Picked this up last week!

[OreoGaborio]

FUCKING KEEP IT... SKREW THE SELLER!!! FUCK "NO ROOM", THE THING DOESN'T TAKE UP ANY ROOM!!!

[rebelpacket]

I'm interested Doc. If it doesn't sell, let me know. You can take all that crap off and sell it, and I'll pay 500$ for just the bike. I figure I'll make a fiberglass cafe-racing seat with a foam mold, and then put some uncomfortable seat on it, and better tires.

[KB]

OH MAN WANT IT. Fuck I wish I had 800.

KB

[OreoGaborio]

I'm interested Doc. If it doesn't sell, let me know. You can take all that crap off and sell it, and I'll pay 500$ for just the bike. I figure I'll make a fiberglass cafe-racing seat with a foam mold, and then put some uncomfortable seat on it, and better tires.

OH MAN WANT IT. Fuck I wish I had 800.

[LuvDog]

ditto the others....i'd be interested in it too if it doesn't sell.

i learned how to ride on a CB400

[Doc]

Are those SHOEI saddle bags????!!!???

That is what they say. Did Shoei make em? I took the fairing and bags off today. Will post pics again soon.

The guy from Georgia came by and tried to low ball me at $400. I still have the bike.

[Doc]

Oh and I won't sell it on here. Sorry. I plan on making a profit if I sell it and I wouldn't do that to you guys.

[chiwawa444]

Did you by chance pick that up from a guys aircraft hangar up in Swanton at the airport? Because I did some work on an RV-6 for a guy up there a couple winters ago and saw one just like that sitting in the back of his hangar. Looked like it had been sitting for a couple of years

[stevecbr900rr]

Holy Shit,... if i knew there would be so many people hard up for this thing i would have purchased a few for shit change and made some money. Why you so many have stiffys over this thing is beyond me.

[rebelpacket]

Because for fairly cheap, you can turn those into this:

[rebelpacket]

Actually, here's a CB400 4, cafe'd out.

[Stoneman]

I still don't see the attraction. All I'm seeing is the man formally known as Prince riding it in the rain...purple rain at that...

[Doc]

Did you by chance pick that up from a guys aircraft hangar up in Swanton at the airport? Because I did some work on an RV-6 for a guy up there a couple winters ago and saw one just like that sitting in the back of his hangar. Looked like it had been sitting for a couple of years

Yep, same guy.

[Doc]

Holy Shit,... if i knew there would be so many people hard up for this thing i would have purchased a few for shit change and made some money. Why you so many have stiffys over this thing is beyond me.

It is a Cafe Racer thing, old school. You wouldn't understand.

[01 Taxidriver]

Well doc,If you don't want to sink all kinds of $$ into it clean up the krome,get it running on all 4 and just ride it.Taking off that touring package will help in the performance of the bike as it will be a little lighter.If it where me ,I'd clean it up and use it as a everyday rider.

01 Taxidriver

[Doc]

Updated pics.





Looks MUCH better now. The paint needs a redo, looks like some brake fluid got on the right side ( I saw that when I bought it) Needs a little electrical (headlight and blinkers) It is running well on all 4 cylinders, there is a slight gas leak I have to track down (stuck float bowl?). I can't believe this thing redline so high.

[joeswamp]

Put the correct low bars on along with some napoleons, cover up that nasty purple rain paint job and you'll have a cool lightweight retro sportbike.

Put the fairing on your race Hawk and you can listen to AM radio while jockeying for position in Turn 3.

That huge fairing on this bike still amazes me. Did it look like it was made for the bike or was it a bizarre hack job?

PS: Cool article on this bike:

Honda CB400F - Bikes of the 70's - Motorcyclist Online

[Doc]

[QUOTE=joeswamp;369328]
That huge fairing on this bike still amazes me. Did it look like it was made for the bike or was it a bizarre hack job?
QUOTE]


I would say it was a well done Hack job. Not meant for the bike and fabricated to fit but it fit well.

[Doc]

I have seen that article...

"Riders weaned on modern machinery would be horrified by the CB400F's rather narrow performance envelope. Not to put too fine a point on it, the CB400F's riding position is roughly akin to being stuffed fanny-first into a 55-gallon drum; the steering geometry, short wheelbase, 18-inch-diameter wheels and high CG yield steering that's at once quick and clumsy at speed; the suspension rarely responds to bumps in any useful manner; the hydraulic disc front brake rewards high effort with little stopping power; and the engine revs to its 10,000-rpm redline with agonizing slowness. "It felt like a museum exhibition in internal friction," Karr says. Ex-Motorcyclist staffer Ken Vreeke rode a stocker at Willow Springs in 1989, and wrote this for Cycle: "Hard braking while turning had the fork twisting, the frame flexing as if hinged in the middle, and the whole bike hopping violently enough to chirp the tires."

[joeswamp]

I have seen that article...

"Riders weaned on modern machinery would be horrified by the CB400F's rather narrow performance envelope. Not to put too fine a point on it, the CB400F's riding position is roughly akin to being stuffed fanny-first into a 55-gallon drum; the steering geometry, short wheelbase, 18-inch-diameter wheels and high CG yield steering that's at once quick and clumsy at speed; the suspension rarely responds to bumps in any useful manner; the hydraulic disc front brake rewards high effort with little stopping power; and the engine revs to its 10,000-rpm redline with agonizing slowness. "It felt like a museum exhibition in internal friction," Karr says. Ex-Motorcyclist staffer Ken Vreeke rode a stocker at Willow Springs in 1989, and wrote this for Cycle: "Hard braking while turning had the fork twisting, the frame flexing as if hinged in the middle, and the whole bike hopping violently enough to chirp the tires."

And that's why riding it is so exciting! Makes me want to try mine out on the track.

Yes, clearly it is not like riding a 2007 R6, but remember this bike is over 30 years old. The limits are pretty different from a modern machine.

[Doc]

I see you have one. What tires do you reccomend?

[joeswamp]

Mine's been sitting for so long that I don't even know... I think it has Dunlops on it now that are wayyy overdue for replacement.

[a13x]

Ask Bob Stone about CB400 Fours. He has one in his basement cafe racer style. He could talk your head off about it (what can't he talk your head off about? haha).

They are neat little bikes done up right.

[Doc]

Cool, Thanks again Alex. It is nice to know other people with them.

[stevecbr900rr]

Actually, here's a CB400 4, cafe'd out.

Dam...now that gives me a stiffy!