Hi everyone,
been poking around here for a few months, just reading and browsing. Figured I would start my own build thread and see where things take me. Little background, first ever motorcycle was a 2001 Honda XR100 back when I was a kid. After a very severe accident, my Dad and I decided to sell the dirt bikes and ATVs and we swore off bikes. Fast forward a bit and I messed around with cars and for a while (still in the process of building an MR2...never ending money pit). Then a few months ago, my Dad randomly showed up with a little CB125. Looks like we're back into the bike thing again. I snagged a CB550F for a good deal but it's an all original bike and I can't bring myself to mess with anything on it. Enter the 400F and I have a toy to play with. I'm very bad with remembering to take pictures while I work but I'll do my best to remember.
Here's what I started with
No controls, no signals, no front brake, massive handlebars. Was assured by the seller that it would start right up if I stuck a batter in and installed new controls. I didn't believe him one but so I tore into the carbs and found that I was missing some jets, floats, and the float pins. Also discovered a massive hole in the air box that I didn't notice when I looked at the bike (it was night time).
Pretty sure that it didn't leave the factory like that.
I had to see what this would look like
Bought a carb rebuild kit and some new pins and had the carbs cleaned up and reinstalled. Figured I would skip the air box since it was damaged and installed some pod filters. Let the tank sit with some apple cider vinegar to remove the gunk and surface rust. Also picked up some 350F bars with the controls and such and installed those. Surprisingly, bike started up first kick. Not going to be running the starter motor so I'll need to figure out a plug or something. Moved around the electronics and battery to clean things up a bit and I ended up with this.
Side panels were cracked so I made some from a bit of aluminum I had laying around
Then some Woodcraft Clip-on bars showed up and some new cables and we have this
Then I messed around with the wiring a bit and got the headlight and brake light working and installed a Nissin master cylinder with stainless steel brake line (excuse the zip ties, that'll be done up properly soon).
Next on the list is to have a spare swing arm rebuilt by Hondaman and then go through the forks and install some emulators and new springs. Thinking to go with Progressive rear shocks as well. Also need new tires, indicators, going to replace all the bearings, and install some rearsets. Must say, I missed the bikes and it's good to be back on a Honda.
