It's an honour to have a bike nominated for BOTM. Thank you.
Representing the stockers this month, also adds special meaning. There's no doubt Max Mph's cafe is strong competition. So I will be looking for votes from all those supporters of 'just the way Honda made it'.
A 400 SS has been a must own, since I saw my neighbour's new one, back in the day. Last year the opportunity to do just that presented its self. A comment to forum member bwaller, lead to some photos arriving by email. It was red, and shortly there after had a new home.
The hook, line & sinker -
The bike is a 1976 CB400 SS. It is a numbers matching, survivor, although not 100% original. I asked bwaller for the bike's story, and received the following:
"Originally it was purchased by my cousin, his brother acquired a used CB500 so he bought this new 400F. After a season owning a bike wasn't in his plan. He kept it another couple years and barely rode it. My younger brother bought it with 3000 miles and made it his own by painting the frame red, tank black and not very well done either. He rode it one or two seasons and it was parked upstairs on a wood floor in an unheated farm building for five or six years.
It wasn't mine and I steered clear for this time but eventually I couldn't stand it anymore and since our kids were school age thought Deb would like to have a bike to ride again after a long absense. It was the first paint powder experience for me and I found a place that offered a satin black which closely resembled the Honda frame colour. I bought an NOS tank, rear rim, and laced up SS rear spokes. Everything else had been left stock and only needed thorough cleaning & detailing. The carbs were glued shut and were some of the worst I've ever experienced. The head gasket had been leaking so I pulled the top-end and installed new gaskets. When it finally came to life it pushed out the base gasket and started leaking badly. I installed another after checking the cylinders & cases were straight. It pushed the gasket out again. Apart again, removed the sleeves and just touched the block on the mill, deglazed and re-ringed the pistons which were excellent...problem solved. The original rings seemed fine as did the bores, but seemed to be producing excessive blowby pressurising the bottom end.
Since day one I may have been the only guy to ever tune that engine, it never went back to the dealer for any service....."
The 400 as it sits today, primed and polished, waiting for the 2011 riding season. -
Poll
