Help identifying a Honda CB

[Weakener]

I'm new to the forum, and new to classic Honda CB's besides the fact that I've always loved the look of the Honda CB's from the 70's. I've been on the lookout for one to restore for a while and a guy has offered me a bike he says is a Honda CB 550 K3 1979 model. That's also what someone has marked the bike as in their own distinctive and simple way :-)

My problem is that I can't get the pictures of the bike to match what I thought this bike would look like. If you look at the pictures I'm especially thinking about the back part including the back light. From what I can see that part looks more like a CB750FZ from around 1979-80. The front end is also different with the square light and all the additional plastic around it. The guy says that the reason it is white is because it has been used as a police bike at some point. I attached a few pictures.

Any help identifying this bike would be appreciated.

[fido]

It would have had chrome mudguards. The seat and tail unit looks to me like it might be from a CB900 or even a CBX. I would say itsa bitsa and OK if you want a cheap ratbike but best left alone if you are a Honda enthusiast.
Here's what it should look like:

[Tman]

I must be mellowing in me old age, as that 'Onda almost looks attractive.

Coming Nursey....

[Weakener]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Is there any way the bike could have been factory built the way it looks to be a police bike, or is it most likely that it has been modified by someone? Since parts on it seem to come from different bikes altogether.

Someone on another forum said that the rear end is from a DOHC 750/900.

[zkptn]

The seat and tail plastic is 100% deff off a CB750F/CB900F, as is the rear light unit. No doubt about it.
Looks like an interesting hybrid you have there....

[McSnotty]

There is every chance that this could be a Police model as Honda (and other manufacturers) would build bikes to specific order if the quantity was sufficient. As this is a 1979 model then it could quite easily have the newer seat and ductail from the 750 cousin. The fairing is similar to some fitted to police models that appeared in NZ in the early 1980s and the extra brackets on the frame by the pillion footrests could be the mounts for police issue pannier bags. Couldn't think of anybody other than the police having Koni shocks fitted on a 550 except for high speed pursuit. If the switch gear hasn't been changed and it is a police model there should be a couple of extra buttons for siren and lights (red flashing) on them. Police models are becoming quite rare now (and expensive) as a lot have been converted to civilian use (I know as I converted a Suzuki GT380 to civvy use years ago) so perhaps a little more research is required before its heritage is discounted. Regards.

[fido]

But would they have called it a K3 if it was to Police spec?
http://www.vf750fd.com/blurbs/brochures ... 500p-2.jpg

[McSnotty]

As Weakener says he has been told that it is a K3 and has been labelled in a distintive style by a previous owner. The only way to identify it as a original factory police model would be to check the frame prefix. My parts book indicates that all factory police frame numbers started with CB550P xxxxxx. This however wouldn't include models that were altered by importers that may have been used as special escort motorcycles that also seemed to be white.
And really who would want to paint a bike white to look like a police model unless they wanted to be laughed at by their mates, or suffered from a medical condition. The orginal factory K3 was definitely the more attractive bike and anybody would be proud to ride one -----but a white one??? Hmmm - not to sure about that.