Author Topic: Man, talk about blowing smoke. I may have been born at night... (Read 2707 times)

GroovieGhoulie · « **on:** September 29, 2005, 05:18:10 PM »

E-mailed a dealer nearby who deals in lots of vintage bikes, as the SOHC Hondas are hard to find around here. He mainly does 750s, but I asked about the availability of 400Fs. Here is part of his reply:

Quote

The CB400F has no power to ride
with traffic as people drive 70-80mph all the time and if you ever take a
passenger the little 400 has problems.Most were exported back to JAPAN in the early
1990's as their road tax for under 400cc (the bikes were 397cc)was
cheap.

Seeings how the 400 was 408ccs and in the same e-mail he tried to sell me a 750F he had, I think this is safely in the WTF? category.

mick750F · « **Reply #1 on:** September 29, 2005, 05:59:59 PM »

Well, most of them being exported back to Japan would certainly explain why it's so hard to find one.

Mike

nobrakes · « **Reply #2 on:** September 29, 2005, 07:56:55 PM »

The first time I got my 400/4 out on the highway was probably the last. Got her up to 70 - 75mph, white-knuckles with the bike shaking like a rattlesnakes tail and it felt like any car that passed me was going to blow me off the road. There is a noticeable difference in power when I have a passenger (and my girlfriend is petite...), but I didn't get my bike with the intention of hauling ass everywhere. Just most places and by myself...

Last 750 I rode was an old Yamaha XS and it was a sled - heavy as hell, but plenty o' power - with or without a passenger. In the future I'd like to track down a 750/4, but the 400 (er, 397cc...

) is plenty for daily riding.

Uncle Ernie · « **Reply #3 on:** September 29, 2005, 08:28:28 PM »

OK- now you did it. Only munchkins ride 2-up on a 400, but solo my 400 is rock steady at 75 and this little puppy can whip most big dogs here in the mountains and come home wagging it's tail and expecting a bisquit. If you can't run it all day at 6 to 7K and have gas in the tank when you get home, you have mechanidcal problems.

nobrakes · « **Reply #4 on:** September 29, 2005, 08:43:05 PM »

Quote from: Uncle Ernie on September 29, 2005, 08:28:28 PM

If you can't run it all day at 6 to 7K and have gas in the tank when you get home, you have mechanidcal problems.

Yeah, still working some of the kinks out. Ol' Yeller's been sitting for a while... $:-\$

Einyodeler · « **Reply #5 on:** September 29, 2005, 10:10:56 PM »

The 400 was my 1st SOHC4 back in `78 , it was 2 years old when I bought and I put a lot of Ks on it in Germany. No problem on the Autobahns at all and would scream by bigger bikes in the twisties.
I just got back Monday from a 1,000 + mile roadtrip to Wisconsin on the `72 CB500.
Took the scenic way along the Mississippi on the way up and mostly interstate all the way back. On the hwy no problem at all 75 - 80 mph cruising speed. Hit 200 miles of solid downpour towards home but the bike did great.
I can`t even begin to count how many people came up to me and said " you rode that all the way up here?

"

Yep!!! Can`t you tell ,I can`t wipe the grin off of my face

Gordon · « **Reply #6 on:** September 29, 2005, 10:58:51 PM »

Puhleeeze!!!

This guy has never ridden a 400F, or at least not one in good working condition. My '75 400F would get to 100mph faster than most cars can get to 60! And with a 10,000rpm redline and Six gears, it could cruise at 80 all day. Man! Why did I ever sell that bike?

pmpski_1 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 29, 2005, 11:48:49 PM »

oooooh I want a 400 so bad! I saw one for 900 bucks last week. The guy was selling it cause it had some problems - the blinkers blinked very slowly and the rear brake light didn't work when the brake was applied

I jumped, but I was a little too slow.

You see, when I got a bike, I convinced my fiancee to take the MSF course with me. The 550 is a bit heavy for her, but "the 400 is a smaller bike and would be easier for her to handle." Now, whenever I see one for sale, I can make a better case for dipping into our savings to pick it up

Talk about blowing smoke.

chrometank · « **Reply #8 on:** September 30, 2005, 03:32:56 AM »

My old 400f regularly beat my mate on his katana 1100 up the windy little one way street we lived in.Always left him scratching his head.Just dont ask what hapned when he hit clear road,.......point and squirt
I miss that bike
cheers

nobrakes · « **Reply #9 on:** September 30, 2005, 11:36:22 AM »

Ya'll have inspired me, looks like I'm going to need to attempt 100mph on the 400F once I get the carbs sync'd up. Lots of hesitation in/around 4k - 5k rpm - probably has everything to do with the power I'm losing.

