Topic: What do you think of this bike?

[manjisann]

I'm watching the local papers for my next project and instead of haveing a dozen "what about this bike" threads I'll just consolidate it into this one.


http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=8081962&cat=144&lpid=8

seems like a really good deal seeing as how they have a title. I don't mind the idea of putting it back together. Are these good bikes, what do you think?

Brandon

[tortelvis]

Pretty good bikes, seems a fair price if you don't mind a giant jigsaw puzzle! I would go for it but then I'm like that when it comes to old bikes.

[manjisann]

I kinda like the fact it's all in pieces already, it looks pretty clean to boot. I don't mind the challenge of putting it back together. Now I just have to find the money. And get permission from the bosses to take on another project 

Brandon

[manjisann]

local ad for a 84 cm400t for $200. says it has engine noise, but if it's in good physical condition and has a title, seems like and ok price. Anyone have any info on these? If I get this I'll likely either cafe or bob it, unless it's in excellent condition, in which case I'd likely fix and try and sell it.

Brandon.

[Johnie]

Those CM400 twins seem to last forever. I have bought and sold many. Very reliable and very easy to work on. The pic below is of my 1980 CM400E which was my first restoration that my son and I worked on. He then learned on this bike. Very low to the ground and great learner bikes for all gender.

[manjisann]

Johnie thats a nice bike! I'm trying to decide, if I get my choice between the Suzuki or the Honda twin. The twins ad says it might be either a piston or the transmission. In all honest neither of those sound particularly concerning as in scary. Just wondering, are there a lot of parts for these bikes and are the parts  fairly cheap? Might be a novel feeling to only have to buy a pair of carb kits instead of 4  Would this bike do ok with a 6'1" 250lb guy on it or do you think it'd be too squishy? 

Hmm decisions decisions.

Brandon

[Pinhead]

I've been driving around a '79 CM400T for a couple of months now. I replaced the rear shocks with a stock pair from a '79 CB650 to add a little rear height and to stiffen the ride just a bit. I also added about an inch and a half of preload on the front fork springs. Filled the forks with 10W-40 motor oil. I don't particularly like the riding position but after a week or so I got used to it. I'm installing rearsets that I've built and putting on Clubman bars to make the ride a little more comfy for me.

I'm 6'1" 175lbs.

[manjisann]

Thanks for the info Pinhead. Did you post a thing on your rearsets, about making them out of pinsetter parts? If I get this bike, depending on condition I may turn it into a cafe. We'll see what happens.

Brandon

[Pinhead]

Yeah, so far all of the parts have come off of Brunswick A-2's.

[Hush]

At the price I'd grab the Suzuki, but then I am a bit partial to the old Spooks having had about 8 over the years.
It seems in damn good condition and all parts are supplied (I'll bet it's missing something).
Just my preference and if it was in my neighbourhood I'd have it tucked away under it's cover behind the wood shed where Jaffa can't find it.
Not sure where you will hide one if you did buy Brandon.

[Johnie]

Johnie thats a nice bike! I'm trying to decide, if I get my choice between the Suzuki or the Honda twin. The twins ad says it might be either a piston or the transmission. In all honest neither of those sound particularly concerning as in scary. Just wondering, are there a lot of parts for these bikes and are the parts  fairly cheap? Might be a novel feeling to only have to buy a pair of carb kits instead of 4  Would this bike do ok with a 6'1" 250lb guy on it or do you think it'd be too squishy? 

Hmm decisions decisions.

Brandon

There are a lot of parts on eBay for the CM400. The price on these are pretty cheap compared to the 750 probably because of the nostalgia of the 750 and collectors would rather have the 750.  I think the bike would be OK for a 250 pounder if you get those shocks to the top adjustment. I am 6 foot and my thighs get cramped after a couple hours. I would do better with some highway bars to put my feet on, but I wanted to keep it stock. I would find out the reason the guy thinks piston or tranny? Does it run at all?

[manjisann]

I haven't called on it yet since I don't have the dough lined up, I'm trying to sell a few things in the local papers, had a few nibbles but no solid bites yet. I only put the stuff up yesterday so I'm not too concerned yet.

"Was a good road bike until it lost power, still runs but it clanks and vibrates. Possibly needs piston work or new transmission.

Has custom exhaust. Is currently in a storage unit, please call and I will meet you there.

Call for any questions."

Here is the link: http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=8094548&cat=464&lpid=

The vibration could be from poor tuning, and the clank I'm thinking could be several things. For $200 (again, assuming there is a title) I'd be fine with having to take the engine apart if it was required. Aside from emailing the guy with the Suzuki to see if he was interested in a trade, I haven't really done much about buying the bikes other than some google searching to see what I could find, which wasn't a whole ton.

It seems in damn good condition and all parts are supplied (I'll bet it's missing something).

From the pics it looks like the PO did a real good job of bagging and labeling everything so I have little trouble believing that a huge majority of it is there. I wouldn't be surprised if a few small bits and pieces were missing, but with the overall condition it's in and the price I wouldn't be opposed to tracking down the odd widget (hopefully it's not made of unobtainium  )

I am 6 foot and my thighs get cramped after a couple hours. I would do better with some highway bars to put my feet on, but I wanted to keep it stock.

If I bought the 400 it would be for putting around town, anything too long I'd ride the other bike(s).

Yeah, so far all of the parts have come off of Brunswick A-2's.

I guess this explains your name, had been wondering off and on. If I pick up the 400, or any other bike that I decide to cafe, I'll be rereading your post and probably buggin ya with questions. I've toyed with the idea of building forward controls for bikes, rearsets shouldn't be much more complicated.

Thanks again guys. I'll probably post more bikes as time goes on if I don't get blessed with one of these. It's getting on into winter time, so people are lowering their prices so they don't have to store them. Best time of the year to pic up a spare or project bike 

Brandon