Topic: Help! What's missing from this 400f?

[gaijin]

Hey guys, I've had my mind set on getting a CB400f for a while now and one caught my eye on eBay (especially since it's in the area). But there's parts missing from it, and I wondered if you gurus could take a look!

"Honda CB400f for parts or restore. It is missing some parts. Please look at the pictures to see what is included. The motor kicks over and has compresion. The frame is damaged where the kick stand mounts which is a common problem on these bikes. The original exhaust has no holes, but is not perfect."

The seller says the frame is damaged where the kickstand mounts to it; I haven't found any info about this in my searches. Is this a common and repairable problem?
There's some parts that are clearly gone; headlight is gone, turn signals, etc.
The racing decal makes me wonder about the engine's condition. Am I right to hesitate before buying a raced bike? I've sent an email asking about the mileage...
There's so little info posted about it's condition that I'm shaking my head, but aside from the missing parsts the bike looks like it's in ok shape. What do you think? Impossible to say without looking it over first hand? 
Thanks for any info! Can't wait to get my first SOHC/4 bike, whether it's this one or not.
-Rob

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=4547453468&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

[kghost]

Just off the top of my head:
Missing:
Front brake caliper
Front brake master cylinder, with Lever, hose, fittings
Right wiring and throttle housing (the one with the starter butten, kill switch, etc)
throttle assembly, with cables.

Doesnt look like a race bike though. Not with the fenders and the tailight intact. Sticker might be to make it look cool

[Gordon]

No front fender, non-stock seat and handlebars.  It was common on these bikes to cut the kickstand out of the frame and replace it with a short section of steel pipe, so that might be what happened there.  With the aboved mentioned problems and items missing, the only way I'd buy it is if it were less than $200.

[Gordon]

Agreed.  If I were into selling parts, it would be worth more than $200 to me, but I was going from the mindset of restoring to ride.  If that's the intention, then it would be much less of a hassle to find one in better condition.

[gaijin]

Thanks for the intel, guys.
Looks like it'd only be a parts bike if I did buy it, but I don't think I will since it would cost me some to haul it home anyways. I was also in the mindset of restoring to ride... I'll keep looking.

Hmm, could someone list tips on spotting a bike that's been raced (and used up)? Aside from the most obvious mods, scratches and scrapes, are there other things you could look for? How would an engine thrashed from racing seem on a test ride? A friend of mine almost bought a bike before he decided it had been used for racing because of the tires and superficial damage, since the owner had put the stock exhaust and things back on to disguise it. Wouldn't allow a test ride either.

Gordon- Out of curiosity, why would people cut the kickstand out of the frame?

[douglascoolgrey]

Raced bikes aren't necessarily used-up bikes.

Are you looking to buy your first motorcycle or your first SOHC? Do you have room to store all the parts that aren't sellable from this bike? Do you have the time to part-out a bike?

Heck... I'll probably end up spending more than $200 for the parts I can see I want off this ebay bike, but I don't have the space to store all the left-over junk until it sells. That said, if you buy the bike, consider me for the tank, side-covers and pipes if they're in good shape!

[Uncle Ernie]

A race bike is going to have the lowest, shortest bars possible to keep weight over the wheel and cut wind resistance. No light on either end, probably a modified seat, nothing on the bars except a tach, a freer flowing (non stock) exhaust, O-ring chain, tires that look like the edges have been put on a grinder (if he was good, the edges will have a blue tint), the airbox will be gone and individual foam air filters instead, if there is a front fender it will be an aftermarket plastic job and the rear fender will be just long enough to attach the seat, depending on if he rides in WERA or AHRMA and the class he might have a smaller plastic tank on there to reduce weight.