Gonna buy a Dream tomorrow!

[OldStan]

Don't trust the title for the actual year of the bike. Frequently that's the year the bike was sold, not the build year, especially with the later bikes.

[brewsky]

My CA77 is titled as a 66, with wiring tag year 65, VIN CA78-1019558

[conbs]

I understand that the "A" in CA77/78 is for bikes exported (from Japan) to America. That doesn't account for Scramblers exported to America being CL's and Superhawks being CB's, (with no "A") but it seems to be the case, nonetheless.

It appears that CA77 ended with 1963's and CA78 started in 1964. After some looking I have never been able to find anything to indicate that the change from CA77 to CA78 frame numbers corresponded with a specific set of changes to the bikes. Everyone seems to treat CA77's and CA78's the same on this forum (referring to 305 Dreams as CA77) and it has never caused a problem that I have seen. It is, however, always important to pay attention to parts changes that Honda made randomly mid-production.

If your bike has been titled before, there will be a year assigned to it (even if its not exactly correct). If it is not in the system, the state will need info like the tag on your wiring harness and chart from Bill Silver's books showing production/VIN numbers to establish the year. Production numbers are accurate through 1964 with everything 1965 -1967 all lumped together. Production stopped with the '67 year, though some bikes sold in '68 ('69?) were titled as such. Believe it or not, the guy I have dealt with at our DMV actually owns a Dream that his father bought new so he is familiar with these issues.

Frame and engine numbers very rarely match and anything within 200 would easily be considered matching.

Hope this is helpful. If I have anything incorrect, somebody please post a correction for everyone's benefit.

[Ape]

You know I come from a Vintage Vespa and Volkswagen (main ones..) and its amazing both are huge communities but its still a fight to get a decent ansewer out of anyone. Here though? I'm amazed at how helpful ya'll are! Very refreshing, makes me wanna sell my scoots and Buses lol jk So many thanks and kudos!

Conbs,

Thanks for the info and wish I was lucky like you and had a "insider" in the DMV! Kinda guessing I have a 66 though but thats a pure guess. But its sounds like everyone goes off the VIN to look for parts anyway so I'll do the same.