Topic: 1978 Hondamatic 400

[Tugboat]

A buddy of mine is thinking about buying this. Anyone know anything about these? And is this a decent price?

http://nashville.craigslist.org/mcy/1636014555.html

[HavocTurbo]

That might actually be true.

"The cleanest Hawk in the country!"

I have seen a few and they were trash heaps. Ask them for mileage. I see it isn't listed. The 4 I have had the pleasure of touching were ridden so hard and so long that if they were CB750's.... Hondaman and MCRider would have a hard time trying to get them back in shape.

I'd say see what you can get them to come down to.... and take it.

[cb650]

When I was in high school (michigan) our neighbor had one.  Sat out side and he always drove it if the streets was clear.  Never any probs then but it was only 5 years old at the time.

[tweakin]

The price seems pretty steep...  I bought a 78 cb400 hawk ( non auto ) for $400 with 8,000 miles on it.  The external condition was pretty bad, not nearly as nice as this one.  Many more hawks for sale in my area for under $1000. 

[Alan F.]

Considering the 250 nighthawks go for about the same money, you can do considerably worse.  Talk them down and bring cash.
Parts for those bikes are available, and tire choice is decent.  I'm not sure about the wiring, but a 5-speed motor should bolt right in, the earlier ones even have a kickstarter...
-Alan

[Spanner 1]

Why would ya want to slap a 5 speed in there ??...the Hondamatics are unique and the 2-speed Auto trans. is un-burst-able....
A blast to ride in traffic with no clutch and the only bike you can take-off from traffic lights ONE-HANDED !!!! folks just do a double-take !!

[Alan F.]

Yes, there are those unique features found on very few bikes.... I haven't progressed to appreciate them yet.
-A

[HondaDano]

My buddy recently put a '78 400 hondamatic in his 450 nighthawk. I think most all the 400s and 450s around that year will interchange. Good little bike for a beginner. It's not meant for speed or power though. He ended up putting a set of apes on his and a jockey shift which made it a little more unique. You can change the gears on these like a 2 speed powerglide or you can leave it in second and I think it will change itself. Dano

[Peterbylt]

I have a 79 CM400A we originally got it for my wife to ride but she doesn't ride it much. I use it to comute to work and back. Its a fun bike to ride, not very fast at all but very comfortable and the automatic part is fantastic if I get stuck in traffic. Top sppeed is around 70 mph but the engine is very busy at that speed it gets between 60 and 70 mpg. Very dependable the only Maintenance I've ever had to do is change the oil and clean and lube the chain.

Peter