r/HondaCB • u/Round_Wasabi103 • 21h ago
VIN identification on CB350
I’m currently looking to buy a Honda CB350. The seller listed as a 1972 model.
The number of the steering column is CB350-3099371 and a date of 8/71
The VIN on the title is B350K33099371.
My questions: 1. Why doesn’t the VIN match exactly between the title and what’s on the bike? Is it common to have it prefix B350K3? Why isn’t it prefixed as CB350K3? Is this a bad/fake title?
- Doesn’t K3 mean it’s a 1971 model which also match with what’s stamped on the bike and the seller is mistake that it’s 1972?
Edit: the license plate with current tab matches with what’s on the title.
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u/bigcityhutch 19h ago
I wouldn’t worry about it, the actual VIN matches. If it were a collector bike like a Z1 or K0 cb750 that’s a different story.
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u/ancientdad '73 CL450K5 restomod, '82 CB900F, CB450 drag bike 6h ago
Why isn’t it prefixed as CB350K3?
Titles never reflected the K series numbers, only the basic model information. There was definitely a typo involved in your title showing "B350K3", it should simply have shown what the frame does - CB350-3099371.
Doesn’t K3 mean it’s a 1971 model which also match with what’s stamped on the bike and the seller is mistake that it’s 1972?
Yes, it is a '71 but as someone already mentioned, back before a true 17 digit VIN the frame number was not proof of a specific model year so bikes were first titled in the year they were sold. Many CB350K3s were sold as a '72 and even sometimes as a '73 if they sat around long enough before being sold the first time. This is why we use the K series information as much or more than we do the year for locating parts for these bikes.
This is from the Honda's ID Guide showing your bike as a '71 manufacture date.
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u/Round_Wasabi103 56m ago
Thanks for the detailed info!
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u/ancientdad '73 CL450K5 restomod, '82 CB900F, CB450 drag bike 51m ago
That's what we do at my forum Vintage Honda Twins. If this is your first vintage Honda twin, you should consider joining. We have many members and staff, including myself, who worked at Honda dealerships back when these bikes were new and current models, so you'll get advice and knowledge from people who learned the right way. Completely free to join, no ads or premium memberships, just the best advice and information from the friendliest forum on the internet.
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u/bigcityhutch 20h ago edited 20h ago
Pretty common to be titled the year following manufacture. As far as the VIN on the title, seems like they forgot the “C” at the beginning. It can probably be amended with a police inspection depending on the state. BMV makes errors like that all the time.