Topic: My 1976 CB400F Restoration Project Has Arrived

[WingMan71]

Yes!:A lot can happen over 50 years.
It cleaned up very well and will be a sweet ride no matter what.year it is. The VarnIsh  blue is stunning.

OK, got the rest of the numbers off of the bike.

Manufacture date: 7/75
VIN: CB400F-2006206
Engine #: CB400E-2006233

So, it's a 1976 frame and a 1976 engine, with 1975 varnish blue gas tank and side covers.

My favorite color is blue, so I'm quite happy with it.  Shipper is delivering it to me this Friday.  Can't wait.

[M 750K6]

Looks stunning. Keep us updated. 👍

[bryanj]

No its a 75, says so on the vin plate! Just may not have been sold/registered till 76.
When you buy parts go off the vin date NOT the paperwork date

[jlh3rd]

not according to Honda. It's a 1976. You buy parts for the model.
My '75 550F says 12/74 build date on the plate. That's a build date. Manufacture date.
Engine and frame #'s say it is a 1975 Honda 550F......there was no '74 550F so how would I buy parts for a 1974 550F.

[Nurse Julie]

If its a USA model, or Canadian, with that engine number and VIN, it's an F1 model. All F1's started with 20***** engine and frame numbers and it's only the F1's that start 20*****
Your bike was built in late 1975 or early 76 for the 1976 model year, as that was the only year the F1 were available.

[WingMan71]

No its a 75, says so on the vin plate! Just may not have been sold/registered till 76.
When you buy parts go off the vin date NOT the paperwork date

That VIN plate that was posted is NOT my bike's VIN plate.  I haven't even got the bike yet.

It's someone else's that they posted as an example.

[Ozzybud]

No its a 75, says so on the vin plate! Just may not have been sold/registered till 76.
When you buy parts go off the vin date NOT the paperwork date

7/75 build with a VIN 2xxxxxx  is a 1976 model and an F1.

[Mark1976]

   Once you get, that's when we know, till then it's just talk.

[jlh3rd]

Yes!:A lot can happen over 50 years.
It cleaned up very well and will be a sweet ride no matter what.year it is. The VarnIsh  blue is stunning.

OK, got the rest of the numbers off of the bike.

Manufacture date: 7/75
VIN: CB400F-2006206
Engine #: CB400E-2006233

So, it's a 1976 frame and a 1976 engine, with 1975 varnish blue gas tank and side covers.

My favorite color is blue, so I'm quite happy with it.  Shipper is delivering it to me this Friday.  Can't wait.

?
ok

[WingMan71]

OK, have my first question:

Tire sizes are 3.00 x 18 front and 3.50 x 18 rear.

My chart says that crosses to metric sizes 90/90 x 18 and 100/90 x 18 respectively, correct?

I'm finding 90/90 x 18 tires, but not finding 100/90 x 18 tires!

Where are you guys finding/buying your tires from?

[WingMan71]

   Once you get, that's when we know, till then it's just talk.

I already got the numbers off of the bike and posted them:

Manufacture date: 7/75
VIN: CB400F-2006206
Engine #: CB400E-2006233

[Ozzybud]

OK, have my first question:

Tire sizes are 3.00 x 18 front and 3.50 x 18 rear.

My chart says that crosses to metric sizes 90/90 x 18 and 100/90 x 18 respectively, correct?

I'm finding 90/90 x 18 tires, but not finding 100/90 x 18 tires!

Where are you guys finding/buying your tires from?

You are in SC right? Order these. Great tires and they look original.
No need to go Metric

[WingMan71]

You are in SC right? Order these. Great tires and they look original.
No need to go Metric

Thank you!

These tube type tires are bias ply, I presume?

Any advantage in going to a radial metric tire, for better handling, or not so much?

[Ozzybud]

You are in SC right? Order these. Great tires and they look original.
No need to go Metric

Thank you!

These tube type tires are bias ply, I presume?

Any advantage in going to a radial metric tire, for better handling, or not so much?

They are Bias ply. For the type of cruising that I do they perform just fine.

[M 750K6]

I find Avon Roadriders very good on a spirited ride, they do both sizes: https://www.avontyres.com/en-gb/tyres/roadrider-mkii

[Mark1976]

You are in SC right? Order these. Great tires and they look original.
No need to go Metric

Thank you!

These tube type tires are bias ply, I presume?

Any advantage in going to a radial metric tire, for better handling, or not so much?

They are Bias ply. For the type of cruising that I do they perform just fine.

   If you can get the tires in their original sizes, I'd do that as well. The metric equivalents are good tires (no argument there) but they are slightly larger than the originals, it looks as though that's whats currently on the bike. I've gone back to the original tire sizes and to be honest, they work fine, and look better as well. Just my experience...

[WingMan71]

The bike is here!  It arrived way earlier than expected.

Cleaned some more of the dust and dirt off of it and it's looking pretty good in my shop on my lift.  Attached two pictures.


Also attaching a picture of the fuel petcock.  This doesn't look like the proper petcock according to the Honda microfiche I'm looking at.  It says Keihin on it, but it has some sort of extra body part on the back with nothing connected to it.  I'm thinking that this is not the proper petcock, right?

[bryanj]

Not sure if that is a modified 2 outlet or one that only had 1 outlet machined

[Mark1976]

   There's 2 sizes of petcocks for this bike, yours like my 75 has the larger one, measure the bung, the later models have a (I believe 14mm bung) smaller bung. Either is fine.

[Ozzybud]

It looks identical to the petcock on my 1975.

Great looking bike! Congratulations!

[jlh3rd]

nice bike...original plug wires, caps, airbox, etc.
Hope it runs as good as it looks.

[WingMan71]

The more I get into it, the more I think that the really low mileage on this bike is correct.

The gas tank is like new inside, and the protective film is still on the back of the mirrors!

[Tim2005]

Looks great, it is so rare to see one so original. Also, I second the above recommendation for Avon Roadriders, they are brilliant on a CB400F (90/90 18 front, 100/90 18 rear)

[jlh3rd]

yeah, it makes you wonder why it's a nice '76 with a '75 tank and covers.

[WingMan71]

yeah, it makes you wonder why it's a nice '76 with a '75 tank and covers.

Exactly!

I was able to find contact information for the guy who owned the bike from 1987 to 1999 when he sold it to the guy I bought it from.

I'm going to try to contact him and see if he can fill in some of the bike's prior history.  Maybe we can figure this out.