According to my records ALL CBX-As built in June and July of 1979 in Japan had the matte black sidecovers. A carry-over from the CBX-Z, even with the same part-number. A-models built in the U.S. had either version, matte or gloss. The gloss covers appeared with the production in the U.S. As the A was manufactured in the United States from Japanese and U.S. parts there is a possibility that the gloss sidecovers were sourced or painted in the U.S.cbxian wrote:
I have never seen a Japan-made CBX-A with matt side-covers. I cannot believe that Honda would come out with the new upgraded CBX-A and use one Spec of side-cover paint in USA, and a different Spec (the old 1978/79 Spec) in Japan ... under 5,000 units, they would have made all these side-covers together at one location.
Production of CBX-Z engines had started at the Honda Waco Factory in late-March 1978 ...
As I said before (though I'm not sure why this is so important), many of the Lowest Vins I have seen over the years have come from USA, especially California. The Release date in USA had been held up as seen in the Honda Letters to Dealers, and there was Shippers Strike actions in USA delaying the CBX's arrival further. I'm happy to think we received and started to enjoy the CBX-Zs around the World roughly at the same time ... though I was only 14 years old, so may be wrong!!!
Best, IAN
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Most certainly Honda had to build engines in March for building complete bikes in April. And again ( I don't know what I am saying incorrectly, I probably have to highlight it in red and make it bold ) Yes, Honda most probably shipped bikes to ALL major markets at the same time. Maybe they arrived later in the U.S. But the undisputable fact is, that the first 800+ bikes were built for the U.S. market specifically - high handlebars, forward footpegs, headlight always "On", large alternator and carburetors marked VB60..just to name the major differences. Honda documented that very clearly.
Mike