Topic: 85 MPH on 31 Year Old Tires

[Mopar_Tony_SF]

After 6 LONG months of fighting with the Califorinia DMV, I finally have the plates, pink slip and tags on my 3,000 mile 75 400F! 

Has the original tires with lots of tread left.  No cracking.  Took it on the freeway today and it runs good up to 85 MPH.  Total dog though, my wife Dodge minivan is probably faster in the quater mile.

Have a new set of Spitfires for this bike.  Do people restoring these things every have interest in vintage tires?  Hell, the air in the tires is probably original.

[eldar]

tires that old probably dont even have air in them! The rubber is probably hard enough to support the bike now!

[MRieck]

tires that old probably dont even have air in them! The rubber is probably hard enough to support the bike now!

The tubes will keep the air in..

[eldar]

THOSE are probably hard enough to ride on!

[csendker]

I'll bet you could sell the air on e-buy as "Sandcast" and pay for your new wheels.

[techy5025]

 

[Sam Green Racing]

 

[mrbreeze]

HA!!!Now thats funny!!! I don't care who you are!!!!!

[Bob Wessner]

Having survived 86 mph on tires that old, you might consider buying a fist full of lottery tickets. I think it's your lucky day. 

[Terry in Australia]

Total dog though, my wife Dodge minivan is probably faster in the quater mile.

Don't say that too loud mate, while I agree entirely, there are those out there who have put those slabby little suckers on a pedestal, and will shout you down for such a sacreligious statement, ha ha! Cheers, Terry.

[loonymoon]

My bike still had the original tyres on too when I got it. I rode it for a month before deciding that I ought to replace them. When they finally took them off they found that there was no spoke tape ... so perhaps I should have bought a lottery ticket or two then as well!!

[eldar]

hard rubber does amazing things???

[Mopar_Tony_SF]

Total dog though, my wife Dodge minivan is probably faster in the quater mile.

Don't say that too loud mate, while I agree entirely, there are those out there who have put those slabby little suckers on a pedestal, and will shout you down for such a sacreligious statement, ha ha! Cheers, Terry.

Don't get me wrong.  I love the old CB400Fs.  Wish they made a 2006 version.  This one is my wifes to ride technically speaking.  Compared to my 75 Kawaski H2 and my 79 CBX it just hard getting used to.  Love the sound and look of the bike though.  Its such a museum piece I hate to ride it.  May sell it and buy another CB400F that is a rider.

[Chris Liston]

I'd say that just the fact that your asking the question you should replace them.  31 year old tires are just that 31 year old tires.  New rubber will be safer especially at speed.  The tire may look good but who knows what its doing after it heats up at speed. 

[Mopar_Tony_SF]

I'd say that just the fact that your asking the question you should replace them.  31 year old tires are just that 31 year old tires.  New rubber will be safer especially at speed.  The tire may look good but who knows what its doing after it heats up at speed. 

Oh I know they should be replaced.  Just curious if there is any re-sale vaule in them.  Might just sell the whole bike.

[Chris Liston]

Go on ebay and put "Original Sandcast Tires"  You'll pay for your kids college

[Terry in Australia]

Oh I know they should be replaced.  Just curious if there is any re-sale vaule in them. 

Nope. If you sold the entire bike, (which I assume is in "mint" condition?) any responsible buyer would replace the tires if she intended to ride it. Cheers, Terry.

[mick750F]

Oh I know they should be replaced.  Just curious if there is any re-sale vaule in them. 

Nope. If you sold the entire bike, (which I assume is in "mint" condition?) any responsible buyer would replace the tires if she intended to ride it. Cheers, Terry.

  !!!

[BobbyR]

Now don't listen to all of these nay sayers and toss those tires. I have gotten years of use from a 20+ year old tires. You simply need to get a length of stout rope, throw it over a sturdy tree limb and tie the tire to the rope. The neighborhood kids love them. If you have a worn set of boots, you can cut the tread to shape, and glue it to the soles, makes them damn sturdy. The lonly thing they are not good for is riding. There is only fresh air between your ass and the pavement. Even the cheapest tires are better than those.

[Terry in Australia]

Now don't listen to all of these nay sayers and toss those tires. I have gotten years of use from a 20+ year old tires. You simply need to get a length of stout rope, throw it over a sturdy tree limb and tie the tire to the rope. The neighborhood kids love them. If you have a worn set of boots, you can cut the tread to shape, and glue it to the soles, makes them damn sturdy. The lonly thing they are not good for is riding. There is only fresh air between your ass and the pavement. Even the cheapest tires are better than those.

Well said Bobby, Amen.

[JHansen]

Total dog though, my wife Dodge minivan is probably faster in the quarter mile.

Blasphemy!!!

I hold in my hot little hands the July 1976 issue of Cycle World magazine. The CB400 they tested hit the 1/4 mile in 14.16sec at 90.5 mph. Put into perspective, it ties a Nissan 350 Z and beats a Porsche Boxster in the 1/4 mile. That must be a fast minivan. Or perhaps a tune-up  for your 400 is in order...

More impressive is the 0-60 time of just 6.7 seconds. (Faster than any Dodge minivan I know, and ties with the Chrysler Crossfire)

Be nice to that bike with 4 shot glasses for pistons! Get to sixty in under 7 and then blow her doors off in the corners!

OK, this 400 owner is off his soapbox now...  

[cb650]

Sometimes the 1/4 mile is calculated.  Or the rider is 100 soaking wet.
All the articles I've seen on the 650 says 12.99- 13.3 and I know its BS.




               Terry

[supersport_CB400F]

Anybody who travels at 85 on those old tyres has to be a not so intelligent, so I’ll excuse your comments about the 400 being a dog. 

[Mopar_Tony_SF]

Anybody who travels at 85 on those old tyres has to be a not so intelligent, so I’ll excuse your comments about the 400 being a dog. 

Ha, thanks for the nice comment.

I was wrong on the quarter mile too.  Below article references a smoking 14.1 second quarter mile.  Motorcyclist says mid 14's.  That is about the same performance as a Kawasaki EX250.  OK, my wife's mini van is a little slower.  Such a sweet looking bike though.  Love the sound at 10,000 RPM.

http://sohc4.us/?q=node/156
http://motorcyclistonline.com/flashback/122_9612_honda_cb400f/

[Mopar_Tony_SF]

oh yeah, here is my bike and the 31 year old tires.

Bike has an interesting history.  It was onwed by a local professor who was quite well known in the photography world for developing special types of glasses for lenses.  He bought the bike new for his son, who dumped it after 3500 miles (hence the dent on the tank).  It had been parked indoors since being dropped in 1978.  His son is a director of artsy-fartsy films.