Topic: Got A Bike For My Wife

[KC_Northstar]

My Wife said she wanted to learn to ride a motorcycle so I found her this 1979 CM400A Hondamatic with only
1900 miles on it.  Its in immaculate condition.  Not a mark on it.  I figure its the perfect starter bike for her.
She loves it.  Never thought she would be interested in motorcycles. 

KC

[ekpent]

That does look like a perfect starter bike. What's the story on it, a one owner garage queen with those miles and condition ?
  Your wife looks like a Happy camper     I don't think my wife would ever be safe on one, just does not have that coordination from what I have seen.

[b5rider]

I got my wife the same bike!
Except, she now wants to sell it

[Johnie]

Very nice bike there. She looks proud too.   Honda made the CM400's in an attempt to get the ladies interested. Also made it for the short crotch guys. Very lady oriented bike. I restored 2 and they sold fast. Have fun riding together...it will be good times.

[chewbacca5000]

The CM400A sound like a gateway drug to start her addiction off.  Before you know it she will want to have a CB750 with a billet block and rods.

[KC_Northstar]

That does look like a perfect starter bike. What's the story on it, a one owner garage queen with those miles and condition ?

It was on Craigs List about 100 miles from my house.   I bought it from the second owner.  The original owner owed him money
and offered the bike to settle the debt.  He described the original owner as a "meticulous nut job" as everything he owned was
kept in mint condition.  He bought it new in 1979 for his wife and she never rode it much.  The second owner just stored it away
in an airport hanger for a year before putting it on craigs list.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  It is close to showroom condition.
Not a speck of rust.  Almost any bike that old has a rusty bolt head or something.  Not this one. I could not believe the condition.
It ran OK, but I drained out the old gas and removed and cleaned the carbs. I also discovered a vacuum leak in the carb boots,
so I bought new O rings for them.  Adjusted the valves and cam chain., new oil and filter and it runs super.  I feel lucky to have
found such a nice bike for her.

[Stev-o]

Very cool.  How do you like riding an automatic?

[KC_Northstar]

Very cool.  How do you like riding an automatic?

It's a little weird.     Neutral is at the bottom of the shift pattern.  There is a lever on the left, but it is not a clutch
it is a parking brake!  It has a button that you need to press to activate it.  Takes two hands, so you cant accidentally
engage it while moving.  Its not fully auto.  You have to shift between 2 gears. You leave it in first up to about 30
and then shift it into second.  It's got more get up and go than I expected.  I thought it would be a real dog, but it
zips right along.  Top speed of 85-90.  Handles pretty nice.  It was really hard for me to get used to stopping without
squeezing a clutch.  In my mind I kept expecting it to lurch a couple times and kill the engine, but it just stops and sits
there idling. But the real hard part to get used to is almost no engine braking,  it just coasts so you end up using the brakes
more than a normal bike.  Very smooth running engine as it has counter balancing vibration dampening.  Its really kinda fun
to ride and my wife really likes it. 

[KC_Northstar]

The CM400A sound like a gateway drug to start her addiction off.  Before you know it she will want to have a CB750 with a billet block and rods.

Ya, I'm thinking that she might want to move up to a 79 CBX eventually. And maybe, just maybe I would ride the CBX too!

[Trevor from Warragul]

Maybe we should start a "Wife also rides" thread



Trevor