The Honda CB450's arrival in 1965 should have dispelled any lingering doubts about Japan's intention to compete in all sectors of the motorcycle market. Honda's largest model when launched, the CB450 capitalised on experience gained with a succession of smaller-capacity twins but nevertheless departed from its maker's usual practice in a number of ways, in particular its use of twin overhead camshafts, torsion-bar valve springs and constant-velocity carburettors. The tubular frame, replacing Honda's traditional fabricated spine type, was another departure from the norm. In 1967 it was joined by a CL450 'street scrambler' variant, which boasted an upswept exhaust system, wider handlebars and spring-loaded footrests among other off-road adaptations. This rare and collectible early Japanese classic was first registered in the UK in 2013 and comes with HMRC and DVLA paperwork, expired MoT (November 2014) and a V5C document.
