Newbie w/ a New Bike!!

[e3steve]

The VINs are definitely stamped not painted. The paint job looks original, or if not, they did a complete disassemble /stripped down paint job. I had the seat and tank off and there's no sign of any other original color under any scratches or wear marks. I thought I read somewhere that the CB77 came in white???
Here's one I just thought... When I went to register it, I couldn't use the old '60's black and yellow plate because the lady at the DMV said it was a government issued plate. Too many number or something. ( I just thought maybe the guy I bought it from just threw on an old plate he had laying around since he got it as a salvage.) It also has a "California Highway Patrol" Inspection Sticker on the front forks. Could it be an old cop bike?????

Police models' frame numbers were prefixed 'CYP' and not 'CB'; and had a Type-2 motor but with twin carbs. CBs came in black, blue, red and white until the all-chrome and special, late candy colours. Dealer 'specials' notwithstanding. Go here and click on the links in the left yellow pane for other info.

All the foregoing info from documentation and from this site.

My suspicions? Possibly a stolen/recovered, hence the CHiPs inspection sticker; and/or originally a '62, hence the earlier parts; and/or motor replaced, old frame number ground off and/or frame replaced from Honda stock then engine number copied and stamped in (not difficult). The frame number doesn't look quite right in the pic. Probably done a long time ago.

Speculation.

Who cares? You have title, it looks right and it looks great! And '62/'63 year models underwent no changes to speak of.

[jensen]

Hi,

Yes, cop bikes were white, check the inside of the rear shock covers Can you make a clear picture of the frame number ? Can you take pictures of the switch gear ?

Jensen

[e3steve]

I don't think it was a police model; too much to change(?), motor aside: single seat, 17" wheels, fenders different, pursuit lights, special speedo & bucket, mechanical siren, maybe more.....

Would such a backward conversion have been financially viable?

[jensen]

Hi Steve,

Not sure, you never know what they did in those days. Once I saw a CB450 black bomber police bike (white) without almost every police detail, except for the saddle and box. Would have been easy to switch those for a normal seat too.

But I agree with you on the CB versus CYB, makes it not very logical.

Jensen

[Goodysnap]

Hi,

The real date is a mystery because I think the frame numbers aren't original

jensen

Jensen,

I see now what you mean about the frame #. Not centered in the box and the stamping looks different. The first thing that stuck out to me was the white fenders and side covers.

[e3steve]

White CBs were just that, Goo: all white, no Dull Aluminium-finish cycle parts.

[Goodysnap]

Did not know that? Thanks, Steve. Still looks good at any rate .