Topic: Hey all, first post with questions

[GroovieGhoulie]

Hey everyone,

I want to let you know you have a nice corner of the internet here.

I am going to be getting my first bike soon and have settled on the old SOHC Four as the bike I want.  Specifically a 400F or 550F.  I MUST have that sexy 4 into 1 exhaust.  I have a thing for older bikes and these Hondas cuaght my heart and that was it.

Anyway, I have a few novice questions that I hope can get answered.

1. Are the days of the cheap bikes over?  One thing that attracted me was the low price, but now it looks like I'm gonna be paying well into the 4-digits for a good bike.  Though, to be fair, I'd rather pay 4-digits for a pristine example that someone else sorted out versus buying a beater, then sinking more than the difference into getting it perfect.

2. Is the supply of these bikes a regional thing?  I notice all the ones on eBay or internet classifieds are all up north or on the coasts?  I am currently stationed in Fort Polk, Louisiana and I would prefer a bike from LA, TX, OK, AR or MI.  Basically a bike I can drive to go get, but these bikes are just NOT AVAILABLE down South, WTF???  I can't see buying a bike for cheap, then paying a buttload to ship it.  Plus, I'm leery of buying sight unseen.

3. Are people insane about what they own?  I looked at a decent 400F a few weeks ago.  It was on eBay and in Texas near me, so I saw it in the flesh.  It was tired and needed some TLC, but it was all there.  It would have been a good running project that I could have driven and fixed up at the same time.  It was a good 1,000 dollar bike, and I would have paid $1000 cash right there.  Problem?  The seller wanted $2500 and was pretty firm.  For $2500 I expect a museum-piece Concours bike and this was not it.

4. Should I buy now?  Prices seem to be going up and I'm in a quandry:  I am in the military and will be deploying next spring to Afghanistan.  I will have tons of money when I return, but I have no idea where prices will be when I get back, which will be Spring '07, and I don't want to "overpay" for a bike.  Should I try to rush and buy now to maybe lock in a lower purchase price, or just wait and when I return, pick and choose and buy exactly what I want?  I hate rushing purchases because I know if I wait I'll get a better deal than if I rush and it'll be EXACTLY what I want versus maybe having to compromise.

I've scoured the boards and pulled enough info from the 'net to make an informed decision, and I cannot WAIT to get one of these bikes.  My attraction to them is kinda complicated and I don't have much time (I'm at work right now), but suffice to say, I LOVE these bikes.

Thanks in advance.  I'll be checking in here more often! 

[GroovieGhoulie]

a rough engine is no problem for a fix, a beat up bike with a good engine is not so easy

Yeah, the 400 I looked at ran and sounded ok, but had some issues:


Clutch dragged some. Probably needed adjustment
After a brief ride, the bike spit some fuel on the ground. Needs fuel lines.
One sidecover had a cracked mounting tab. Repaired, but looked bad
[The Biggie]The sidestand was useless. Seems the prior owner had it resting on the sidestand and some kid sat on it and it went over on the stand. The frame where the stand was located was cracked and crushed. Hmmm... frame damage. The seller tried to pass it off by saying "no big deal, just use the center-stand". Sure, but I want the bike to have a solid frame. No thanks.
The frame had some surface rust and needed to be sanded, primered and painted, ideally powdercoated.
Tank used to be rusty and was recently stripped and epoxied.
Needed new decals and the tank paint could use a refresher.
Taller '77 handlebars on a '75 model year bike

It would have been a perfect Project Bike; not too ratty, but not too nice. I could have ridden it and worked on it at night and on the weekends. Too bad he wanted wayyy to much money. However, it DID solidify my desire for a 400F and I was very impressed with the bike, issues and price aside.

[cb650]

One good thing about fixin up a bike is you then know more about it if it dies on the road.  You wont look like all the new possers usin a cell fone instead of a tool.


                          terry

[jotor]

Hey, GG

1--Check the price of new bikes.  Oldies are still cheap in comparison.  There are bargains sometimes, but you have to be in the right place at the right time.  It helps if everyone you know is aware you are looking for an old bike.

2--Yep.

3--Frames rust out where the sidestand attaches because there are openings for water to get inside and that's the low point.  Check there first when you look at a 400F.  That guy shows that an honest seller is better than a great bike.

