Topic: 400/4 cafe racer + original equipment value?

[Ben]

Hi all,

The time has come for me to consider selling my much loved 75' 400/4. It will be known to some of the older members of this site from waaaaay back in the days when this forum was on Greenspun. Anyway, I am trying to determine what it may be worth. As you can see from the photo in my avatar it is complete with Manx tank, seat and fresh paint. All original equipment is also included for conversion back to the original bike if thats your thing - tank, seat and indicators. Apart from that I have kept it in original condition. I have never seen one like it (on the road) since building it, let alone another 400/4 in stock trim. They are indeed getting rare.

Anyone fancy a guess? Or if you are in Melbourne Aus, you may be interested?

[Gordon]

I definitely remember your 400 from waaaay back!  It's always been one of my favorites.  Sorry to hear you're selling it. 

I can't say much on value since we're on opposite sides of the planet, but I think you may get more in the end if you sell the bike in full stock trim and then sell the Manx pieces separately.  That way you'll get the best price from both types of buyer.  The guy who likes a nice-looking stock bike, and the guy who is looking to customize his own bike.  If you sell it all together it will be more difficult to find just one buyer who values both sets of bodywork as much as two people would, IMO. 

[Ben]

Hi Gordon!

Glad to see you are still helping everyone out! I never got around to completing the twin disk set up of yours! Yes, sad to be selling, but sometimes life gets in the way of bikes eh? Good idea regarding separate advertising for the cafe gear. What is a good 400 going for in the UK?

Cheers and Thanks,
Ben.

[Ben]

For those that have not seen the bike before please find below a link to bikepics where I posted some pictures.

http://www.bikepics.com/members/milamber/75cb400/

Cheers, Ben.

[OakBehringer]

UH. That bike is SICK.

[OakBehringer]

if i were to seriously consider your bike, saaaaay on craigslist... i would expect you to start your asking price at $3,500-4,000... although, i've never paid over 2k for a bike.  

I'd agree, even though the market is a little tough right now. If you're not in a huge rush to sell it, start way up there and work your way down. That's what I'm doing with my Jeep right now.

[Ben]

Thanks People. That puts it at about 4-5k Australian. Sounds about right.

Cheers,

Ben.

[cb650PK]

I really like the stock look of CB400f, but I see no chance, that anyone would want to do that to classy looking cafe racer like yours. It is great plus to have the possibility, and you could give the buyer option to buy with or without the stock bodywork.(and if he selects to buy it without the stock bodywork it means he doesn't' get it and really does not deserve to have your bike anyway)

[swan]

Wow, very nice, I've seen your bike on the web while researching my CB400's.

Great Manx styling and original gear too? Start at USD $5000. I've sold two restored CB400's cafes for $3500 and yours is much, much nicer.

Good luck.

[Ben]

That is excellent news, and thanks for the compliments. I think it was worth doing, hopefully I'll do another one day.

[nobody]

I saw your bike one day when researching parts for my 750, nice to finally meet the creator. That's still one of my favorite cafe racers. Carpy recently started making the tank you have, where did you get that seat and light? Is the fender a stock one or aftermarket? I imagine that strip you have running down the center is a custom piece that you fabricated... I'd love to duplicate this bike and maybe give it a little bit of a twist.

[Ben]

It never ceases to amaze me how far information goes on the internet! Glad you liked the bike.

The tank is a Dunstall Norton with a custom base and dual taps, the seat is a wideline manx with the stock seat mounting hinge and lock fitted (before upholstering). The seat and tank were made by a local genius (New South Wales Australia that is!), Mick at Classic Motorcycle Fibreglass (Moto Tumbi) Weblink below. As with all these things, some fabrication is required to fit them, but a bit of time and patience is all that is really required!

http://www.classic-motorcycle-fiberglass.com/

The tank strap is a strip of stainless with suitable fittings front and rear to enable quick removal of the tank. I made high tensile wire loops, fixed to the frame, for the strap to clip onto to ensure I did not modify/weld new mounts on the frame. This has worked very well and is strong.

Fender is stock, and the tailight is a generic dirtbike unit, from an xr250 I think.

The only other thing I REALLY wanted to do on the bike was ditch the standard headers (I hear a gasp from some members?), which do nothing but look good, and make a set of four separate header and megaphone pipes (reverse cone only, straight through) al la CB500 racing style.

Would be quite amazing. If I don't sell I might get started on this 

[michel]

Ben are you still selling may be interested.

Cheers Michel 0414236393