Topic: Long trips on the mini-multis: 350 and 400 four

[GroovieGhoulie]

Are they doable?

I'm considering taking the Honda for a trip home on leave pretty soon and was wondering how the 400 would do in a long haul.  It's about 350 miles each way with about half being freeways.

Would it be too buzzy?  How would a 6-hour or so ride mess with any systems?  Currently the bike is a around-town machine and my longest single ride so far had been 75 miles. (I'm new so cut me a break!)  It is is quite nearly top mechanical condition but I worry about a tire or tube letting go or the chain breaking (with all these recent posts on chains).  The only mechanical problem is the valve cover gasket weeps a tiny bit (I replaced the tappet cover O-rings and it helped, but it still weeps) and the camchain has a bit of a rattle, but I have nothing to compare it to and I half expect it to be dead silent when in proper tension.  Probably wrong on the camchain should be silent bit.

I'm going to go through it this weekend and week and do a 150 mile or so test run on Sunday.

Any input on the smaller bikes for long rides?

[csendker]

Robert Persig was able to make it from Minneapoilis to the Pacific on a Honda SOHC-2.  Not sure of the actual model, maybe someone can ID it.  By the looks of the tank, it's a lot like the '69 (or earlier) version of my CB175.  Smaller than yours, anyway. Bone up on maintenance, pack some tools, re-up your AAA membership, charge the cell phone and go for it.

[bwaller]

Change oil & filter if need be, adjust & oil your chain and go enjoy yourself!

[R. Hykawy]

The only thing I have found with longer rides ( more than 2hrs in duration) I get a sore backside on my 400f. Mechanically if it is maintained I do see why it would not make it. You will probably find that you give up before it does

[Uncle Ernie]

Your cam chain tensioner is adjustable you know. Check it.  Good tread and air pressure. Battery topped off. Oil.  Sheep skin from Alaska Leather.  Full face helmet. Get off for gas and a stretch every 100 miles or more.  You bet the bike will make it.  My bike will scream at 5K all day.  First long ride is scarey and wonderful.  Drink lots of water, too. You have no idea how fast you'll dehydrate on a bike until you pass out.  Don't ask me how I know this.

[toycollector10]

Suck on Barley Sugar sweets, it will keep your blood sugars up. I had heat exhustion one time when I was in my 20's but had to ride for 2 hours to get home for work the next day. Stopped at a chemist 'cos I had too much sun and not enough to drink or eat. I felt like sh*t...he said get the sweets. I got home and jumped off the bike feeling 100 percent.

[supersport_CB400F]

I’ve done 900+ mile trips on my 400, not the most comfortable bike for long distance but the engine is more than up to do the miles.
Sync the carbs and adjust the cam chain that should quiet the  chain down some.

[cb650]

I rode the 360 twin 250 miles one way over the mtns 4 times last year.  Found a couple frontage roads to use to slow down a little.




                          Terry

[GroovieGhoulie]

I've adjusted the chain as perthe manual and the noise does not change a bit.  That means it either is as quiet as it's gonna get or the horseshoe shaped part of the tensioner is worn.

Should the camchain be dead silent?

[supersport_CB400F]

Ghoulie, the all rattle see if your horseshoe is stuck, undo the tensionerr bolt and remove the plug bolt between the engine mounting plates on the front down tube and push a screwdriver down and see if you can feel any movement.

[GroovieGhoulie]

Ghoulie, the all rattle see if your horseshoe is stuck, undo the tensionerr bolt and remove the plug bolt between the engine mounting plates on the front down tube and push a screwdriver down and see if you can feel any movement.

How hard should I be pushing?  It's hard to get any leverage, but I'm pushing and it's like I'm pushing a rock.

[GroovieGhoulie]

Well I reassembled at started the engine.  It's a LOT quieter.  It's dead silent at tickover with only a slight whirr at around 2,000 that rises in accordance with engine speed.

MUCH quieter than before.  I still think I need to redo the tensioner bits.

[supersport_CB400F]

You should feel some movement when you push down the hole with a bar/screwdriver just some light force should do it, but if it’s gone quieter then you must have moved the horseshoe enough to take up the slack in the chain. The pivot gets wacked by the chain and goes solid so no adjustment. 

[quietlikeachurch]

I think the bike in the old picture is a CB77 (mid '60s 305cc)...no idea on the exact year though.

-Ian

[cb650]

There is a article somewhere of a couple guys took old 305's and rode them from coast to coast.





            Terry

[ofreen]

I rode all over the western U.S. and Canada on a '71 SL350 before I knew you were supposed to tour on touring bikes.

[74cb750]

I had a flying lesson at 75mph from the back of a 1972 Suzuki GT250, after 350 miles, but my butt and back felt fine before then.
peace,
michel

[TwoTired]

In the very early '70s, I had a 67 Honda 305 superhawk while based in Lemoore, CA.  I'd put 500 miles on that thing per weekend riding with another guy on a 305, and two more on 450 hondas.  Found out California was a BIG state to explore.

