1969 Honda CL350

1969 Honda CL350
Registration no. not UK registered
Frame no. CL350-1057193
Engine no. CL35E-1035357
Scrambler-style motorcycles with their high-mounted exhaust systems have always been a favourite of American riders. In 1968, Honda followed up their popular CL77 Street Scrambler with the CL350, powered by a new 325cc twin-cylinder engine also used for the CB350 sports roadster. With the later addition of an SL variant, the Honda 350s soon became the best-selling bikes in the USA, with the total produced numbering some 625,000.

Despite its distinctive crossover exhaust system and 'boom box' silencer, the CL was much more a street scrambler than a true off-roader, as pointed out by Road Test Quarterly in 1969. 'Bold, beautiful and boss. The best part about the Scrambler is tooling it down the road. With the double leading shoe brake at the front and a single leading unit at the rear, stopping is assured. Handling is more along the lines of a road racer.'

Because these popular machines were used for everything from commuting to off-roading to long-distance touring, complete low-mileage examples are now rare. The current vendor purchased this example at Bonhams Las Vegas sale in January 2015 (Lot 306). At that time it was said to have covered a mere 2,800 miles and was described as 'mechanically sound', a cosmetic restoration having been carried out on the original chrome pieces and bodywork, 'the latter finished in the correct, eye-catching Candy Blue over white'. There are no documents with this Lot.