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Author Topic: CBR400 a new bike in my shed  (Read 2848 times)

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Offline Hush

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CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« on: June 29, 2009, 04:20:33 AM »
Finally my son settles on a bike to buy, not that I influenced him toward Honda but lets say I'm pleased he did go that way.
He looked at GSR250's and a heap of other 250 machines due to the fact that a learner can only legally ride up to 250cc here in New Zealand.
Most 250's for this same reason have been flogged to death and dropped, scrapped, shattered side panels etc.
I think it's a wise move to go to the bigger bike, also I think it's a wise move that he leaves it in my shed until he tells his partner he has bought it! :D
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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 bert96

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Re: CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2009, 03:58:16 PM »



 Pics please,we want pics! ;D ;D ;D ::)
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Offline Hush

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Re: CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« Reply #2 on: June 29, 2009, 04:50:21 PM »
Arrives this weekend, he has to go pick it up on the other side of the island, road trip in the van.
The guy and his partner both ride CBR650's so this was just going to be a track bike but they need the room and my boy got the bargain of the century, $1400 and it has recon motor and spares. :)
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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 Hush

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Re: CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« Reply #3 on: July 04, 2009, 02:52:16 AM »
Dan is off to pick up his CBR400 tomorrow, he also bought a VT250 for $500 with what is said to have a mint engine in it.
Plan is to store the CBR at the back of the shed and concentrate on the VT so he can at least legally ride until he gets his full bike licence, by then we will have had time to work on his CBR and he can sell the VT to recoup some of his initial outlay. :)
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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 Hush

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Re: CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« Reply #4 on: July 05, 2009, 02:56:28 AM »
Well they have arrived, CBR400 is in reasonable condition and only a few days work to get it road worthy I'd say at a quick glance, it has set some pretty quick times around circuits as a track bike but has all electrics and road legal stuff which works.
The VT250 has also been used as a track bike and will need a fair bit of my magic and love to restore it to any semblance of order but I do love a challenge. :D
400 came with a spare motor, has been professionally lightened by the previous owner blowing a large hole at speed in the front of motor by #3 bigend!   :o
Motor at present in bike is a newer donor donkey that runs pretty sweet, the 250 also has a fairly good motor even if it does look rough it fires right up, all the plastics are there too but missing the seat so will put that on shopping list.
Rear wheel on 250 looks too big for the bike, do track bikers like big rear wheels?
All in all the garage is getting a bit crowded but with 3 Hondas in there I couldn't be happier. ;D
« Last Edit: July 05, 2009, 02:59:12 AM by Hush »
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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 Hush

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Re: CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2009, 11:40:16 PM »
Well I'm sure glad I had to do all that work on my old Honda before tackling this little box of tricks, radiators and massive airfliters jammed under the tank, wiring is fairly stock.
Air filter was just sitting there (I can prove that as I found a new screw driver inside it) one engine mount was just attached.
Almost got it to burble today then though I'd remove the plugs ha ha ha I did say I "thought" i might remove them.
They are like set 8 inches down in a well in the head, not enough room to turn a socket until you remove the radiator (surely they don't do that in the workshop?) and then you still donate blood on every sharp object Honda could find to leave under there.
I did get the tank cleaned out, destroyed the in-tank filter but there is an in-line anyway.
I have spark if a weak one, have told son to buy 4 new plugs and a new battery and some alcohol for his Dad, did he seriously think I was doing this for love? ;D
Would be a piece of pie to sync the carbs as they are all facing you just under the tank. :D
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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 Hush

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Re: CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« Reply #6 on: July 12, 2009, 09:37:06 PM »
The more I work on my sons bike the more I love my old 650, damn spark plugs that are burried so deep in the bowels of the motor that you need a team of men and horses to drag them out!
Only thing I can see as an advantage is the carbs should be easy to sync, check out where they are once you remove the tank, air filters and all the fairings.
Oh and I'll never ever complain about how inaccessible my old Honda carbs are again....promise. :D
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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 Hush

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Re: CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« Reply #7 on: July 13, 2009, 12:40:23 AM »
Fitted 4 new plugs ($20 each) and checked spark, fairly weak spark and not sure how strong they should be.
Still need new battery and new chain.
Couldn't get her to run, could be a fuel supply problem as when I squirted some "start ya bastard" which is basically ether into carbs it almost coughed.
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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 Hush

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Re: CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« Reply #8 on: July 16, 2009, 02:36:33 AM »
Downloaded the free manual for the CBR400RR and found the electrical diagram to be very interesting, seems the PO plonked the motor in but failed to wire the coils correctly so the timing is all to Hell, hopefully I can get that straightened out tomorrow and hear her fire up.