I can't imagine why the SOHC4 would be any less reliable.  If you are as resilient as I was in my 20s, should be no problem.

Cheers,

[Mopar_Tony_SF]

About 15 years ago I made a ~100 mile round trip from SF to Salinas area on a CB400F.  It was OK when traffic was light but the headwind in the Salinas valley killed me.  This was a high millage bike with an aftermarket pipe (Kerker I think), pod filters but otherwise stock.  Once I hopped down from 280 to 101 the tractor trailers were blowing me around like mad.  Defintely underpowered for the busy fast moving freeways.  I was so deep into the throttle, especially with the nasty headwind, that the engine got hot and started some seal leaks.  So as long as you bike is in tip top shape and in real good tune you should be ok mechanically speaking but it will be an adventure if you are facing heavy, high speed traffic. 

On time when my CBX was down I commuted on the busy freewasy during a massive downpour on my CB400F.  Water coming off the tractor trailers felt like a fire hose.

[GroovieGhoulie]

Well I think I'm gonna do it.  Have a route planned that should minimize highway time.  Picking a scenic routewith lots of nice things to look at.

The only issue is the front brake, but after a lot of bleeding got it back to feeling like it used to, but not what I want.  Gonna try and find some good SS lines and totally go through it.

In reading contemporary road tests of the 400, the testers talk about not being able to lock the front wheel.  I think it's a matter of it being a "ok" brake, but not a great one.  i'm going to optimize it as best I can however.  SS lines, rebuild the MC, etc.

[Mopar_Tony_SF]

The only issue is the front brake, but after a lot of bleeding got it back to feeling like it used to, but not what I want.  Gonna try and find some good SS lines and totally go through it.

If you can't get a firm pedal on you brakes you may want to remove the caliper and point the bleader screw at exactly 12:00 and crack it open - you may get a nice big fat bubble.  The way Honda orientates the caliper it makes it some times very tough to get this bubble out of the system, since the bleeer screw is not exactly at the highest point.  I had the dreaded mush pedal on my old 400F and would not firm up until I did this - it seemed like magic.  just my $0.02

[dusterdude]

The only issue is the front brake, but after a lot of bleeding got it back to feeling like it used to, but not what I want.  Gonna try and find some good SS lines and totally go through it.

If you can't get a firm pedal on you brakes you may want to remove the caliper and point the bleader screw at exactly 12:00 and crack it open - you may get a nice big fat bubble.  The way Honda orientates the caliper it makes it some times very tough to get this bubble out of the system, since the bleeer screw is not exactly at the highest point.  I had the dreaded mush pedal on my old 400F and would not firm up until I did this - it seemed like magic.  just my $0.02

whoo hoo,another mopar fan!!!

[GroovieGhoulie]

The only issue is the front brake, but after a lot of bleeding got it back to feeling like it used to, but not what I want.  Gonna try and find some good SS lines and totally go through it.

If you can't get a firm pedal on you brakes you may want to remove the caliper and point the bleader screw at exactly 12:00 and crack it open - you may get a nice big fat bubble.  The way Honda orientates the caliper it makes it some times very tough to get this bubble out of the system, since the bleeer screw is not exactly at the highest point.  I had the dreaded mush pedal on my old 400F and would not firm up until I did this - it seemed like magic.  just my $0.02

Err...The screw is pointing straight up anyway.

[Mopar_Tony_SF]

The only issue is the front brake, but after a lot of bleeding got it back to feeling like it used to, but not what I want.  Gonna try and find some good SS lines and totally go through it.

Err...The screw is pointing straight up anyway.

Mine is at 11:30 but who is keeping time.  Also, the inlet pipe and its boss is higher than the bleed port.  Just remove the caliper, crack the bleeder and move it around and something may burp out.  This is assuming you have no leaks, and the master cylinder is not sucking air or has not been properly bled.  I had one system so bad I removed everything (caliper, master cylinder, spliiter manifold with all lines connected) in one unit, and hung upside down with the caliper in the highest postion, then let them gravity bleed - worked great but was a pain.  CBX are realy bad with this due to the funky splitter manifold.  Some people have has luck tying down the lever so the brkes are pressurized and letting it sit for a coule days - some air, especially the tiny bubles can be bled out this way.  Also, if you have air in the system, SS lines will not do a thing.  I have goen from old, weathered high milage rubber to SS and the change was not huge.

[Mopar_Tony_SF]

The only issue is the front brake, but after a lot of bleeding got it back to feeling like it used to, but not what I want.  Gonna try and find some good SS lines and totally go through it.

whoo hoo,another mopar fan!!!

Right on!  mopar muscle is my first and main mechanical love.  Got a 11 second big block 69 Dart street fighter right now.  Its faster than all my bikes, but I only own old bikes