"New" 1968 Honda CL305 up for auction

[smi481]

L side

[smi481]

There you go. That's all the pictures
I could find.

Is this a $16,000 bike?

Thanks everybody for your help.

[Michael Stoic]

I can't comment on whether everything on the bike is original and correct, but life is funny and here is what I know:

Back in 1997, when I first became interested in old Hondas, I got in touch with a collector in Western Massachusetts who invited me to stop by and look at his bikes. His collection included supperb condition bikes, including a restored Benly, several Superhawks and also the CL77 of this thread. I loved seeing all the beautiful bikes and spent a nice afternoon photographing them.

Although I did not know enough back then to really appreciate the significance of this, the collector pointed out the candy-apple or burnt-apple orange paint of this CL and told me it was a rarity.

At some point, a few years hence, the collector switched his collecting attention to another area and sold the Hondas. FWIW: I guess we can trace the "provenance" of this particular CL for at least 10 years and confirm its former place in a serious collection.

Michael Stoic

PS The current owner, now in Illinois, contacted me and asked that his bike be listed in the "Bikes for Sale" section of honda305.com/marketplace. The CO can be contacted through the listing page.

[smi481]

Thanks for the info Mike.
I have received three emails about the
bike. Apparently, the seat is incorrect,
(no light grey cord), the tank has been
removed at some time, which explains
the cable hanging outside on the R
side, instead of being routed UNDER
the tank, the tires are also not standard
and "LoudMouse" posed a good question
about the kick starter location?

It is listed as "new," in some ads,
but if it has been registered to other
fellows before, it must/should
be listed as "like new."

Terry G. wrote and informed me that
for a bike to be truly/legally "new" it
is not supposed to be registered
to multiple owners/folks, before.

I appeciate all the help. The experts
on this forum really help with educated
questions. Like - Where is the original
seat? Why was it removed? Were other
parts taken off and perhaps sold, because of
their rarity, then replaced with non-standard
parts, (i.e. - What would a perfect, new 1968
CL77 seat, with the correct light colored cord,
sell for??) ?

Why was the tank removed .... on a "brand new" bike?
Why were the tires replaced? etc, etc.

When you may be getting up to $8,000 - $12,000+ range,
for a Honda 305 .... questions have to be asked,
by people who know this bike .... like the guys on this
forum!

Jim

[LOUD MOUSE]

I'll go for everything except the tire. It's worth what someone will pay for it. Would you put $16,000 in a piece of art? Some will. .............lm

There you go. That's all the pictures
I could find.

Is this a $16,000 bike?

Thanks everybody for your help.

[jwbert]

Where are the foot pegs and the kick start rubber?

[jwbert]

Ok I see foot pegs in the later pics from the left side. In the original pic of the whole bike I could not see rider pegs.