I don't know about Euro,UK VINs but
In Canada and the USA, the year from VIN goes like this for the relevant years, the 10th digit is a letter.
80,81,82,83= A,B,C,D
Commonly too, you can use the colours of the bike to find possible year in Google search using Images instead of the normal "links"

With the year, GOTO Honda CX500 parts: order spare parts online at CMSNL
..and look for differences... and also check what the year and various country models have noted per frame numbers...I don't know how accurate it is and sometimes the info isn't there.

 

Blue never came to North America, so that's out. Also has the dual front discs that we didn't. My guess would be continental.
You have the smaller signals and round MC of the earlier Standards. Lack of the flyscreen suggests 1978.

 

Sorry I should have put more information, registration says it's a 1979 bike, it was originally red but some one painted the bike (very, very, badly) and the VIN only has 7 numbers, no letters

 

I'm not sure there is much you can do I'm afraid.

You can try getting a dating certificate from Honda UK who would give you proof of age though there is a cost for that. £30.

You have mph and kmph clock so it can't be from many places. Could just be from Ireland.

 

A few pictures

 

Parts are so common among the marque that "imported" won't matter overmuch if you are careful to compare the list of "where else used". And someone could have modified the bike as well.

Hereabouts anyways, VINS are a label glued on at headstock and not a frame serial number. I don't think they start until 1980 and looking up a frame number as a VIN isn't going to work.

Still, you can try using the frame and maybe engine numbers as I mentioned. I never have, but if someone else makes the effort, I'm curious if these at cmnsl work.

....another offhand clue might be if it has a "park" bulb inside the headlight. There's a stub connection in the wiring harness for one but the actual thing seems awful rare. Here in Canada, I can only recall seeing an English or was it German? import having such a thing.

 

Hereabouts anyways, VINS are a label glued on at headstock and not a frame serial number. I don't think they start until 1980 and looking up a frame number as a VIN isn't going to work.

In North America, the serial number on the VIN plate on the left side of the steering head should match the frame number embossed on the right side of the steering head. If they don't, there's been some title fraud in its past.

In other markets, the VIN plate might be on the lower frame, behind the right foot peg, I believe.

 

To be honest I only want to know about the bikes history purely for my own curiosity. I don't think there are many parts that are different, I have tried looking up the VIN history, but because of the bikes age, car vertical and all the other search apps do not recognise the VIN because the VIN is only 7 figures long (all numbers, no letters)

 

I have tried looking up the VIN history, but because of the bikes age, car vertical and all the other search apps do not recognise the VIN because the VIN is only 7 figures long (all numbers, no letters)

There's a VIN reference in the wiki.
Your documents might exclude the model prefix. Have you looked for the embossed frame number?

 

The embossed frame number is the only VIN I can find, it seems I am going to have to go from top to bottom front to back and look for some kind of VIN PLATE

 

My 1978 CX500 has an embossed VIN.
My 1972 Kawasaki MC-1 has an embossed VIN.
My 1971 CB100 has an embossed VIN.

 

Does it have a switch to turn the lights on and off, or they always on?
The seat and luggage rack are obviously after market, but the rest could almost be an Aussie bike, although the bi-lingual speedo says that it isn't. Blurredman may have it with Ireland.

 

I posted this in your other thread but I'll post it here too. You may be able to figure out where it came from by looking up the serial numbers here

Honda CX400 and CX500 Engine and Frame Serial Numbers

“Trying to figure out the year of your Honda CX500’s frame and engine? Find out here!”…

motofaction.org

17 character Vehicle Identification Numbers did not come into common use until the 1981 model year. Before that Japanese motorcycles just had serial numbers that could include the model number and other codes depending on the manufacturer's discretion.

BTW, the serial numbers are stamped, not embossed. Embossing produces a raised design or text.

 

I posted this in your other thread but I'll post it here too. You may be able to figure out where it came from by looking up the serial numbers here

Honda CX400 and CX500 Engine and Frame Serial Numbers

“Trying to figure out the year of your Honda CX500’s frame and engine? Find out here!”…

motofaction.org

17 character Vehicle Identification Numbers did not come into common use until the 1981 model year. Before that Japanese motorcycles just had serial numbers that could include the model number and other codes depending on the manufacturer's discretion.

BTW, the serial numbers are stamped, not embossed. Embossing produces a raised design or text.

thanks, THAT table oughta do it! if anything can. I hope that clears confusion about a standardized VIN which are a "new" thing compared to just the non-standardized serial number previously used.

 

Like everyone on the forum, we had no idea what Kevfletch was talking about until you clarified the situation. Sleep good tonight knowing that.

BTW…… Pathetic

 

The seat is very unique, I can't say I've ever seen a CX with that seat.
Have any of you outside the US seen that type of seat on other CX's? I'm thinking it was custom fabricated, but like I said, I have seen very few non-US spec CX's.
The dual front disks are a big plus; the braking with the single disk leaves much to be desired.
I have followed this board on and off for quite a while, and I don't recall any other CX's that had serial numbers like this. Do any of you non-US spec owners have serial numbers like the one being asked about?
Genuinely curious here, I have come across serial numbers on some vehicles (not bikes) that were identified as test vehicles, which were supposed to be destroyed or returned to the factory, but somehow ended up among the herd.

 

The seat is very unique, I can't say I've ever seen a CX with that seat.

That's an aftermarket seat. You see them now and then.

 

It's a general market '78. Not US. The OP is in the UK. Europe and the UK got twin discs from the first year. Australia region got single disc until '80 and the US never did.

 

The pictures show a painted over VIN-plate (or whats left of it) on the frame tube just below the (now) blue cover on the right, just in front of the rear footrest. Most likely a EU type registration plate showing build year and framenr / VIN same as stamped on the steering head. No VIN plate on the steering head expected. Not sure where the mph speedo (if original) was used outside the UK in Europe, Ireland yes possible.

Alu radiator shroud means it is most likely an '81 CX500 B, if so there should be holes in the headlamp plastic for the original screen.

Edit : No, not a B because no reversed comstar. Late A or engine/radiator swapped ....

 

I see a plastic radiator shroud, a la '78 or '79.
Front wheel has the plastic rivet covers. Rear has the holes for them. Unless I'm mistaken, that was first year only.

 

You're right, it is plastic, didn't enlarge that picture and mistook the green stuff there for a shiny cover. Seems I need a new eye check or glasses, sorry !

 

I have the later, aluminum trimmed radiator on my '78, so I have an eye for it.

 

So you also have the later radiator. The covers don't interchange, but the whole radiator does.

 

Which brings up a good point: These bikes have been around for a long time and just about any of the parts could have been changed by a Previous Owner so you can't always tell what it is by looking at the details.
For that matter the serial numbers only tell you which models the frame & engine came from.