I have a weakness for older ‘service’ bikes, like a previously featured Honda Dream Fire Bike and this Honda CB450 Police Special, which may have also been officially called the Honda CP450. According to the AMA, just 25 were imported to the US to pilot an entrance into the police motorcycle market.
Obviously, it was based on the Black Bomber, but the Police Special got some trick features, including patrol lights, a rear rack to house the radio or other options, and a speedo calibrated to 1 mph that had a ‘stop’ button – press it while you matching the speed of a vehicle and it would pause the needle so you could refer to it later. But the coolest feature has to be the siren, which was turned on with a lever and operated from a drum that was driven by the rear wheel – the faster you went, the louder the siren was! For more information on the Police Special, check out this write-up from Motorcycle Classics.
Some day, this CB450P could look like the above…
This specific Honda CB450 Police Special (VIN: CB450P-3011411) is clearly going to need some work, but it’s thankfully still restorable. Unfortunately, the lights and siren are no longer with the bike, though I have encountered some sites that will sell you the rare parts – because these bikes were available in other countries. The motor turns over, and the lights flicker when you give the bike a kick – so there’s some life left in this old bike. I hope someone is able to bring it back to a good state.
Find this Honda CB450 Police Special for sale in Wichita, Kansas with bidding up to $810