need help with bike id

choppermtn · Post by **choppermtn** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 6:06 am

I have a dream but are not sure of the year. The frame says ca-78. All of the posts I have read say things about ca-77. Any help will be appreciated. Also need a good tank and seat.

KellieLyyne · Post by **KellieLyyne** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 1:59 pm

They are essentially the same bike/motor just built later. You will need to post your vin #'s for anyone to help you with the exact year. If you are rebuilding or storing the bike just pay attention to the (early) and (late) year changes. For example, I own a 1963 Dream, and my hubs are different than the later years. Also, parts in the steering dampner are different, etc. From my understanding, if you use parts from 1965 Dreams on up, you should be OK. Of course, I am still learning (trial and error) and from many of the experts on this forum. So, if im wrong, will someone please correct me. :) Good luck with your bike.

Tinman · Post by **Tinman** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 4:29 pm

CM, here's a link that you may find useful.
http://www.motorera.com/honda/h0305/dream/dream.htm

Tinman

conbs · Post by **conbs** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:56 pm

Tinman, the site you gave does not list any CA78 that I could find. They continue the mistake of generically referring to all 305 Dreams as "CA77's". They do differentiate "late" bikes as being from 63-69. Those are the CA78.

Chopper, KelliLyyne is correct that the bikes are similar, but as she points out, often the early/late parts will not mix. Since Honda made running changes in both CA77 and CA78, the only place you can really determine what parts will fit on your bike is to use your parts manual. I recommend Bill Silver's Resto CD. Parts manuals, Shop Manual and LOTS of other interesting info.

If you search this site you will find several posts that discuss the differences between CA77 and CA78 bikes. The easy ID is the rubber knee pads on the tank and the "luggage supports" (aluminum brackets on the rear fender that the top of the shock mounts to).

Hope that helps.

choppermtn · Post by **choppermtn** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 11:23 am

Thanks for the help, I am getting closer to the id.I now know it is a "late" 305. The serial # is CA-781004232. If this will help narrow it down. Thanks

conbs · Post by **conbs** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 1:42 pm

Your bike appears to be a '65. That is the year Honda went to the 7-digit frame numbers for Dreams. For '65 through '67 (end of production) there is no break out of the years that individual frame number bikes were manufactured. They are all lumped together in the best Honda info that we have. There should be a white tag on your wiring harness (up inside your frame above your carb), but it only tells you what year the harness was made. That is, your bike won't be any older than that date, but you may already know that.

The year of manufacture is less important than you might think. These bikes were made before the federal law that standardized "VIN" numbers. The frame number should be the number that was/is put on your title and is the number you need to get parts.

Honda made running changes of parts/numbers all during production of bikes back in those days, so there is not a "year" and "model" that determine parts like what you are used to for your car. That is why you just need to look at the parts manual and look for your frame or engine number to find the right parts. If you need help with identifying what your part looks like, you will likely find a lot of help on this site.

Hope that helps.

KellieLyyne · Post by **KellieLyyne** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 6:56 pm

Nicely written Conbs!!! I can not express how much I learned from this forum. It's a very value tool for anyone looking to further their knowledge. Plus it's a great way to meet others passionate about Hondas! I recently took my bike to a fellow forum member to have some work done on it. Great guy, with lots of knowledge! Thanks again Davo!

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