Early Pre-Production models are are believed to be the bikes shown at the Tokyo Auto Show, April 1968. They feature unusual side cover badges, different crankcase than the production bikes (but unlike the prototypes), different exhaust pipes, heat shields, non-rectangular starter cover and again K1 type carb linkage with carbs unlike carbs on production models. Had a steel upper brake line. This bike was road tested and shown as late as May 1969 in "Hot Rod" magazine and in March 1969 "Cycle Guide" magazine. Had a completely different cam cover, only having "HONDA" cast on the cover. There was no tool kit tray. There was a metal strap holding the battery in place. The alternator cover was different on this Early Pre-Production model than the Late Pre-Production model. The crankcases & starter housing cover were different than any of the later models. Believed to be the bike shown in January 1969 of "Cycle World" at the Tokyo show, October 1968.

The numbering system is certainly an interesting one. Early pre-production bikes were probably numbered in a sequence (four digits only) starting 1***, and the later type pre-production type (as per the Gold "Brighton show" bike - and of the type seen at Las Vegas) in a sequence (again four digits only) starting 2***. In summary, the pre-production bikes do have their own unique numbering system, which predates the system (seven digit) of the production bikes - the first true production spec bike would therefore of been #1000001. There are actually some pictures in a Japanese magazine of engine number 1000005 / frame number 1000010, certainly suggesting that very low serial number bikes were indeed sold.