Sandcast number 12 found!!

[cbxmel]

Hi guys,

You might remember in the latest issue of the CBXPRESS I wrote an article on the early sandcast bikes of which very few survive. I did make an appeal for any anybody to let me know if they knew of one I had not located. Well, out of the blue yesterday a guy in Europe got in touch as he had seen my article and confirmed he had number CB1-2000012,CB1E-2000012
and has supplied a load of images. Once I have played around with them I will publish some on here for your perusal. It is silver and has 30K kms on the clock and has been stood for a number of years and will need sorting for the road. Will do a follow up article for the next CBXPRESS with the known history. What is interesting is it was built late 1977 but not put on the road until 1983 so the owner is trying to find out where it was between those dates. Was it stored by Honda?? I wonder how many more of these rare beasts are out there?

Happy New Year. Mel UK #1876

[EMS]

Last time I heard of ...00012, it was located in Belgium, owned by R.V. If that is not what you have, Mel, I may have some additional info.

[cbxmel]

Hi Mike,

Good to hear from you. Now owned by P D who is kindly feeding me information but if you have anything I would appreciate hearing from you. cbx6meluk@aol.com Hope you are well and Happy New Year.

Kind regards Mel UK #1876

[wyly]

I'd like to see a pic of the ID plate on the steering head does it have a year? is it a 1977? 1978? or '79?

[EMS]

It is not a North American bike, so it does not have the VIN plate on the neck with a date. But it is definitely a 1977 production bike. Very unlikely that it is a 1978, because all pre-production press and intro models were built in 1977 and it could never be a 1979 as production started in April of 1978.

[daves79x]

Mike - that's something I never thought of - did the pre-production bikes destined for Europe/World testing have the small right-side frame plate? Did the ones tested in the US have the large neck plate? Or did they mix-and-match? I talked to J.E. in Canada last Fall and he still has a sandcast pro-production bike waiting to be restored. The serial number is 37 and he bought it from some guy in N. Ontario who needed some cash many years ago. Do you have any info on #37?

Dave

[Larry Zimmer]

Good and neat 'stuff', here. Sounds like great article fodder. Thanks for the offer, Mel. HNY all! May it have some great rides to offer.

[CBXTRA6]

This is the Silver CBX with sandcast block # 12. Yes it is owned by a gentleman from Belgium who apparently bought it from a collection.

[de Lovinfosse]

Hello,
I'm the happy owner of this bike.
I have send a photo of the bike in my presentation as a new member of the ICOA : "Hello from Belgium"
Actually i have just begin the restauration, normaly it would be ready to show it in France at the Sunday Ride Classics in march 2018.
I'll send photos of the différent stage of the restauration.
I have many photos of the bike whith details, i can put on the forum but i don't know where is the best place to insert my photos.

[cbxmel]

Hello again Patrick,

You can attach your images to your messages on here. I will do an article for the cbxpress as we agreed in our exchange of messages following my article in the latest issue which you tell me you have seen. Good luck with your restoration and if I can be of anymore help just get in touch.

regards Mel #1876

[de Lovinfosse]

Hello Mel,
Thank you for everything, I will put the photos you have already received and news, if you want to have in high definition to illustrate your article, I will send them by mail.

Regards,
Patrick (6737)

[daves79x]

I'm jealous!!

Dave

[cbxmel]

Hi again Patrick,

That will be great. I will email my address and send you those copy articles I promised you as you sent me your mailing address.

regards Mel#1876

[Larry Zimmer]

Goood 'stuff'!! If anyone needs help posting photos,etc, just send me a note. I'll be most happy to help.

[cbxmel]

Hi guys,

Sorry for the delay in posting images of sandcast CB1-2000012 but my Pc has been playing up.Hope now will be ok. Larry kindly offered to post for me but as you can see have posted a few images myself here and will add some more. The rear shock has dust cover similar to European 78/79 models but appears to be cnc turned to me rather than cast as on the production models over here. The crankcases look very rough indeed compared to the diecast production models. The VIN plate does not show a production date which as EMS says is normal for European market bikes whereas US & Canadian models do. Although, Australian number 11 sandcast I have mentioned before has 11/77 on the Vin and another sandcast CB1E-2000037 vin 32 in Canada owned by James E has 1/78 on the VIN plate. So Honda seem to not keep to the same build recording system for different markets. Will add more information as I get it. Many thanks to Patrick in Belgium for supplying the images of his machine which greatly appreciated.

all the best Mel #1876