i'm looking to buy a 1972 bear super kodiak.  need as much input as possible to help identify this year model.  i found one a guy says is a 1972 but it has a blue strip.  i thought the blue strip was later like 1975 or so.  please help!

72 doesn't have a blue stripe. 71 and 72 are the same except the side the decals are on. It will also have the steel insert on the front of the riser. Serial # will start with "K" and it will have a flush mounted coin.

72 willhave a rose strip and tips, plus all the rest Mike said above.