How to get a workshop manual for CB450 DX

I've noticed some visitors here are finding it when searching for a "Honda CB450 DX workshop manual" on Google.

I needed a manual too when I first picked the bike up in January. There isn't one BUT, as I've suggested in an earlier post, David Silver Spares will help.

The original reason for this site was to get some more details out there on the web for people picking up this unloved (in the UK at least) bike for the first time.

What links the CB450 DX with a Formula 1 legend?

A few posts ago I mentioned that the Brazilians got a special edition Nelson Piquet version of the CB450DX.
Intrigued, I went searching - the internet's not all about porn you know - and I found this on a Brazilian biker site where they were raving as usual about the CB and I repeat here, exactly, the fella's post (translated by Google, so it loses something of course).

Why has the heavyweight Horse embraced the Kikker 5150

Since writing this piece back in March, I've ridden the first 200cc Kikker in the UK. See my full review by right clicking HERE


Just a quick word on the Kikker 5150. There's a US mag, The Horse, which genuinely steers away from all that is negative about the wannabe Harley boys and focuses on the essence of the chop.

Why you have to love the Kikker 5150

Click Here for first UK road rest of the Hardknock Kikker 5150 200cc

Yes I know this is a site for the CB450DX, but you need to see this too.
As I plug away sanding the new tank before the flat tracker paintjob on the DX, my head has been turned over the past few weeks.

Is this a case of more is less?

Laugh? I nearly fell off my chair. This is curious, but as ever beauty is in the eye of the beholder etc etc.
But then, when you look closely, you can see there's a bit of work in it. Surely this can not be a proper production model,even if the Brazilians managed to palm off the old jigs to Indonesia or something...
Anyway, anyone who can translate for me and help me under stand what this is about would be extremely welcome.

Why the CB450 DX makes one South American want a real Superdream

Ok, you few regular readers already know that the Honda CB450 DX-K, as it was known in the UK, was built in Brazil.
But while it wasn't that popular here, it's interesting to see what our Brazilian pals think. And this excellent piece by 26-year-old Chico Rasia, from Curitiba in Brazil is worth a read and gives an insight into a biker's dreams on the other side of the globe.
He confirms the CB450 was built in Brazil for a decade from 1984 (as the military dictatorship stepped aside).
He writes: "So Brazilians got to know the CB450DX, with triple disc brakes, the CB450 Luxury Sport.
"There was even a CB450 Nelson Piquet, in honour of the famous F1 driver. The CB450 remained in production until 1994."
Right click here tell him we sent you.

My lady passes her test...

So after a quick ride on the CB450 DX last weekend, three days direct access training - Folkestone's Channel Rider Training and that nice bloke Nigel - aboard an ER5, my favourite biker lady passed her test.... first time too. She obviously didn't put her foot down during the U-turn when she took the test.
And that means her 1981 Suzuki GS125 is for sale. Should sell easily enough, it's clean and tidy and £350... same price we paid for it on eBay last November (actually we sold it today for £330, friend of a friend... and the engine number did NOT match we discovered. Now I'm not too worried but out of the three eBay bikes we've bought in the past six months, two have different engines. So do check, ask the seller on eBay, or wherever).
Anyway, the vid's on here just in case anyone wondered how she got on after the piece I'd written below. Oh yes above is another crappy phone video, but it's longer. I've put a couple on Youtube so people interested in DXs can find their way here (clever eh?)

A bit of CB450 DX history

Top: CB450S '87
Middle CB900F '83
Bottom CB450 DX-K

Righto, it's come to my attention that we've digressed a little from the original purpose of this site which was to help you IF you were considering the purchase of this unglamorous machine.
Well here's what I've gleaned over the past couple of months and if nothing else it'll make a better Wiikipedia entry than exists presently. Yes, I know, I could bother to write it myself but if anyone wants to copy and paste any of the info here, that's fine by me.

Inspired by a tiny single cylinder Honda...

So here's a pic of the FTR223, which I'm using as a basis for the paint job for the CB450DX. My lady has just suggested I go buy one and save the CB from a fate worse than restoration... she might have a point.
The picture is nicked from here, and if you're looking lads, brilliant site and thanks for the inspiration

Flat tracker turned old school chop

Below I'd mentioned the Honda FTR223 which I really like, but in Japan the kids are not necessarily keen on the machine as it leaves the factory and you can see from the picture, the simple frame and engine layout lends itself well to junking all the unnecessary bits. Clean, simple lines never go out of style, right?

Right Click HERE for some of the cool stuff our Japanese pals get up to with small capacity machinery.

Honda's tiny flat tracker

So, I like way Honda knocked out the little FTR223, main pic ,and intend to copy the paint for the tank.

For anyone interested in the Honda FTR223, they were imported into the UK for a couple of years after 2000. The only one I can find for sale in the whole of the UK costs £1,495 and has been there for at least three months at BAT MOTORCYCLES (there was a January sale reduction so I'm sure they'll haggle)

Cheap bits to paint...

Ebay again for a second hand mudguard and, more importantly, a second hand petrol tank.
Both were cheap: the plastic mudguard (inset top right of picture) was under three quid and the tank was £17.50 which included the fuel tap and the sender for the petrol gauge.
For less than 40 quid, including post it gives me the chance to have a crack at painting without being forced to take the bike of the road. It is worth noting that all the paintwork looks in the pictures far superior to its actual condition.
My plan now is to spray the bike in the style of Honda's cute FTR22 (see above), I like the FTR's style but I'm not sure the performance would be enough to survive.
And on the CB450 the white paint with the red and blue along with a set of lower, wider bars, we'll have the look I think.
The Japanese love the little FTR223 and in fact the few that were grey imports into the UK make strong money – Bat Motorcycles had a '94 which they valued at £1,500 earlier this year.

Another short clip

Lookin' good. My missus, on the eve of taking her direct access takes the old CB for a little jaunt without her helmet or L plates... (yep shot on a phone again, so it's rubbish quality)

Turn your CB450 into cash... chop it

When this came up on eBay I was - as you can see in the article below - well, sceptical about its value.
I honestly thought the seller would be lucky to score three hundred quid.
But it sold for £720 and had a staggering 1,873 views...
Well done crazy custom rat bloke from Bristol.
Now where's my hacksaw...?

Warming up then...

Short film shot on mobile... you'd never guess.