Honda CA95 Benly Production Numbers

ByTheLake · Post by **ByTheLake** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 3:00 am

After exchanging emails with noted early Honda experts such as Bill Silver and Ray Davis (both of whom directed me to the other

), I found some interesting data. It was suggested that I review the parts manuals for clues, which I did in great depth. Finding nothing, I dug deeper, reviewing CA95 parts microfiche, when I found a frame and engine index. The numbers seemed to be good, although I found no data for the '59 or '66 model years. Could the '59, being in very low numbers, have had a special set of numbers? Perhaps this fiche was published before the '66 model year? Not sure, but I'm interested in your thoughts.

I searched for the frame and engine numbers that others have posted online, and they seem to fit these ranges. Regardless, I consider this to be a 'draft' copy, subject to change.

My own '65 CA95, CA95-5016546, fits. This would suggest that my CA95 is number 16,546 of 19,831 built that year.

* I noticed that the 1965 engine and frame number ranges are similar, but I double-checked the microfiche and confirmed what was listed.

So, having some fun with the numbers...

1) The "early" CA95, sold '59 into mid-'63, is much less common than the "late" CA95.

2) Since the "late" CA95 started with frame number CA95-3106641 in 1963, that splits the 1963 production into 6640 "early" models and 5960 "late" models.

3) The 1964 and 1965 models are the most common, while 1960 and 1961 should be the "rarest" (aside from the few '59s that were sold by Honda's 15 dealers by the end of that year)

comp_wiz101 · Post by **comp_wiz101** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 7:37 pm

Cool, mine is a late '62 build then. Thanks!

Puzzleparadise · Post by **Puzzleparadise** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 3:08 am

I recently purchased a '66 CA 150 and then stumbled upon this wonderful forum, it's a great resource...special thanks to everyone involved!

My Benly is registered as a '66 however the serial #CA95-5016332 seems to be for a '65...?

Seems strange how it was registered as a '66 but obviously using a '65 frame number...strange?

This was originally imported from Florida..

Engine #CA95E-6016590
Frame #CA95-5016332

Sorry to dredge up an older post...hope that's okay

DanUhr · Post by **DanUhr** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 5:34 am

Does anyone have production figures for the C92 or CA92?

ByTheLake · Post by **ByTheLake** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 6:03 am

DanUhr wrote:Does anyone have production figures for the C92 or CA92?

This is all I can assemble on the C92. The data is from several sources including old dealer fiche cards. In those days, Honda didn't consistently follow model year boundaries, making product changes as needed. Also, the dealers tended to title the bikes based on when they were sold, not necessarily when they were manufactured, so it clouds the picture a bit. It seems that the C92 is much more plentiful than the CA92, since I could only find a reference for the CA92 being manufactured for one year, sold mainly in 1959, and sharing the engine and frame range with the C92, with the exception that the serials started with 'CA'. If anybody else has additional information, please feel free to share.

Jetblackchemist · Post by **Jetblackchemist** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 9:08 am

Your post if accurate; it just turned my 63' into a 64' close to the beginning of the 64' production run though. The other vintage info provided on this site, and else where including the Honda vintage section placed it as a 63'...

Is there just one document; stating the numbers you provided?
It sounds like you put a lot of work into your research; however if 3 documents put it as a 63' run; and 1 document as a 64', I'm going to go by a 63'.

If the 4 starting the Vintage stands for the 4 in 1964; then I completely agree. My motor number is less than 15 numbers off the frame. Which; makes me wonder how rare a bike with matching numbers, would be.

Jetblackchemist · Post by **Jetblackchemist** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 9:28 am

The run of motors, is only 154 more than it was for the frame; which if we assume that's how many were defective...it makes the Benly a very quality built machine. Over 63,000 produced with only 154 defective says a lot.

The 1959 and the 1966 run numbers could come close to being extrapolated, from the given information if; we had a total run on all of the machines built, without too much difficulty.

Spokes · Post by **Spokes** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 12:57 pm

Puzzle:

Your frame number say's it is a 1965. Your engine says it's a 1966. Why is it a 66? Perhaps it was titled by the engine number at some point.

It is likely that it is not the original engine. one cannot tell the difference between a 65 & 66 CA95. It seems that there are some 66 CA95's even though they were upgraded to the CA160 model in 1966.

The frame and engine numbers usually don't match. But the 1st number of the engine & frame should.

Puzzleparadise · Post by **Puzzleparadise** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 1:09 pm

Yeah, I was wondering that as well...perhaps someone from Florida could shed some light on their DMV procedures as I'm pretty sure it would have been registered there at some point?

Jetblackchemist · Post by **Jetblackchemist** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 2:19 pm

I feel the same as Spokes; at some point in the life of your 160, the motor was swapped...

Spokes how far off in numbers are your frame and motor; from your scratch built?

For fun I think it would be an interesting project to see if any members have, a matching motor for another member's frame. It would be kinda neat if say My frame matched; Smithers motor...or Spokes motor matched Bythelakes frame.

Even though, the odds that any bikes left the assembly line; with matching numbers is way out there in probability...It would be cool to find out where it's "number buddy" ended up.

Puzzleparadise · Post by **Puzzleparadise** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 2:55 pm

Jetblackchemist wrote:I feel the same as Spokes; at some point in the life of your 160, the motor was swapped...

Spokes how far off in numbers are your frame and motor; from your scratch built?

For fun I think it would be an interesting project to see if any members have, a matching motor for another member's frame. It would be kinda neat if say My frame matched; Smithers motor...or Spokes motor matched Bythelakes frame.

Even though, the odds that any bikes left the assembly line; with matching numbers is way out there in probability...It would be cool to find out where it's "number buddy" ended up.

That would be very cool!

Spokes · Post by **Spokes** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 4:58 pm

Here is how cool and weird the numbers get.

The barn find Honda that I built several years ago came from Ohio. The next year a friend from Minnesota sends me the frame that begun the Build from Scratch. The frame number numbers were 21 builds apart. Wild. Both bikes were white.

The Build From Scratch frame is the 193rd. 1965, CA95, built. Now the engine is probably the latest engine built the same year...but it is not, as it is a combination of used parts from a 1962, 1964 & 1965 motors. So the build from scratch engine number is 11,900+ different from the frame number.

To add to weirdness...the last 3 digits of my CA95 first build(2007) and the last 3digits of the engine assembled for the BFC (2012)....are the same.....

So if you really wanted a 65 CA95 engine on a 65 CA95 frame...just swap out the 1966 top engine case with 1965 top engine case....

Puzzleparadise · Post by **Puzzleparadise** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 5:07 pm

Spokes wrote:

To add to weirdness...the last 3 digits of my CA95 first build(2007) and the last 3digits of the engine assembled for the BFC (2012)....are the same.....

Wow....what a coincidence!

Jetblackchemist · Post by **Jetblackchemist** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 5:52 pm

Spokes wrote:To add to weirdness...the last 3 digits of my CA95 first build(2007) and the last 3digits of the engine assembled for the BFC (2012)....are the same...

Was your first build frame the same year, as your BFC built motor; Or different years but the same digits?

Pretty cool either way...

I rechecked my numbers for frame and engine; they are the exact same number, except for the E on the motor; and the last two digits...Motor ends 74 frame ends 61 they are only 13 apart from each other.

A little added fun: Benly translates roughly as "Convenience" in Japanese.

Spokes · Post by **Spokes** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 7:22 pm

same years....