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1960s Honda CB450 ‘Black Bomber’ (K0) Valuation Report

Date: August 2025

Historical Overview

Honda’s CB450 K0—nicknamed the Black Bomber—arrived in the UK in 1966 with a DOHC 444 cc twin, torsion-bar valve springs and electric start. Its chrome-sided tank and four-speed K0 specification mark it out from later K1–K2 developments (five-speed, styling updates). UK collectors prize correct K0 features, originality and documented restorations; rare variants like the period D-Kit (high pipes/tank kit) can command a premium.

UK Valuation Summary (by condition and model)

Condition	CB450 K0 ‘Black Bomber’ (1965–68)	CB450 K1–K2 (late 1960s)	Example External Source (non-link reference)
Project / Restoration Non-running or incomplete; rebuild and cosmetic work likely. Note: few recent UK hammer prices published for true K0 “projects”.	Insufficient verified recent UK sold prices Documented project listings exist (e.g., C&C 1966 project – SOLD, price not displayed).	Insufficient verified recent UK sold prices	Car & Classic – 1966 Black Bomber project listing marked SOLD (price not shown).
Roadworthy / Presentable Running, largely correct or older restoration; honest wear.	£5,850 (verified result at upper end of this band; many K0s crossing UK blocks are restored rather than just “rider”).	£2,415 – £4,000	H&H Classics 1966 K0 sold £5,850 (well-presented); Iconic Auctioneers 1973 K6 rider £2,415; Mathewsons 1972 CB450 £4,000.
Restored / Excellent High-quality restoration or exceptional original; matching numbers; correct K0 parts.	£5,800 – £8,750 Outlier: period D-Kit example achieved ~£11.8k (rare spec premium).	£3,000 – £4,500	H&H 1966 K0 £5,850; Car & Classic auction 1966 K0 £7,500; C&C auction 1967 K0 £8,750; Iconic Auctioneers 1967 K0 D-Kit £11,813 (variant); Bonhams CB450 K4 £2,875.

Notes: Ranges reflect verified UK results from late-2023 to mid-2025 where available, plus near-term UK auction archives. K0 “Black Bomber” prices skew higher than later K1–K2. The rare D-Kit specification can exceed typical K0 pricing; it is treated as a variant premium, not the norm.

Value Influencing Factors

• K0 correctness: Chrome-sided tank, early instruments, four-speed, correct tinware and finishes.
• Matching numbers & paperwork: UK registration history, invoices and photo-documented restorations.
• Variant premium: Factory/period D-Kit examples have achieved significantly higher results.
• Originality vs over-restoration: Period-correct details command more than show-polish or mixed-era parts.
• Market timing: Spring/summer sales tend to be strongest for riders and freshly restored examples.

Conclusion

For the UK market in 2025, a well-restored CB450 K0 ‘Black Bomber’ typically achieves £5,800–£8,750, with exceptional/variant machines (e.g., D-Kit) reaching higher. Late-1960s K1–K2 models trend lower, around £3,000–£4,500 when nicely presented. Verified “project” hammer prices for true K0s are scarce in recent months; where projects appear, they often transact off-platform or without public price disclosure.

Sources (non-link references): H&H Classics – 1966 CB450 K0 (UK-supplied) sold £5,850 (Mar 26, 2025); Car & Classic Auctions – 1966 CB450 K0 sold £7,500; 1967 CB450 K0 sold £8,750; Iconic Auctioneers – 1967 CB450 K0 D-Kit sold £11,813 (Feb 18, 2023); Mathewsons – 1972 CB450 sold £4,000 (Nov 2021, later model context); Iconic Auctioneers – 1973 CB450 K6 sold £2,415 (later model context); Bonhams – CB450 K4 sold £2,875 (Stafford archive, later model context); Car & Classic – 1966 Black Bomber project listing marked SOLD (price not shown).

All Valuations