The "Black Bomber" page!

Honda's first attempt at a big bike was a minor failure.  It had an exotic engine, double over head cams, torsion bar valve springs, and a very high reving engine.  In 1968, the K 1 series was much better with up dated styling and a 5 speed transmission.  This basic bike continued with minor upgrades (K 2, K 3, K 4, K 5, K 6, K 7) till 1974.  From 1975 to 1976, the bike became the CB500T.  The 1971 500cc four cylinder series circumvented the importance of the twin.  From the early 1970's, all the multi cylinder Japaneese bikes made the CB450/500 series more utilitarian than sport.  It was a very good bike with an exceptional reliability record but was quickly overshadowed by the CB750 of 1969 and the 500/550 fours marketed from the early 1970's.  The 450's appeared again in the early 1980's, but they were entirely different bikes.

Pictured above is a 1966 CB450 Police Special.  They are very rare and just a few still exist.  Honda gave the bikes to several police departments for testing, however, US police departments really wanted larger American made machines.  Check out the next page for the super rare 1967 CB450D Scrambler.

The 5 speed transmission made the CB450 a much faster bike brcause of it's high reving engine.  From this series forward, the 450's were respected.  They would now run with the twin carb 650cc british bikes, and were more reliable to boot!

With a disc brake up front, a tad lighter weight, and all the previous developments, the K 4 series was both respected and fully modern.  It now looked like it's bigger brothers (500-4, 550-4, 650-4, 750-4) and was a fast bike for it's size.  Tests of the day put the bike in the mid 14 second bracket in the quarter mile, and it would give most British 650's a serious run for the money.  The 450's were overshadowed by the in lins 4's, of the day, but would easily keep up with the CB500 & 550's.

The 500T was now relegated to a comfy touring bike rather than a sporty ride.  It was offered in 1975 and 1976 only.  Never a big seller, the 500 was actually a very competent, well designed, very reliable, and elegant motorcycle.  As one last attempt at continuing this series, it was just not to be.  Few were ever seen.

The 450 Nighthawk's was a retro-revision of the older series.  Built for five years only, they were fully modern bikes.  The engine was one of the earliest 3 valve per cylinder machines used by Honda.  I still occasionally see some of these bikes still in use.  At an event several years ago, I came across a really rough 450 Nighthawk ridden by a long distance rider (gangster type) who stated he cruises with other motorcyclists across the country and has never had a problem!  What a testimony of a well engineered bike.

The newest CB500 twin, the successor to the original CB450 is sold in Europe only.  My guess is that Honda does not market the motorcycle in the US because they doubt that it would sell well.  Americans like cruisers and big bikes!  I wish they would try, it's a great looking bike. 

The Honda 450's opened to door for big Japaneese bikes to be marketed in the US.  It was the CB750 which was to become the revolutionary bike in 1969, but the 450's primed the pump.  The 450's were the bikes which led many new riders to move from small bikes to big bikes.  The original CB450 was not the groundbreaker that Honda had hoped it would be, but it did point the way to what Honda was to become.  The importance of the original "Black Bomber" is not to be marginalized!