Lot Ended
Description
Rare Police spec Honda with various special features; 'new old
stock' condition; zero road miles; imported from Japan with all duties
paid; VJMC dating letter; NOVA reference; spare 'new old stock' fuel tank
included
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 comes with a Dating Letter from the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club
confirming that it was made in Japan for the Japanese market in 1987 (see last
photo).
In ‘new old stock’ condition, it has
never been ridden on the public highway and shows only 3 miles on the odometer,
mainly 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 the VJMC
Dating Letter 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 the fuel tank. This has sustained some damage while in storage, but a ‘new
old stock’ fuel tank is included (see photos).
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