Honda CB 450 K1 1968 - first startup after restoration and engine rebuild

Honda CB 450 K1 1968 - first startup after restoration and engine rebuild

[@Kiskassklan]

Had a blue one like this about 1972. I was 18. Rode it a lot. Carbs needed cleaning and couldnt afford to have it done. Didnt keep me from riding it though. Always wanted to learn how to clean the carbs so now I'm 64 and found a 1973 model with 5,000 miles. Payed $400 for it and in great shape. Just got it out and started getting it ready to ride. Great video!

[@noonster55]

Brings back memories. My first motorcycle. I put a big Sissy Bar on it. Got rid of it after a couple weeks, the Sissy Bar, not the bike. I really liked that bike. It seemed so fast. I was only 15 years young...

[@Znabb]

It is a great little bike, I still use mine as a daily runner.

[@ProgMannen]

I really loved the 68 or if it was 69...4 gears it had. Mine was red on side fairings and top of the tank. Very cool to see you kept it original instead of destroying it to cafe racer.

[@rcnelson]

These old bikes were a lot of fun and are still nice rides.

[@Znabb]

R C Nelson, indeed they are.

[@1966gto1000]

A friend of mine had a brand new 450 that he paid for throwing papers in h.s.! It was the top of the the line in 1968 and he had THE most powerful 'cycle in the the town. His bike was the envy on every kid on the block. He sold it and bought s Dodge Charger. I recently talked to him and he said he honestly doesn't know what happened to it. Like my other bikes of that era, it probably ended up in a boneyard somewhere. I'd like to know that it ended up like this one: rebuilt and given a new life.

[@noelleonard2498]

I always do my first startups on a city street parking lot as well

[@BilgemasterBill]

Well done, sir! I think folks might also like to see a few "Before" pictures too, to put the fine results in perspective.

[@dirtydrew18]

Sounds sick and looks great! My buddy has a 74 cb450 project that is halfway rebuilt that I'm looking at getting soon. Great classic bikes!

[@Dallas-Nyberg]

A friend of mine had one of these years ago ... It was about the closest Honda ever came to making a bike that had a sound similar to a Pommy bike. I had a ride on it.. I was fairly surprised at how minor the vibration was. A great bike.

[@Znabb]

Thank you! I'm very fond of the look of the K1/K2 model and it's also a very reliable bike if it's taken care of.

[@jansolo55]

Beautiful ! Awesome bike ... Hope you've kept it in such good condition !!!

[@Znabb]

I rebuilt it one more time to as new standard with new old stock parts. I sold it though a couple of years ago as i also have a 1966 CB450 K0 and a 1969 CB450 K2.

[@paulfitz5465]

This was the Brit killer back in the day!most Brit 500's couldn't live with it and quite a few 650's too unless you had a bonnie or a goldstar!

[@Znabb]

Yes Paul, several people came up to me on my rides across Britain and mentioned this. Some of my friends was riding bikes in the 60's and mentioned that the CB450 out accelerated almost all British 650's but they had slightly higher top speed.

[@kawasakimandewey2101]

Love the sound of that parallel twin! Neat bike!

[@Znabb]

Thanks! Me too.

[@Znabb]

Thanks!

[@TheCidiot]

Beautiful bike. I had a chance to buy one in pieces for $700 recently. I'm sure it would have taken a lot of money and work to get it looking and running like yours but I regret not picking it up.

[@NPMCaptain]

WOW ... awesome "Black Bomber". The engine still needing some adjust but the bike is pretty cool. Congrats:) Greetings from Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

[@rsjohn01]

Awesome job, well done!

[@kariroine7878]

Just sounding great, especially when idling.

[@Znabb]

Agree, great sound.

[@MrHamanen]

That's a one fine bike ever.

[@Znabb]

I'm also a fan of the '68 & 69 models.

[@michaelthomas6797]

Sounds and great👍

[@graemeduckett7576]

always feel the pipes or mufflers to see if both cylinders are warm,sounds like its running on 1 cylinder

[@Znabb]

Yes, I've been feeling the pipes at start up on a new engine the last 40 years. :-) It's running on both cylinders.

[@Znabb]

The stock CB450 K1 front fender does look a little big for the 18" wheel. Maybe Honda was already preparing for the later 19" wheel on later models.

[@normankellogg7078]

PWhy did Honda change the shape of the K0 tank? It looked like it could hold more gas, plus it looked a lot better than the K1 tank. Regardless, gimme a classic bike over a cafe racer any time: Honda, Triumph, Norton, BSA, Velocette, BMW, Indian (used on the Wall of Death rides at state fairs and circuses)

[@Znabb]

I'm building a 1966 CB450 K0 Black Bomber as we speak so we'll soon find out how much fuel the K0 tank holds. :-)

[@ben8090]

Nice bike/ job. Is it a 12v version? Did you fit electronic ignition to it?

[@Znabb]

Yes, it is a 12V version. The bike had points ignition after restoration but I retrofitted a Pamco electronic ignition a year later.

[@utente445588]

Hello very very good!!! nice motorcycle compliments. What written on the plate k1 or k2?

[@Znabb]

Thank you ! It is a 1968 K1.

[@MrJames-ic5jr]

Capacity of the fuel tank please !

[@Znabb]

@sosickhcdrums, viel danke!

[@brb0713]

Lots of timing chain noise

[@Znabb]

Yes Bret, that is quite normal as the engine is just rebuilt and the top end is dry from oil except for assembly lube on the cams and bearings. It takes about 45-60 seconds for a CB450 to pump up oil to the head, if you listen the top end goes much quieter about the same time the cyclists passes by.

[@GGibert]

I had one...beautiful bike, but bad breaks !

[@Znabb]

Thank you! By todays standard they can be described as bad but in the 60's they were top notch. Correctly adjusted they are as good as or better than Hondas disc brakes from the 70's.

[@TomSmith-io9uk]

Nice

[@tonysea5937]

What kind of mufflers are those if you don't mind me asking?

[@Znabb]

Sorry for the late answer. The mufflers are the stock Honda CB450 K1/K2 1968-69 ones.

[@sosickhcdrums]

GEIL!!!

[@rafagustav1843]

Sounds like a thumper!