Author Topic: New guy - potential sohc member  (Read 1728 times)

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ybarsabal

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New guy - potential sohc member
« on: May 29, 2010, 09:33:21 PM »
Hi,

A local bike for sale has caught my eye - a '78 CB400TII. Great condition with 7800 miles. It is being dry-stored by a dealership, so I won't be able to actually hear it run until I'm ready to buy. I've been wanting an older bike for some time. My first bike ever was an '82 Nighthawk 750.



I'm no mechanic, but I love trying to fix things, and it looks like a reasonably simple machine to work and learn on.

Any advice before I get in over my (single over) head?

Thanks,
Marc

'08 DL650

Offline Zaipai

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Re: New guy - potential sohc member
« Reply #1 on: May 29, 2010, 09:42:03 PM »
Hi,

A local bike for sale has caught my eye - a '78 CB400TII. Great condition with 7800 miles. It is being dry-stored by a dealership, so I won't be able to actually hear it run until I'm ready to buy. I've been wanting an older bike for some time. My first bike ever was an '82 Nighthawk 750.



I'm no mechanic, but I love trying to fix things, and it looks like a reasonably simple machine to work and learn on.

Any advice before I get in over my (single over) head?

Thanks,
Marc

'08 DL650
There is not much to do there so yea it would be a good first bike of this type. Just make sure you here it run and test drive it enough to get it nice and warm..

.: Scott :.
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Offline Gordon

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Re: New guy - potential sohc member
« Reply #2 on: May 29, 2010, 09:50:13 PM »
You got the sohc part, but you're 2 short on the cylinder count. ;)

Offline spitcrazy

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Re: New guy - potential sohc member
« Reply #3 on: May 29, 2010, 09:53:59 PM »
He had so much potential as a member... and then (insert bike model)  :o :'( ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
1973 CB500 FOUR - German Model.... Funky Tailight!

Offline dave500

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Re: New guy - potential sohc member
« Reply #4 on: May 29, 2010, 11:39:30 PM »
your on the right track with the single overhead cam,you are two cylinders short technically,but stay here and you will glean some info that will apply just as much to the twin as the fours,that looks like a tidy all original bike!if its cheap enough,have you researched the going price on them?as posted make sure you ride it for more than five minutes when you check it out,,im sure theres a few bits on it common to our older fours.

Offline Hush

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Re: New guy - potential sohc member
« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2010, 01:37:40 AM »
Damn pretty bike, I've never seen one of those before.
I think the thing I most like about motorcycling is the speed at which my brain must process information at to avoid the numb skulls who are eating pies, playing the ukulele, applying make-up etc in the comfort of their airconditioned armchairs as they make random attempts to kill me!!!!!!!

Offline dhall57

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Re: New guy - potential sohc member
« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2010, 01:40:14 AM »
welcome, I remember when these bikes first came out. Never had one,  but  I read some road test on them and they got good pretty good reviews. Good looking bike, just a little small. I would keep my eyes open for a CB550 or 750 instead.
Good Luck, dhall
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Offline dave500

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Re: New guy - potential sohc member
« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2010, 02:00:34 AM »
we got them here hush,i dont think the graphics or the hawk name was used here,just a cb400t?theyll be an undestructible little bike anyway.

Offline HawaiiMike

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Re: New guy - potential sohc member
« Reply #8 on: May 30, 2010, 02:07:24 AM »
The Hawk replaced the 400Four.  What a letdown from Honda.

Offline hoodellyhoo

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Re: New guy - potential sohc member
« Reply #9 on: May 30, 2010, 07:35:06 AM »
My dad had one when they were new. He bought it to replace his cb360 which he didn't like. He really liked the hawk. It was a much better motor than the 360's. Pretty sure it is counterbalanced. As long as it's not a hondamatic (slow), I would jump on it. As it was said before, it would be a perfect bike to learn some wrenching on.

1972 CB350F (Back from the Dead!)- http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=20822.0
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Offline asom

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Re: New guy - potential sohc member
« Reply #10 on: May 31, 2010, 10:02:50 AM »
My dad had one when they were new....



great pic. 
in case I forgot, it's a 78' CB750F

Bloody knuckles and all...