| MODEL | HONDA CB 450 BLACK BOMBER 1965 - 1966 |
| Year | 1965 - 1966 |
| Engine Type | Four stroke, parallel twin, DOHC, 2 valves per cylinder |
| Displacement / Capacity | 445 cc / 27.1 cu in |
| Bore X Stroke | 70 x 57.8 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 9.0:1 |
| Cooling System | Air cooled |
| Max Power | 32.8 kW / 45 hp @ 9000 rpm |
| Max Torque | 37.4 Nm / 27.6 lb-ft @ 7000 rpm |
| Ignition | Coil with auto-advance, twin contact breaker |
| Induction | 2x 32 mm Keihin carburettors |
| Start System | Kick |
| TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
| Lubrication | — |
| Gear Box | 4 Speed |
| Clutch | — |
| Final Drive | Chain |
| CHASSIS SPECS | |
| Frame | Tubular semi-duplex cradle with single front down-tube |
| Front Suspension | Telescopic forks with two-way damping |
| Rear Suspension | Swing arm, shock absorbers with adjustable preload |
| Front Brakes | Drum |
| Rear Brakes | Drum |
| DIMENSION SPECS | |
| Overall Length | — |
| Overall Width | — |
| Overall Height | — |
| Seat Height | — |
| Wheelbase | 1300 mm / 51.2 in |
| Ground Clearance | — |
| Dry Weight | 187 kg / 412 lbs |
| Wet Weight | 204 kg / 449.7 lbs |
| WHEEL SPECS | |
| Front Tyre | 3.25-18 |
| Rear Tyre | 3.50-18 |
| FUEL SYSTEM | |
| Fuel Capacity | 14 Litres / 3.7 US gal |
| Fuel Consumption | — |
| Top Speed | — |
Photo: Mick from England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: John Goetzinger, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Known as the Dream CB450 in Japan and nicknamed the Black Bomber in Britain, this was Honda's first big twin and a direct challenge to British 500 and 650 cc machines. Its 445 cc engine had twin overhead camshafts and torsion-bar valve springs, letting it rev far harder than its pushrod rivals. The first version used a four-speed gearbox.
