Rear Chain Sprocket | Honda CB450 / CL450 / CB500T
Sprockets are a wear item on any motorcycle, and your Honda CB450, CL450 Scrambler, or CB500T is no exception. This is a 35-tooth steel rear drive chain sprocket on the factory 530 chain pitch, available in the correct hub variant for your production year — because Honda changed the drive-stud design partway through the model run.
Why You Need This
Thin, pointy teeth are the sign that your rear sprocket is due. The rear is the driven sprocket and is made of softer steel than the front, and unlike a Honda front sprocket it cannot be flipped over for a second life — one direction only. The good news: rear sprockets last longer than most people expect when the chain is kept lubed and adjusted, because chain care is what preserves sprocket life.
When you do replace it, do the whole drivetrain at once. A new chain and sprocket set will make the bike feel tighter on the road and give great throttle response — and it keeps a worn part from eating its new neighbors.
Specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|
| Replaces OEM Part Numbers | 41201-375-000 |
| Fits Models | CB450 K1–K7 (1968–1974), CL450 K1–K6 (1968–1974), CB500T (1975–1976) |
| Chain Pitch | 530 |
| Tooth Count | 35T (stock size for CB450 / CL450) |
| Variants | #4045 — CB450 / CL450 K1–K4; #4046 — CB450 / CL450 K5–K7; #4046-Large Hole — CB500T only |
| Finish | Silver, or gold on the late (#4046) sprocket. Finish is cosmetic only. |
| Sold As | Sold Individually |
Note: A new drive chain cut to the correct link count should be installed with the new sprocket — and if you change tooth counts anywhere in the drivetrain, the link count changes with it.
Note: Sprocket designs may differ in appearance from those pictured.
Model-Specific Notes
- Which variant is which: The early and late CB450 / CL450 sprockets differ in how they are machined to seat on the hub and over the drive studs — the wider-lip style is found on earlier 450s and the narrower lip on later ones, and the change happened mid-production. Take a good look at the sprocket on your bike before ordering. If you are unsure, just email us with some photos of your original sprocket and we can help you figure it out.
- CB500T:The factory 33-tooth rear is no longer available — running this 35-tooth rear with a 16-tooth front sprocket puts the final-drive ratio very close to stock.
- CB350 / CL350 / CB360 / CL360 / CJ360: Different rear sprocket — see the CB350 / CB360 Rear Chain Sprocket.
Installation
Difficulty: Intermediate
Replace the rear sprocket, front sprocket, and drive chain together, and size the chain to your tooth-count combination — on the CB450 / CL450 the factory setup is a 15-tooth front, 35-tooth rear, and 92-link chain.
Use blue Loctite on the stud threads, torque the sprocket-retaining nuts to 400–500 kgf-cm (29.2–36.8 ft-lb) on the CB450 / CL450, and bend the lock tabs back into place against the nut flats. Keep the chain lubed and adjusted afterward.
Our Sprockets 101 video covers how sprockets wear, how tooth counts change the final-drive ratio, and shows the early and late CB450 / CL450 sprockets side by side so you can see the fitment difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which variant do I need?
Our #4045 sprocket fits the CB450 / CL450 K1 through K4, #4046 fits the K5 through K7, and #4046 - large hole fits the CB500T only. The difference is in how the sprocket is machined to fit the hub and drive studs, so check what is on your bike — the change happened mid-production, and the wrong variant will not seat correctly.
I have a CB500T — which sprocket and front do I run?
Order the #4046 - large hole. While the factory 33-tooth rear is no longer available, you can run this 35-tooth rear with a 16-tooth front sprocket — that combination puts your final-drive ratio very close to the factory setup.
Is there any difference between the gold and silver sprockets?
No — the finish is cosmetic only; the steel and the fit are the same. Gold is offered on the late (#4046) sprocket only.
Do I need a new chain and front sprocket too?
Replace all three together — a fresh part running against worn ones wears out early. The factory CB450 / CL450 chain is 92 links on the 530 pitch; our 530 roller drive chain is cut to your specified link count before shipping.
How do I know my rear sprocket is worn?
Look at the teeth: thin, pointy teeth mean it is time. Unlike the front sprocket, the rear cannot be reversed to stretch its life — once the teeth are gone, replace it.
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Last updated: June 2026
