Lot Ended
Description
From a
deceased estate; rare Police spec Honda with various special features; ‘new old
stock’ condition with zero road miles; imported from Japan with all duties paid;
NOVA reference
Launched in 1984, Honda’s CBX750P was a factory-built
variant of the civilian CBX750F produced exclusively for use by the Police –
hence the ‘P’ suffix. Unlike the chain-drive CBX750F sport bike, the CBX750P was
engineered specifically for low-maintenance, long-duration fleet use with a
shaft final drive, a built-in slipper clutch and hydraulic valve
lifters.
Delivered directly from the factory with dual sirens, red/blue
flashing pursuit lights and a PA system, it also had engine crash guards,
built-in hard panniers, a single-occupancy solo seat and an 18” front wheel for
improved high-speed stability compared to the 16” front wheel found on civilian
CBX750 variants.
Special Police instrumentation included a ‘Meter Stop’
feature on the handlebars: when an officer matched a speeder's pace, pressing
the pursuit switch froze the speedometer needle at the target vehicle's exact
speed to act as legal evidence. Curiously, it had no fuel gauge which could have
caused a few red faces in certain life-or-death hot pursuit
situations…
The CBX750P became standard fleet equipment in countries such
as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey, Gibraltar and parts of South America.
While the civilian CBX750F was phased out in 1988, Honda continued to produce
the Police version until 1994. They even temporarily reactivated the assembly
line in 1997 to fulfil a final batch order for the Irish Garda.
Exact
production figures are hard to pin down but it is generally accepted that it was
probably no more than around 10,000 compared to perhaps 50,000 of the civilian
versions.
This particular CBX 750P was made in Japan for the Japanese
market in 1989. In ‘new old stock’ condition, it has never been ridden on the
public highway and shows only 11 miles on the odometer, clocked up as the bike
has been pushed in and out of storage by hand. We are told that the engine has
been started from time to time to keep everything free and that the bike is in
good running order.
On offer here from a deceased estate, we are told
that the late-owner imported this bike from Japan with all duties paid (as
confirmed by the NOVA reference in the history file) but it has never been UK
registered.
The new owner should be able to get it registered using the
requisite DVLA form V55/5 in conjunction with a dating certificate obtainable
from an authority such as the Vintage Japanese Motorcyle Club and the NOVA
reference supplied, plus an MOT certificate which will need to be obtained via
the frame number and payment of a £55 fee.
As you can see in the photos,
this rare Honda Police bike is in totally original and generally very good
condition apart from some staining to the paint on the fuel tank and some damage
to the rear left pannier.
An ideal addition to any Japanese bike
collection, this Honda will attract lots of attention on the show circuit
and doubtless has the potential to earn a decent living as a TV or film
prop.
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 –
james.dennison@brightwells.com