Aug.69 CYCLE records Dunlop, F3 and K87.
MOTORCYLE WORLD, MARCH 1970, documents road test on machine with engine CB750E-1000024; Dunlop F3 and K87 fitted MOTORCYCLE WORLD notes they had to wait for a 750 machine to tests, because the larger circulation magazines got the machine before they did. Color pictures were taken for the MC WORLD article, leaves on trees were turning, so it must have been late Autumn when MCW got #24 to test. and MCW commented the tire was pretty much worn with 5200 miles on the machine. of interest, the article also mentions "chain break and punch a hole in the cases of the Honda Four." The article goes on to say, Honda reps said the fix was applied to the very earliest machines; fitting a tooth larger front sprocket.
So, this quick look through all my American magazines, all pictures appear to show same Dunlop tires which all appear to show same tread Dunlop tread design. i will look through my Factory brochures for mention of tire brands, but that'll be a few days.
i am suggesting the possibility production machines (USA) were fitted with Dunlops and not Bridgestone. Although the parts book calls for either brand, i seem to remember English Dunlop was a tire brand commonly available imported tire to US, whereas not in the case of BS. And, the BS tire was a Japanese tire, i'm not sure how readily available to retail in 1969.
it sounds like the 4 pre-prod units came with BS tires....
? Perhaps BS is what the factory had available at the time to fit to these hand built non-assembly line produced machines
? But, Dunlop was the tire choice for production assembly. (and fwit, this was the time when relationship between Honda and Bridgestone was acrimonious, Honda telling BS to quit making motorcycles or we'll stop putting BS tires on our motorcycles?) Who knows to be fact..... But these were some of the factors making up the production climate around that time that could affect decisions. ANYBODY KNOW MORE ABOUT THE BRIDGESTONE/HONDA RELATIONSHIP, WHEN THIS HAPPENED, WHAT THE FACTORS WERE ?
Anyway, what one sees in the parts book or in literature does not always translate to what the bike ACTUALLY comes with. So, perhaps, Dunlops were fitted to production lines, but the book called for either brand. The book called and literature called for a number of things not seen on prod.bikes, example that comes to mind is early literature called for 4 colors and we know early bikes came in 2 only.
looks like falls back to the more early examples we can find with what appear to be original tires, is what we can use to theorize correct tire.
F3, F6, F11, these different numbers, i imagine, designate improvements in tire carcass and compound and maybe tread design. Thoughts anyone ?
My 4779, my ride to California, my rear tire was over half worn when i went to dealership in California May 1970. i distinctly remember him telling me to take it ease so i could get back to Nebraska on the remaining tire. Which, i did. There was no center tread when i got home. I remember waiting for a tire to come in, it was at least a couple weeks. That tire came from Olson Brothers Honda Triumph.