Honda CL450

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1968-Honda-CL450K1-Red-0.jpg
Honda CL450
Manufacturer
[[Honda]]
Class [[:Category:Enduro motorcycles|Enduro]] [[Category:Enduro motorcycles]]
Spark Plug NGK B8ES
Battery YUASA 12N12A-4A-1
Final Drive Chain: 530x92
Front Sprocket 15T
Rear Sprocket 35T
Front Tire 3.25x19
Rear Tire 3.50x18
Weight
Recommended Oil Honda GN4 10W-40
Manuals

Brochures ·

The Honda CL450 was a 4-stroke 450cc street motorcycle built by Honda between 1967 and 1974. The CL designation indicated this model to be the "Scrambler" version which implied some off-road capability prior to actual dirt-bikes gaining popularity. The CL series of bikes were actually street bikes with a higher rear fender, a braced handlebar, and a high-mount exhaust.

See also: Honda CL-series

History

The sister bike to the Honda CB450, the CL450 is the dual sport or "scrambler" model of Honda's 444cc DOHC parallel twin engined motorcycle. Although the difference between both models are mostly cosmetic, the CL450's higher pipes, knobby tires, and aggressive styling were better suited for off-road riding.

Initially available in kit form for the 1967 CB450, it was officially released in 1968 as the CL450K1 "Scrambler" in candy red and candy blue colors (only the tank and air filter covers were painted). This year also saw the addition of a 5-speed gearbox, an upgrade from the older 4-speed.

The CL450 remained much the same through 1974, though diverged further from it's sister bike as time went on. While the CB450 went to a front disc brake in 1970, Honda decided to keep the CL450 with it's two drum brakes. Disc brakes were fairly new technology on motorcycles, and unproven in off-road riding. The CL450 was replaced in 1975 when Honda increased the displacement of the engine and renamed it the Honda CB500T.

The bike remains popular today among enthusiasts, and many are still in use in flat track racing or have been modified into cafe racers.

CL450 Videos

1967

1967 Honda CL450 Scrambler 450
1967 Honda CL450 Scrambler 450


The CL450K0 (also designated CB450D) was sold in 1967. It came in one of three color schemes: Metallic Silver with Black, Candy Red with Black, or Candy Blue with Black. The upper forks and headlight shell were black. The fenders were chrome. The two chrome exhaust pipes were upswept one on each side. The "450" side cover decal was on a checkerboard stripe. The engine was a 444cc DOHC parallel twin with dual CV carburetors. The transmission was a 4-speed. The serial number began CB450-1000001.

1968-1969

Honda CL450K1 Scrambler 450
1968 Honda CL450K1 in Candy Blue
1968 Honda CL450K1 in Candy Blue
1968 Honda CL450K1 in Candy Blue
1968 Honda CL450K1 in Candy Blue
1968 Honda Scrambler 450 (CL450K1) in Candy Red
1968 Honda Scrambler 450 (CL450K1) in Candy Red


The Honda Scrambler 450 designated CL450K1 was sold in 1968-69. Three colors were available: Candy Blue, Candy Red, and Metallic Silver. The fuel tank wing emblem reads "HONDA 450". The upper forks and headlight shell were black. The front fender had braces. The exhaust system was directed to the left side of the bike and over the gearbox. It had a two-piece heat shield and a 1-piece chrome muffler. The engine was a 444cc 4-stroke DOHC parallel twin with two CV carburetors. The transmission was a 5-speed. The serial number began CL450-1000001.

1969

1969 Honda CL450K2 Scrambler 450


The CL450K2 Scrambler 450 was sold in 1969 and was available in one of three colors: Candy Red, Candy Blue, or Metallic Silver. The gas tank stripe was gold. The "HONDA" emblem on the tank was white. The upper forks and headlight shell were black. The seat surface was pleated. The front fender had braces. The taillight lens was rectangular. The "450 DOHC" side cover emblem was gold. The exhaust system was directed to the left side of the bike and over the gearbox. The engine was a 444cc 4-stroke DOHC parallel twin with two CV carburetors. The transmission was a 5-speed. The serial number began CL450-1012469.

1970

1970 Honda CL450K3 Scrambler 450
1970 Honda CL450K3 Scrambler 450


The CL450K3 Scrambler 450 was sold in 1970 in one of three colors: Candy Ruby Red, Candy Sapphire Blue, or Candy Topaz Orange. The gas tank stripes were white. The upper forks and headlight shell were the basic color (red, blue, or orange). The "450 DOHC" side cover emblem was gold. The seat surface was pleated. The taillight lens was rectangular. The exhaust system was directed to the left side of the bike and over the gearbox. The engine was a 444cc 4-stroke DOHC parallel twin with two CV carburetors. The transmission was a 5-speed. The serial number began CL450-4000001.


1971

1971 CL450 Left side
1971 CL450 Right Front





















The CL450K4 Scrambler 450 was sold in 1971 in one of three colors: Candy Topaz Orange, Strato Blue Metallic, or Poppy Yellow Metallic. The gas tank stripes were black. The side cover emblem reads "DOUBLE OVERHEAD CAM 450". The upper forks and headlight shell were the basic color (red, blue, or orange). The seat surface was pleated. The taillight lens was rectangular. The exhaust system had a one-piece heat shield and a one-piece chrome muffler. The engine was a 444cc 4-stroke DOHC parallel twin with two CV carburetors. The transmission was a 5-speed. The serial number began CL450-4100001.

1972-1973


The CL450K5 Scrambler 450 was sold from 1972 to 1973. It came in just two colors: Magna Red and Planet Blue Metallic. The gas tank had a new oval shape. The stripes on it were white and orange. The side cover emblem reads "DOUBLE OVERHEAD CAM 450". The seat surface was pleated. The upper forks were chrome. The headlight shell was black. The exhaust system had a three-piece heat shield and a two-piece chrome muffler. The engine was a 444cc 4-stroke DOHC parallel twin with two CV carburetors. The transmission was a 5-speed. The serial number began CL450-5000001.

1974

1974 Honda CL450K6 Scrambler 450


The CL450K6 Scrambler 450 was sold in 1974 and came in just one color: Candy Sapphire Blue Flake. The gas tank stripes were white and black. The "450 DOHC" side cover emblem was white and red. The gas tank shape went back to the shape of the K1 to K4 models. The seat surface was pleated. Behind the seat was a chrome grip pipe. The instruments were tilted toward the rider. The exhaust system had a 3-piece head shield and a 2-piece black muffler. The engine was a 444cc 4-stroke DOHC parallel twin with two CV carburetors. The transmission was a 5-speed. The serial number began CL450-6000011.

See Also



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