1969 Honda CL175 Solo Motorcycle

Description

Soichiro Honda’s eponymous company was founded in 1948 and over the next decade established itself as one of the finest exponents of motorcycle manufacturing in Japan.  Released on January 1, 1968 and replacing the earlier CL160, the Honda’s CL175 Scrambler featured a tubular steel backbone chassis, more powerful 175cc engine and a five-speed transmission.  Cosmetic changes saw chrome mudguards and exhaust added along with a wider choice of colours, including Metallic Silver, Candy Blue and Candy Orange.  A revised K3 version appeared in 1969 with an all-tubular frame layout, high-mounted front guard and a revised instrument panel (including a tacho), while the K4 series of 1970 added a black muffler shield, reshaped tank and seat and a new range of colours.  The 175’s motor featured two valves per cylinder operated by a chain-driven single overhead camshaft, with twin Keihin 20mm carburetors and a 9:1 compression ratio.  The CL175 used a kick-starter, 18-inch wheels and drum brakes, along with a hydraulically damped telescoping fork and DeCarbon shocks at the rear.  The CL175 survived until 1973, when the new generation XL singles appeared and they remains popular with collectors today, with few surviving in good condition.