cb500 seat

bullitt04 · Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 11:08 pm Post subject: cb500 seat

ok guys and gals. i need some help figuring out a problem that arose this evening. when i bought my cb500 four there was barely anything that was left stock, and i am trying to make my way back to that factory look. the aftermarket seat that was on it is ripped so i found a factory one on ebay. the pan and cover is in great shape. however the hinge doesnt line up, same goes for the latch. the hinge seems to be about 3 or 4 inches wider than the hinge that is welded to the frame. now this gentleman assured me that this seat came from a 72 cb500 which is the same year and model that i have. i guess the question to ask is, is the seat from a 500t the same as a 500/4? does anyone have a picture so i can compare a factory seat to the one i have? this is the 2nd to last thing to go on the bike before its done and i would love to take this beast on its maiden voyage before the weather turns to crap. can anyone help?

MR.CHocko · Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 1:44 am Post subject:

A seat from the 1974 to 1975 CB550 will fit your bike. After 1976 the hinges on the CB550 seats got wider. It sounds like this guy sold you a '76 seat. Have you tried going to David Silver Spares? You may have to ask him, but he should have a seat for that bike. No a CB500T seat will not fit your bike. My advice to you is patience, it may take time to find the correct seat. A lot of this stuff does not grow on trees.

Tommanos · Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 7:14 pm Post subject:

Here is an idea. Many 71's were titled as 72's. The seats for the the 71's were different than the 72's. I'm wondering if the seat from the donor is really a 71 KO. Or yours could be a 71 titled as 72. Again the bolt pattern and the hinges are different. I could send you a picture of the seat on my 71 KO. (titled as a 72)

Bikegeezer · Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 8:34 pm Post subject:

Tom raises a valid point. You're going to have to post some pictures here before we can help you much on this one. Lets see the bottom of the seat, and take a picture of the seat latch on the bike's frame.

Stu

bullitt04 · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 10:04 pm Post subject:

ok this is the seat that came with the bike

bullitt04 · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 10:06 pm Post subject:

and this is the seat i got on ebay. even the studs for the latch are different.

bullitt04 · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 10:20 pm Post subject:

also shot a short video from my iPhone. Minus the side covers and a grip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrnXK5hFrME

MR.CHocko · Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 11:48 pm Post subject:

The first seat that you show is a 1970's era Corbin Gentry seat. It is indeed an correct accessory seat from the 1970's, so if your bike was ever judged at an AMCA event you would not have any points taken off. Can you show us a picture of the other side. From looking at the pan, it appears that this maybe a 1976 CB550 seat, which will definitely not fit on your bike.

bullitt04 · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 12:11 am Post subject:

the topside of the new seat.

Bikegeezer · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 9:07 am Post subject:

See the # 455 on the seat pan? That's the Honda product code # for the model the seat was designed for. Unfortunately, I can't find #455 on the list. Maybe I just haven't had enough coffee yet. Have a look for yourself.

Stu

http://oldmanhonda.com/MC/HCodes.html

UPDATE: Found it. It's an updated part. No way this came off a CB500, unless it was grafted on with baling wire. LOL

Part # = 77200-455-670A
Part Description = SEAT ASSEMBLY *NH1L* - (replaces 77200-344-670A)
Model Count = 3
CB350G 1973 350 Super Sport 350 Street
CB350-K4 1972 350 Super Sport 350 Street
CL350-K4 1972 350 Scrambler 350 Dual Sport

bullitt04 · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 3:31 pm Post subject:

Pretty sure the number on the bottom is 456? Is there anything for that?

MR.CHocko · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 7:30 pm Post subject:

To me it looks like it came off a 1976 CB550 seat. Saying that because the spacing on the hinges too far apart to be from a CB500.

MR.CHocko · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 7:32 pm Post subject:

That is DEFINITELY NOT A CB500 seat, there are some other markings in the pan that confirm that.

bullitt04 · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 10:07 pm Post subject:

which ones? just so i know for future reference.

MR.CHocko · Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 10:41 pm Post subject:

The two squares, the lock. The spacing between the hinges, all points that this is not a CB500K seat. A stock CB500 seat and/or a pan is a very hard thing to find. They are out there. A 1974 CB550 seat should fit a CB500. It looks like this seat is either from a CB500T or a later model CB550. Sometimes if in doubt always a good idea to ask someone who has the same model bike. It does help, trust me I have had to do the same thing back in the preinternet days. But in my case I had to go run all over the place find my buddy, who was at the other side of the field and bring him over to this vendors space before the guy sold it. A hassle yes it was, but did it save me money versus being stuck with a seat that I didn't need? Yes.