Handy site to get any manual you want.

http://www.carlsalter.com/motorcycle-manuals.asp
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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 Hush

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Re: CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« Reply #9 on: July 17, 2009, 12:39:13 AM »
Eureka moment, the PO had not only put the coil wires on the wrong coil lugs and then to complicate it he had leads #1 and #3 on the wrong spark plugs.
Got it all sorted and VVVVVVRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM,  ;D she runs sweet as, really really quiet, I kinda thought it would roar but for an in-line 4 she is very quiet. :)

Got the VT250 running too but that has been sold to some guy so won't lavish too much love on it.
« Last Edit: July 17, 2009, 08:25:48 PM by Hush »
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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 Hush

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Re: CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« Reply #10 on: July 18, 2009, 01:45:59 AM »
Bonus, the gell cell battery which came with the 400 seemed dead but now I have the plugs sorted the battery is holding a a charge so we can scotch that off our "must buy" list.
Damn that 400 purrrs, guess it's just a newer version of our old bikes and being an in-line 4 she really purrs. ;D
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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 tsflstb

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Re: CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« Reply #11 on: July 20, 2009, 05:58:00 AM »
That is one neat little bike.  Wish they were available in the U.S.

I've spent a lot of time watching youtube videos of those things tearing up racetracks.  Looks like a very capable machine.  What does the engine redline at?

Modern bikes are incredibly complex compared to what we're working with.  Mass centralization is great for performance but leaves no room for an adult human's hands to service anything with a lot of disassembly.  I looked under the tank of a 2009 Yamaha R1 the other day.  I'm pretty sure it has more computing power than the Apollo spacecraft. 

Glad to see it running without too much hassle. 
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Offline Hush

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Re: CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« Reply #12 on: July 21, 2009, 03:56:26 AM »
Yeah and I think my son got it cheap cos the PO couldn't get it to start the way it was ha ha.
Have yet to redline it, am awaiting a few new bits this week to get it ridable then the fun will begin. ;)
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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 Hush

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Re: CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« Reply #13 on: July 23, 2009, 12:52:44 AM »
New chain arrived today but son wanted new front sprocket, unfortunately the new rear sprocket he has brought is wrong one. :D
Rear disc pads are fine though.
Tomorrow I'll pull the partners' Suzuki GSX 400 carbs as bike doesn't like idling and I don't remember taking them off when she first got the bike.
Good news is the 79 650 is running beautifully and the plastic Chinese scooter is running fine. :)
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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 Hush

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Re: CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« Reply #14 on: July 23, 2009, 07:33:45 PM »
Seems I'm diving from one bike to the next in my shed right now.
I've got the Chaser, the racer, the commuter and the chopper!
Oh yeah and check out how I'm using the tie downs to pull the carbs back on the GSX400, worked like a charm. :D
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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 manjisann

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Re: CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« Reply #15 on: July 24, 2009, 02:00:07 PM »
Just make sure you fully seat those carbs when you put them back in  :P

Brandon
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Offline Hush

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Re: CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« Reply #16 on: July 24, 2009, 04:23:54 PM »
All good Brandon, the carbs "popped" on easy as with the tie-down trick, damn I'm glad I discovered that.
The GSX 400 still farts about and wont idle right so after discounting the now pristine carbs I'm remembering the air filter which consists of a foam block, if she's popping and missing then she's lean so too much air....will rearrange that air filter. :)
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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 manjisann

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Re: CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« Reply #17 on: July 25, 2009, 06:56:11 PM »
You could always use that "Special" filter  ;)

Brandon
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Sure it's for sale! How much you ask?? Well, how much are you willing to pay??? Now triple it, that's the price!

1973 CB500 K2 - Sold the bike and bought a Mig, Miss the bike, Love the Mig :D
1980 CB650 Custom
1971 CB500 Frame 650 engine: Project

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Offline Hush

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Re: CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« Reply #18 on: July 25, 2009, 11:14:17 PM »
OK Hush has been having a blonde moment, all the bikes lately that have lived in my shed are electronic ignition with ignitors etc, re-read the manual at work last night, this old model has something called "points and condensers"! :D
I seem to remember them vaguely, will have a wee look when I get a chance tomorrow.
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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 Hush

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Re: CBR400 a new bike in my shed
« Reply #19 on: July 26, 2009, 09:40:28 PM »
Dressed points and reset pilot air screw, GSX400 runs good now and idles evenly.
Son took his CBR400 for a test run, came home with mile wide grin and stated the bike goes damn good.  (didn't hear any "thanks Dad"!)  ;D
So a day of highs and lows.....going hunting a gas tap for my 650 now.
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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!!!!!!!
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