4--If you buy a bike now, where will you store it?  If that is going to cost anything you should add it into the total.  It took me a long time to learn not to buy the first thing that comes along when I get excited about something.  Don't think I've ever lost out on a super deal by waiting and thinking about it.  I sure have jumped on some real turkeys, though.

Good luck on your assignment and keep in touch with the rest of us.

Joe

[Uncle Ernie]

Jotor- good point about the storage. Here in the South, the only thing a tarp is good for is your winter wood pile or a leak in the roof.
I think prices peaked in the late '80s when a decent 400 was getting over $4K. The prices have come way down, but I think they're beginning to come back up again. Just in time for me to render mine worthless by tearing it up... (a differnet topic)
I used to go to toy shows/faires.  I was looking at a fairly rare castiron BMW for $45 and thought that ws a little high. The vendor spoke the truth; "If you think THAT's high, see what it'll be next year"

[heffay]

yes... the 400f is the way to go.

i'm trying to build an exact replica of ernie's bike... old, red... well, the similarities might stop there.  oh wait, cb400fss.

heffay

p.s.
jotor- the tank is awesome... i hope our exchange was as expected

p.p.s. yes, the bike is more complete than it is in the photos

[GroovieGhoulie]

I'm planning to get a 400F, 550F and early 750K in that order.

As far as the 400F, I want an early one, either 75 or 76 with the "Cafe Racer" bars and rearsets.  I prefer the color combo of the canary yellow/black sidecovers of the '76, but will take whatever pops up.

My biggest problem is just lack of availability down here.  These bikes just DO NOT exist.  Of course, if I wanted the latest disposable crotch-rocket or Harley Pig, I'd be set.    As far as storage, I'm keeping everything at my parents place when I go, so it's no biggie.  They live in an airplane hangar, so it'll be in a climate-controlled environment.  Imagine a 3250 sq/ft house with a 7500 sq/ft garage.  Yeah, it rocks if you like cars/bikes/boats/airplanes/etc.

I feel evil as well:

I got my brother hooked on the SOHC Fours!  I told him I wanted a SOHC Four and he made fun of me because he wanted the latest and greatest fastest bike in the whole world and thinks the old Hondas look like a "bicycle with an engine" and that while experts and bike wonks will admire your class, sophistication and taste in machinery, women and young men (who prolly ride soulless plastic bikes) won't. 

However after reading some articles I e-mailed him and looking at pics on the 'net, he went from wanting a Gixxer 1000 to wanting an old 750 to customize into a full-on Cafe Racer.  He is a big-ish guy and wants lots of power, so he still ribs me for wanting a "baby 400", but a new SOHC fan is perfectly fine, regardless of the vintage/size they like!   

[Uncle Ernie]

GG- get on google and find Brad's Bikes, VJMC, and try cycletrader.com.

Tell your brother that any fool can go fast in a straight line. Up here in the mountains, put a 400 against a 750 and the 750 rider will be found sobbing in the nearest gas station bathroom- when you go back to find out what happened to him.  Keep the tack up around 6 to 8K and you'll have a huge grin addiction for which there is no cure, I'm afraid.        Except to do it again.

[74cb750]

You might also try www.craigslist.com . sometimes things come up there.

I have some friends, now in Iraq, whom bought some cb750's from me ($125.00 each) sp the deals are out there. Sometimes if you mention you're in the military some people will give you a break.

There is a 1974 cb550 near me for sale, $700. with the original 4 into 4 exhaust.  if you want me to investigate it further.
(I'm in Vermont) email me.

good luck,
michel

[MikeDeB]

As time passes the single cam Honda 4's are increasing in price (along with a lot of other vintage Japanese bikes).  A lot of that has to do with them being recognized for the classics they are.  And pristine examples will easily bring 4 digits.  The days of finding them in garages and barns for cheap are still here but are less frequent.  Because of the increasing value of these bikes some owners believe that their beat-to-death piece of dung is now worth a fortune.  Last week, on ebay, an early 70's CB750 was listed for an opening bid of $2950.00 and it was a true beater; rusty, leaky, missing parts, higher mileage, etc.  The owner of the 400F that you looked at is just such an owner.  In time he'll realize that he's not going to make a fortune off of his bike.  The only way he'll get what he wants is if he hangs onto it for another 15 to 20 years.  Then it might be worth what he's asking today.  Keep your eyes open, the deals are still out there.  Just know when to walk away.