I recently purchase a 1972 honda CL 350. Are the vin numbers supposed to match the engine number . Mine is considerably different, vin number CL350- 303454x vs. engine number of CL350E- 609944x.
I don't think they matched necessarily but with mine so different is it safe to assume the engine is from a newer bike. There is only 6400 miles showing on the odometer.
Also what I have read on the CL350.com website the date of it's manufacture of 5/71 could be a 1972 bike because the date of the bike is typically based on when it was titled or sold here in the States.
What is strange is the '345 ' in the middle of the serial number is supposed to indicate a K4 type bike. But according to the 30xxxxx it is supposed to be a K3 type bike.
To further confuse me the gas tank is painted to match a K5 type bike but most of the features reflect a K3 bike but the numbers don't match what is shown.
Now that I have confused all of you out there, perhaps someone with considerably more Honda knowledge than I have can provide me some insight.
I was just hoping I didn't end up buying a parts bike and hoped it was pretty much original. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
bob