Topic: CB400f rarity?

[txterror]

How rare/desirable is a 1975 CB400f? Just out of curiosity. Read that they were, but rather gets y'alls opinion.

[MoMo]

77 was the rarest as it had the lowest production.  The 400f did not sell all that well back in the day as cruisers were more the rage rather than cafe style so production was halted in 1977.  However, one of the magazines rated the 400f as one of the most significant motorcycles ever made and the prices skyrocketed, 3 to 4k is not all that uncommon for a very clean original and  one would be hard pressed to find a decent runner under a grand...Larry

[txterror]

Thanks MoMo

[Deltarider]

Particular the Brits love them. You can't open a British magazine about classic motorcycles or there'll be an article in it about the 400/4. It was and is a very clever bike indeed. The only thing wrong with it is, that in their love to make everything as compact as possible, Honda produced something that - missing the majestic 4 in 4 - had the appearance of a moped and shared that nasty naked left side with the 550Fs. But that's just me (6 foot 6). If you're not that tall the bike offers a superb riding position. That said, a friend of mine who happens to be as tall as I am, rode it all the way to Morocco and back. From a technical POV the bike is brilliant. If only Honda had mounted a 4 in 4 to avoid that naked left side. A 4 in 2 would have been an acceptable compromise IMO.

[Stev-o]

Not rare at all, a quick search on eBay turned up four for sale. 

Momo - don't you have a couple in your shop?

But production numbers were nowhere near the CB750, which had approx 600,000 manufactured from '69-78. 

Restored bikes in original condition are selling for good money these days especially with that beautiful 4-1 swooping exhaust.   

[Rodger]

1975 fetch the most money and though the 1977 was produced in lower number are worth the least. 

[dave500]

more collectable than ridable?too small capacity for the average bloke?first hill you hit youll be down two gears?good six speed box though to help,probably good nippy city bike?

[Stev-o]

too small capacity for the average bloke?

+1.  A couple years back, I wanted one. Then after seeing and sitting on it, decide too small.

I would like to have Momo's Pink 400F though!

[Rodger]

more collectable than ridable?too small capacity for the average bloke?first hill you hit youll be down two gears?good six speed box though to help,probably good nippy city bike?

It's a great bike to ride, but I am 5-8 and 165#.  Fast enough to be fun and the handling is fantastic!!  Motor runs a smooth as silk, takes the curves like butter.  Punched out to 466 the power is much better.  Come on it was know as the " Giant Killer" and for good reason!  It a perfect size bike for me though, bigger bikes feel a bit harder to throw around in the corners.  The 400F feels like an extension of my own body, like we are one.  I've owned 3 and as you can tell I am a big fan and a bit in love with them.

[Rodger]

Oh, and it's has the best looking exhaust ever produced on a stock bike.   I am just a tiny bit bias

[dave500]

ive never ridden one,im 5/4 but say 75 kilos,id like to ride one to compare with the 500/550s I like,i feel the loss of 150cc would kill it for me?the 550s struggle as it is?
v rod
we don't know this V rod guy by the way.

[Stev-o]

Giant Killer?  Ah, I think you might be confusing that with the RD350.....


http://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/the-giant-killer-yamaha-350/

[Rodger]

Giant Killer?  Ah, I think you might be confusing that with the RD350.....


http://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/the-giant-killer-yamaha-350/

No I not think so.........

The CB400F was a very successful motorcycle in club or privateer racing. Kaz Yoshima and other racers were able to take Honda's little 408 cc engine up to 490 cc and with the addition of other racer options, this small bore was considered a 'giant killer'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CB400F

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2012/dmg/barber/rf2/9.htm

http://vintageracebike.com/race-bike-albums/vintage-honda-race-bikes/honda-cb350f-cb400f-vintage-race-bike/

http://www.cyclechaos.com/wiki/Honda_CB400F

[MoMo]

Couple other tidbits,  it was the first mass produced 6 speed and first bike to red line over 10k

77 is not as desirable today because Honda installed higher  handlebars and moved the footpegs forward in an effort to entice American riders to buy.  Sales were a big disappoint back then,  the 400f was totally redesigned and recreated around 89-and was another flop,  seems American riders need more power

The pink bike is the only complete 400 I have left Steve.  I am suffering from bike building burn out that is coupled with making my house liveable-I have not worked on a bike since late fall

Yes, it is the most beautiful exhaust ever designed by Honda..

I rode one from Philly to New Hampshire, enough power for my body(140 at the time, just a bit heavier now ) but one does have to shift quite a bit

[hoodellyhoo]

Couple other tidbits,  it was the first mass produced 6 speed and first bike to red line over 10k

Suzuki X6 Hustler and RD350 both had 6 speeds and were around before the 400f

[kghost]

You'd probably miss the extra displacement Dave......

But then you think your current bike needs more displacement.

(btw....you'll never catch the 250 now...I went up 6 teeth on the rear...now I can use 6th at 150 kph)

I really love my 400....

[MoMo]

Couple other tidbits,  it was the first mass produced 6 speed and first bike to red line over 10k

Suzuki X6 Hustler and RD350 both had 6 speeds and were around before the 400f

True but I think the article I'm referencing was either wrong or said 4 stroke or Honda. Cannot remember the source to look it up(actually, barely remember yesterday)-

[trueblue]

ive never ridden one,im 5/4 but say 75 kilos,id like to ride one to compare with the 500/550s I like,i feel the loss of 150cc would kill it for me?the 550s struggle as it is?
v rod
we don't know this V rod guy by the way.

Dave, you need a 650 engine in that bike of yours. You would have rounded him up easily.

[dave500]

that guy could ride Andrew and its a road block!thats a lump of a bike though he did well!,your on tim,youll run out of legs geared that low!

[trueblue]

I could see that, he was flicking it round the corners with ease.  Like a mate of mine, he rides a goldwing and surprises young kids on their crotch rockets quite regularly.  What you needed was some more power in the straights.

[dave500]

ha!40 year old 550cc Honda four holds its own with new Harley three times its size?

[trueblue]

It is fun showing up the hardley owners who think they have a fast bike.

[dave500]

man ive out dragged straight lined a couple in the suburbs and they looked pissed off?your stock Harley is a piece of crap with an owner who doesent even understand the four stroke cycle let alone have enough tools to get him into trouble?

[John Eberly]

My 400/4 is my first "real" bike after restoring an S90. It's a rider in need of some cosmetics.

It is definitely small for me at 6'-1" and 250 lbs. My longest ride to date is probably 50 miles to work. I start having leg cramps after about 10 minutes in the saddle but have learned to ride through the pain. You forget after a while. The wind buffeting over 60 mph is impressive, I guess my head is sticking forward too far. Tries to lift my open face helmet right off my head. I don't plan to try it on the interstate - the bike is too wind sensitive for me to be dicing it up with semi trucks.

This bike is the most fun around town. You can rip through 3 gears and be doing about 45. Feels like it's fast, but you're really just playing with the gears. That six speed is addictive, and the exhaust note sounds like an F1 car. Lots of people notice it, right down to 10 year old kids.

I'm finishing up a CL450 now, and I might let go of the 400 if I like the twin better. It would be fun to have both, though - I think my wife would look pretty cute on the 400...

[Rodger]

It is fun showing up the hardley owners who think they have a fast bike.

 Too bad for them being LOUD doesn't make you fast.  Most of the that I see are loud, popping, backfiring and running like crap from being modified with out having it tuned afterwards.    But whatever they think it cool and I guess that's all that matters.  They probably don't like my #$%*ty jap, rice burner bikes either.