Anyone have experience with these bikes? I have been reading all the literature I can get my hands on, and everything says they handle great, are extremely reliable, and very fun to ride. Also, I think they are just gorgeous! I have a good deal of mechanical experience with classic bikes already, but would just like to hear some personal accounts of reliability, performance, experiences etc... I plan to buy a good condition all original bike with low miles, and expect to pay about 2 grand.
Oh just incase some of you don't know, the Honda CB400 four was made from 1975 to 1977. It's a 400cc four-cylinder 4-stroke sport bike. This bike was Honda's first attempt at a cafe racer with low bars, rearset footrests, a 10.5k(!) redline, and a beautiful 4 to 1 exhaust. These bikes are just plain sexy and a great piece of history.
Thanks

 

I have never riden one but I started street riding on the Honda 400 hawk (standard). The motor was very reliable. I would guess that if you could find one in relative stock condition, it would be an excellent bike to own.

 

Ive ridden the Honda CB400 Super Four (which is the newer version). From the explanation youve given, it sounds like its basically the same thing, so ill give my opinion.

In japan, its used as a practice motorcycle, and this is the motorcycle you use when getting your lisence. It handles sweet, and has more than enough power and torque. When you sit down, it feels great cause of the upright position (not like racer replica types). I loved it, and if i did have the money id buy it

 

Raz,
Yea, Honda made a reissue 400/four called the CB-1 from 1988-1990, it was only made for 2 years and very few bikes sold here. Both the newer and older 400's are very well crafted and justifiably popular all over the world - except america. Americans gotta have that Harly Thunder
The vintage 400/four is widely recognized as a highly desirable classic bike, and prices for good examples are much higher in Europe, the U.K, Japan and other places where the small sportbike class has caught on.
I plan to daily ride the bike in San Francisco where I will be moving in 2 weeks (enough snow already!! ) Anyway, I have been riding for 2 years, and I'm not really into pointless teenage speed. I like to go fast and all, but I'd like to go through some twisties at the limit of a bikes performance even more! I hear the 400/four is the bike to have for that. Hopefully I will be able to get some track time in out in cali too - I also own a 76 Yamaha RD125 racer, and a '86 Yamaha Radian sport bike, and I'd love to beat them at the track
I know this forum is all about gixxers and plastic rockets, but you guys should look at some of the older "uncool" bikes that are out there on the road. They are definatly beautiful and many were technological marvels in their day. It's good to respect motorcycles for what they are, and not belittle them for what they are not...

 

I have a 72 cb350f that i am building into a cafe racer. anyways, that cb 400 is a great bike. my friend has 76 cb550f. he got quite a bit of power out of that motor by swapping some parts from other cb's. he used the head from a 350 for higher compression from the smaller combustion chambers, a 750 cam for a more aggressive profile, 750 springs and retainers, and 650 carbs for more fuel. i've thought about attempting a stepped down version of that formula on my 350. just a thought to keep in mind. he had to mill the head a bit to get the cam lobes to clear, but other than that, the parts just fit together.


[Modified by isotopesope, 5:31 PM 7/22/2002]

 

Thanks for the replies guys,
Isotopesope, That sounds neat what your friend did with the frankeinstin engine - I have heard that 400/F mills don't respond to upgrades very well, and take lots and lots of tuning to keep them from blowing up. I donno, I plan to keep mine as close to stock as possable.
Maybe I should ask about this bike in a vintage forum or something...anybody know of a good one?

 

Redtail, here is a good forum for old sohc fours: http://anomalocaris.swarthmore.edu:8080/. my friend heard of that technique from someone on this board. there was an old honda racer from the 60's and/or 70's named kirk johnson that started it. i think that was his first name anyways.