While the world morns the passing of a cultural music icon, back in 1984 Prince worked his way into the hearts of motorcyclists when as
‘The Kid’ he roared across the big screen and the streets of Minneapolis aboard a purple and pink custom Honda in the rock opera Purple Rain.
The 1981 Honda CB400A Hondamatic graced the movie poster and the cover of the soundtrack album which we are guessing was a much better seller than the CB400A ever was.
Powered by an air-cooled 395cc, parallel twin-cylinder engine coupled to a two-speed (high and low) semi-automatic gearbox the CB400A Hondamatic featured a torque converter and a park brake in place of the clutch lever.
Three bikes were built for the movie, however, the main bike ridden by Prince and his impressive Afro was the most customised of the three and features in most of the scenes. It was fitted with five-spoke cast alloy wheels, fork-mounted fairing along with a custom handlebar, seat and sissy bar. It was finished off in tasteful purple with pink inserts. There’s even a Prince designed love symbol on the fairing.
In 1990 the bike formerly known as the Purple Rain bike was painted in black and gold for the Graffiti Bridge movie. Word is that the bike now resides at Prince’s Paisley Park Studios outside of Minneapolis.
Check out some awesome footage of the bike in action https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i6GwvEseLA