Gordon · « **Reply #10 on:** September 30, 2005, 11:40:52 AM »

Quote from: no-brakes on September 30, 2005, 11:36:22 AM

Ya'll have inspired me, looks like I'm going to need to attempt 100mph on the 400F once I get the carbs sync'd up. Lots of hesitation in/around 4k - 5k rpm - probably has everything to do with the power I'm losing.

You may already know this, but the carb synch is the last thing you should do in a tune-up. Have you done everything else you can, so far?

Kelvin8 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 30, 2005, 08:22:16 PM »

I rode my 350 on the freeways around LA at 80+ all the time. I KNOW the 400 was faster. Nice nimble bike.

DRam · « **Reply #12 on:** October 01, 2005, 08:45:44 PM »

Hey Nobrakes: If it was shaking like a rattlesnake tail at crusing speed you need to run a close check on chassis and suspension. Start with swing arm bushings/bearing, wheels (spokes loose? wheel true?), tire balance, wheel bearings, head bearings, shocks, and frame. Any cracks or weak spots? A post a while back mentioned that the CB400 frame was prone to crack just ahead of the side stand bracket. You need to be sure the bike will stay rubber side down before trying a 100 mph run. As for cars blowing you off the road - that may just be inexperience with the bike. Once you have the chassis straightened out and get some seat time you'll get used to how the bike handles and feel a l ittle more comfortable with it. Enjoy the bike. Never ridden one but from everything I've read and heard it's a great one.

gaijin · « **Reply #13 on:** October 02, 2005, 10:15:25 PM »

Quote from: DRam on October 01, 2005, 08:45:44 PM

Hey Nobrakes: If it was shaking like a rattlesnake tail at crusing speed you need to run a close check on chassis and suspension. Start with swing arm bushings/bearing, wheels (spokes loose? wheel true?), tire balance, wheel bearings, head bearings, shocks, and frame. Any cracks or weak spots? A post a while back mentioned that the CB400 frame was prone to crack just ahead of the side stand bracket. You need to be sure the bike will stay rubber side down before trying a 100 mph run. As for cars blowing you off the road - that may just be inexperience with the bike. Once you have the chassis straightened out and get some seat time you'll get used to how the bike handles and feel a l ittle more comfortable with it. Enjoy the bike. Never ridden one but from everything I've read and heard it's a great one.

I think I need to do this. I commute on my 400f basically every day, pushing it a little faster on the freeway each time. The fastest I've gone was 90mph, but the front end started some serious (and scary the first time around) side-to side wobbling. So I stay around 80 now.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #14 on:** October 03, 2005, 11:25:03 PM »

My local bike wrecker tells me that there's a (very) rough 400F not far from here that I can have for twenty bucks plus delivery, I might just buy it to clean up and re-sell, I never really got into the slab sided look, always thought the 350F was a much nicer looking bike? Cheers, Terry.

Raul CB750K1 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 04, 2005, 12:14:11 AM »

Terry, seems like you are known down under as the flake that buys any bike regardless of the condition. Everybody is asking you to get the bikes they don't want anymore...

Raul

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #16 on:** October 04, 2005, 01:53:07 AM »

Quote from: Raul CB750K1 on October 04, 2005, 12:14:11 AM

Terry, seems like you are known down under as the flake that buys any bike regardless of the condition. Everybody is asking you to get the bikes they don't want anymore...Raul

Whaddya mean "Flake", you Spanish wanker? I wouldn't say too much if I was you, I've seen pictures of that rusty pile of crap that you reckon you're gonna restore into a mint CB350? Ha ha, just jokes mate, your 350 is really, er, nice? Cheers, Terry.

Bodi · « **Reply #17 on:** October 05, 2005, 07:00:57 PM »

"Seeings how the 400 was 408ccs"
The domestic 400F was actually 398cc to slip under that Japanese over-400cc license/tax situation the seller referred to.
The driver license test for up to 400cc was pretty tough but the 400+ test was absolutely brutal; I've heard nobody ever passed first time (and it cost a bundle to do the test). Vehicle license fees went up at 400cc as well.

GroovieGhoulie · « **Reply #18 on:** October 05, 2005, 07:25:38 PM »

Quote from: Bodi on October 05, 2005, 07:00:57 PM

"Seeings how the 400 was 408ccs"
The domestic 400F was actually 398cc to slip under that Japanese over-400cc license/tax situation the seller referred to.
The driver license test for up to 400cc was pretty tough but the 400+ test was absolutely brutal; I've heard nobody ever passed first time (and it cost a bundle to do the test). Vehicle license fees went up at 400cc as well.

Are you in Japan? That's interesting information.

News:

Author Topic: Man, talk about blowing smoke. I may have been born at night... (Read 2707 times)

nobrakes

nobrakes

nobrakes

Kelvin8

gaijin