Best year for a cb 750k

[garygbnj]

Looking for a sohc cb 750k.  Is there a best year?  I luv the polynesian blue metallic or blue metallic that was available only for Europe/Japan.  Did any of these make it to the USA?

[Re-run]

Yeah depends on which style you like, 69-76 or 77/78. I prefer 77/78 for looks, but also the engines are excellent for the K model. The bikes are heavier, but weight can always be lost.
If you like the earlier style, then I would go with 72 or earlier. In 73, power really started to tank in favor of smooth running, 74 was the worse year on power output. 75/76 got better, mostly in the form of the F model. Who's engine, btw, was put in the 77/78K with additional hp.

If you do find a 74, be sure to swap out the front sprocket for a 17 tooth. A big part of its lag came from the 18tooth they put on. The engine just lugged too bad in 5th gear to be useful.

[TOOLS1]

The 77-78 had a big heavy 630 chain with 15 and 41 tooth sprockets, not an 18 tooth sprocket. The only real difference in the "K" engines over the years was the 77-78 had the sprocket off set 10mm for the big heavy 630 chain, and the 78 used the valves and keepers from the 77-78 "F" engine, which are no longer available in case you would ever need to replace the valves. However you can replace them with the 69-76 valves, retainers, and keepers$$$$$$. The 75-76 "F" used the same engine as the "K", but the 77-78 "F" had significant changes to the heads, valves, cam, and pistons. As far as one being the best, it depends on what you are looking for. Do you want one to be a collector piece and raise in value? If so, you want a 69 K-0 Sandcast. If you want a reliable rider, any 70-78 "k" model will fit the bill. If you want the best color, well that is up to you and what color you like. However they make paint every day.
TOOLS

[Re-run]

Only the 74 had the 18 tooth, previous K models uses 17, or in the case of 1969, 16 tooth. The tooth changes in 77/78 were from the chain. 69-76 used a 530 chain but they switched as chains of the day were not that strong and people were doing a lot of modding to engines and cracking cases when the 530 broke.

The offset allowed the 630 chain to also be an oring chain, the benefits of which are obvious.

Looks, color, value are all subjective though. If I had a mint 69 sandy, I would not ride it very often precisely because of its value, not so much in money but to motorcycle history.

[TWEEKER]

Late 71 model! I think they are the best. The pipes,cam,ignition timing,and on the late model k1 when they started the two row out shaft bearing for strength.