers to a cop shop and check before going any further.
mike

[LOUD MOUSE]

Hi there,

I'm a recent CL77 owner, as well as a recent CB160 owner - both in need of a lot of work, but I got them for a good price (I think).

I have a fair amount of experience with the SOHC4 CB750 bikes (I'm a member over on SOHC4.net) but I don't know much about the older Honda bikes.

I purchased a few Bill Silver books to start boning up on these bikes... after reading the section on serial numbers I ran out and double checked mine, but what I found doesn't seem to make sense:

Frame serial number: CB77 1031519
Engine serial number: CL77E-1031056

Why does the frame serial number start with "CB" instead of "CL" - is this normal?<<<<<<<Because HONDA didn't stamp the numbers. They are the wrong profile.>>>>>>>>>>>>


The frame has the front downtube and skid plate, and it doesn't look like someone welded one on there (or if they did, they did a really nice job).<<<<<<<<<<<<<It is a CL frame not a modofoed CB.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Thanks,
Chris

[Kickstart]

Argh!

I'm such a fool for not looking at this more closely when I went to picked up the bike. In my defense I purchased them from a well known local motorcycle restorer/shop. I'll be giving him a call.

The numbers on the CB160 I bought from him looks correct, but the numbers on that bike are also about 400-500 different than the engine.

I compared numbers between the CL77 (stamped as CB77), the CB160, and one of my CB750's. Assuming Honda used the same font over this 7-9 year period, the "B", "9", and "1" are all dead give away's someone modified this.

What's odd, is why would someone not stamp it as a CL?

I assume the reason for grinding off the old number and re-stamping is because it's stolen... correct? Any other possibilities?

Interesting that someone was able to get a valid title for it in 2004 (the title I have for it is dated 2004). But it's not signed by anyone... so just fishy all around.

[Rider52]

Here's my 2 cents. Back in the late 60s-early 70s I worked at two different Honda shops. If a bike was wrecked and needed a replacement frame, you would get one from factory without a serial number. The dealer might stamp your old numbers or if it wasn't an inspection state, the frame might be left blank. I don't remember what a 305 frame cost, but a 160 frame was $35.00 in 1969. I'm thinking someone acquired a wrecked Scrambler or got a deal on one without a title. Found a new old stock CL frame, a CB title and with a little effort and a set of stamps they had a titled motorcycle. I don't see the usual monkey business on the neck, so I am assuming it was a clean frame, hence maybe NOS. The rest of the parts were probably added to get it street legal. It might have been "built" by a dealer looking to get rid of extra parts. The reason I'm speculating on this, I have nearly the same deal. A guy bought a scrambler in 1964, wrecked it in 1966, bent the frame and decided to rebuild it. He got a new frame from Honda, left the SN blank and used his motor numbers which was legal in his state back then. He sold the bike to someone else in 1971 and it went to an inspection state. The new owner stamped the motor number on the neck to match his title/registration. I got it in a shop buy out last year and this bike is a hodgepodge of parts from several years. A CL250 fork & front wheel, CB pipes, CL77 rear wheel and list goes on. The most interesting thing about my parts heap is it came with all the documentation from the original title to a final court deposition given by someone in 1991 about the stamped numbers on the neck. Which was used to get a court appointed title in still another state. I have 2 good frames, so I think this one is going to become lawn art.

[DONZIE]

I would say thats a replacement cl77 frame from honda that came not stamped (I have one of those)...someone stamped it as a cb77

[Kickstart]

OK.. thanks guys... I was really stressing out that I bought a stolen bike.

The story of the person who sold it to me does add-up somewhat with a replacement frame.
He said the previous own dropped it over, nothing major but enough to mess up the handlebar and headlight... and decided to "upgrade" to more modern parts when he repaired it.

However the tank has a pretty thick bondo job on the left front corner - typical of a hard drop that would cause the upper forks to bend past the head stop and contact the gas tank. Most likely the accident was more serious than described, causing a bent frame and thus the need for a replacement.


I just can't understand why someone would stamp it "CB" instead of "CL"... I guess they didn't have the "L" punch handy?
And then I guess either the owner or a later owner had the title changed to reflect the serial number on the bike (as opposed to the original serial number)... this is just annoying!

I'm really bummed... I assume this affects it's potential resale value. Not that I was planning on selling it, but it's nice to know you're bike is worth someone after restoring it.

Can anyone tell if the forks look correct for a CL77 (besides the fork ears)? - I was hoping to get away with just purchasing the correct fork ears and headlight/speedometer, and swapping out the incorrect ones.

Thanks,
Chris