Honda - 250cc model K4

Author's product rating:   

Comfort
Handling
Looks
Features
Fuel consumption

Advantages:	Economic on petrol, handled well on and off road, lots of power !
Disadvantages:	You'll have to look to find one

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

In the history of Honda, I'd say 1972 was a very good year. In the old gold/black colour scheme, Honda brought out a 250 K4, a bike that packed quite a lot of power for it's cc's. My ex-husband and I had one.
It was no lightweight, being equally as heavy as some other makers 650's and 750's, but was excellent on manouverability and it had some power.

In my youth (she says) ... we managed to get 104mph going down the Kings Lynn bypass, with two up. That bike sure had more power than you would have expected!

It was excellent on petrol, and we did most of the mechanics on it ourselves - guided by one of those manuals with the step-by-step instructions.

There are some of these still about, old "L" reg dinosaurs now but I wouldn't mind betting that with a bit of tlc they could once more be a king of the road.

Out of the Japanese bikes, I've always had respect for Honda. They made a good reliable product at a reasonable price. In the late 60's/early 70's most of the bikes ridden by my mates were Hondas of various styles. They spent more time on the road than the bikes made by other makers, that were ridden in our group.

Unlike the newer bikes, the old separate tank/seat had more style, to my mind. The K4 also had more of a deeper rumble to it, less tinny than a lot of the other makes at the time, and newer bikes now.

If you find one of these lying derelict in a shed somewhere, or for sale at an auction, take it home, and work on it awhile. My bet is, you'll end up with a bike you'll fall in love with, and that will give you years of service. In those days they were built to last!