adding blinkers/winkers

[e3steve]

Few US imports of any derivative from the '60s appear to have had turn signals; the same in Britain, where it wasn't until the importation of the Honda C50, C92/95 & C72/77 that turn signals started to appear on mainstream bikes. From 1959, in the UK, we had a 'comfortable' machine called the Ariel Leader; a faired-in 250cc 2-stroke twin with luxuries such as a short, mechanical lever to adjust the headlight beam height, a clock, hard, permanent panniers and optional turn signals. The Leader had a sportier sibling -- the Arrow (and Arrow Super Sports) without turn signals; the Golden Arrow pictured below seems to have after-market bar-end winkers. Ariel eventually flopped in '65 due to the higher-quality, more powerful (and more desirable) small-displacement Japanese bikes being imported.

[e3steve]

Here are pics of other original '69 CB750 "sandcasts":

[jensen]

Hi,

Steve, is that one in the garage, yours ?
In Germany Honda used the old type round winkers, same style as the CB72 in this thread.

(both pictures are captured from the Pictorial history of Japanese motorcycles written by Cornelis van der Heuvel)

[jensen]

The deeper you go the more you find out.

Appears that only the CB72 is sold in the Netherlands from 1960 (Q3 / Q4) to 1962. however there is proof of an 1959 example. Later (mid 1963) the CB77 was introduced. Only the CB72's introduced from 1960 to 1962 where equipped with the square type winkers, when the CB77 was introduced it came with the round type winkers (both, the CB72 and the CB77).

The 1960 / 1961 versions also did have a different style rear light (much smaller than the standard rear light) I have a few NOS ones and can picture it for those who are interested.

On the CB72 and CB77 winkers where not standard bolted on, but many people where used to winkers because of the introduction of the C71 / C72 and these where standard equipped with winkers. Since a lot of people switched in 1962 / 1963 from a dream to a CB this upgrade was installed in most cases (winkers).

If winkers where installed, there where a lot of regulations for how and what.
These regulations had effect on the color of the glass (orange) space between the winkers (at least 30 centimeters) and visibility of the winkers from aside (long glass and positioned above the handlebars).

The dreams had the winker switch on the right, on the CB's on the left. Because the winkers on a CB where not standard, the switches came UNMARKED to the Netherlands. The dealer marked the switches with L / R and D / H. I traced down an unmarked pair of switches, pictures will follow soon.

Jensen

[e3steve]

Thanks for the info that you've posted here, Jensen. This topic is now becoming a useful market-fitment source!

No, the CB750 isn't mine; I have just my old girl. It belongs to a fellow forum member in Norway -- it should be finished by now! (Any updates, Jan?).

Most* UK Hondas**, from '69 to circa '73 were fitted with the style of winker (and taillight, of the last two, á la final CB77s) depicted by the three 750s I posted.

*where fitted
**C50/70/90; CB125/175/250/350/360/450/500Four/550Four/750Four; CD175; CL250/350/360/450

[jensen]

Thanks Steve,

I appreciate your information.

To be more complete, I found a picture from an CB72 from 1960, a very early one.
As you can see it has winkers, but are the round types, mounted on the lamp ears and rear shocks.
It's from a Japanese site, and I assume it's original. Because the European early versions did have square types, I guess this is for the Japanese (domestic) market.

Jensen

[jadahonda]

Hi Steve! and Jensen too!
Sorry Steve, not the sandcast, the 63 CB77 or the 62 German C92 is finnished, but I have got a 61 CB72 with no engine, and there is no paperwork for the bike either, so I have started to collect a race kit for it. Actually it started because I had my 5 speed close ratio gearbox. So if anyone have a 61 CB72 engine I am interrested. I have also got a 59 model C92, Japanese model with a rotary change gearbox. That means that from 4th gear, you go directly to first gear again! Dangerous, hehe.

I have a German 63 model CB77. As far as I know, the square winker was for German and maybe a few other markets, they was used up to beginning of 64, later the had the round type. I have the original wire harnes, the front winkers and the switch for it, but miss the rear winkers and a relay for it.

The engine is finnished, and all black paintings have been done. I have some chrome works and polishing left before I can start assembly, probably next winter.

Jensen, I see that you have a lot of stuff for CB72/77 and have used a lot of time study on winkers. Did you have a photo of a relay with its bracket, and a photo of the rear winker with brackets? Or maybee somethings for sale?

When I come home from work I can post a photo of the lenses on the winker, maybee someone call tell me if the are original. In the parts manual the number say "205" parts wich are the same as CB92, but these have a different look.

Jan