Author Topic: Does anyone know how many CB500s vs 400/4s were made?  (Read 1180 times)

Offline Charliecharlcomb

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Does anyone know how many CB500s vs 400/4s were made?
« on: October 12, 2018, 04:28:48 PM »
Always wondered. There are a lot of 400/4 fans out there as there were also probably a lot of 400/4s to love, but how many of the two models were made? Anyone have an idea?

Offline deltarider

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Re: Does anyone know how many CB500s vs 400/4s were made?
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2018, 08:50:04 PM »
All I know is the Brits in particular liked the CB400F. BTW, was the CB350F ever imported in the UK?

Offline hairygit

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Re: Does anyone know how many CB500s vs 400/4s were made?
« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2018, 10:01:11 PM »
The 350f was never officially imported to the U.K. by Honda. Germany certainly saw some, and one or two were probably brought over by military personnel that had been based there. Most of the ones here now are from the U.S.

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Offline deltarider

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Re: Does anyone know how many CB500s vs 400/4s were made?
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2018, 08:36:47 AM »
Well, that probably explains the attention the CB400F always had in mags like Classic & Motorcycle Mechanics. I used to read that magazine regularly, but unfortunately I haven't seen it in the shops here for years. BTW, in my archives I have a copy (original) of Motorcycling Monthly, April 1976 (30p! :)). In it: an article titled Tuning man or machine? That's what it says on the cover. On page 41-43 it is: Tuning Man v Machine. The bike concerned is a CB400F. If the article is not in your archives yet, I can scan it.
« Last Edit: October 13, 2018, 08:39:15 AM by deltarider »

Offline Seabeowner

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Re: Does anyone know how many CB500s vs 400/4s were made?
« Reply #4 on: October 13, 2018, 09:35:30 AM »
Hondas biggest market was the US. And they had the 750, then the 500 and the 350 very shortly after.
The UK never saw the 350 as presumably Honda UK felt that that area was already covered by the 350 twin.
But the 400 was a runaway success in the UK, but that didn't stop Honda ceasing production after a couple of years.
So although 400s feature in nostalgia here they are much less common in the US. The US had the 500K0, which we only got a tiny number, then the K1 and K2.
So here is my guess for you all to argue over as it's raining outside. Might trigger some facts.
CB750: 800k
CB500: 320k  +CB550: 250k
CB400: 200k
CB350: 250k
Phil
1971  CB500K0  Candy Jade Green or Candy Gold
1973  CB500K1  Candy Ruby Red
1975  CB550F1   Shiny Orange
1978  CB550K     Excel Black

Offline Nurse Julie

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Re: Does anyone know how many CB500s vs 400/4s were made?
« Reply #5 on: October 13, 2018, 01:01:15 PM »
Wiki reckon around 105,000 CB400/4's manufactured. If that true or not, I wouldn't know. As with all the Honda SOHC/4 range, unless you were the person on the end of the production line counting them off one by one, it's all a guessing game of how many, what specs and what country they ended up in.
« Last Edit: October 13, 2018, 01:04:04 PM by Nurse Julie »
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Offline SteveW

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Re: Does anyone know how many CB500s vs 400/4s were made?
« Reply #6 on: October 13, 2018, 03:00:33 PM »
Is that Noel Edmonds on the front cover  ;D
1974 CB550 K0
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Offline Allington (Steve)

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Re: Does anyone know how many CB500s vs 400/4s were made?
« Reply #7 on: October 13, 2018, 03:38:26 PM »
I have no idea how many 400’s were sold here in the UK but it was a lot especially when compared to the 500. Back then most people who had bikes usually only had one, their only mode of transport and it was used 12 months of the year to commute to work on and ride at the weekends for fun.  The 400 just hit the spot pretty much perfectly. A bike for its time when most people were riding 200 to 350cc bikes and aspired to a CB750 or a Z900 the CB400 was affordable fun.
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Offline Menno

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Re: Does anyone know how many CB500s vs 400/4s were made?
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2018, 04:13:02 PM »
In the Netherlands the 350four was sold massively.
I must have bought maybe 10 of them in a row in the 90's.
All for little cash (say 100 euro or less).
It was easier to buy another used one than to do a mayor repair which would involve taking the engine apart.
The 400four as well but a friend of mine exported them in great numbers back to Japan in the 90's.

Offline deltarider

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Re: Does anyone know how many CB500s vs 400/4s were made?
« Reply #9 on: October 16, 2018, 10:47:34 AM »
Is that Noel Edmonds on the front cover  ;D
Dunno, had a quick glance at the tekst and discovered two names: race mechanic Dave Degens and service school manager Brian O'reilly. If needed I can scan the article for the archive.

Offline Allington (Steve)

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Re: Does anyone know how many CB500s vs 400/4s were made?
« Reply #10 on: October 16, 2018, 10:53:12 AM »
Is that Noel Edmonds on the front cover  ;D
Dunno, had a quick glance at the tekst and discovered two names: race mechanic Dave Degens and service school manager Brian O'reilly. If needed I can scan the article for the archive.

The 400 engine would fit perfectly into a wideline frame actually :)
"A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing..."

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Offline taysidedragon

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Re: Does anyone know how many CB500s vs 400/4s were made?
« Reply #11 on: October 16, 2018, 12:18:34 PM »
Is that Noel Edmonds on the front cover  ;D
Dunno, had a quick glance at the tekst and discovered two names: race mechanic Dave Degens and service school manager Brian O'reilly. If needed I can scan the article for the archive.
I'd like to see that if you can do it. 👍
Gareth

1977 CB400F
1965 T100SS

Offline deltarider

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Re: Does anyone know how many CB500s vs 400/4s were made?
« Reply #12 on: October 16, 2018, 12:39:04 PM »
Is that Noel Edmonds on the front cover  ;D
Dunno, had a quick glance at the tekst and discovered two names: race mechanic Dave Degens and service school manager Brian O'reilly. If needed I can scan the article for the archive.
I'd like to see that if you can do it. 👍
Expect it end of this week. I need to reread it as I remember there were one or two errors in it and I therefore like to add my comment on those errors as well.

Offline adespin

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Re: Does anyone know how many CB500s vs 400/4s were made?
« Reply #13 on: October 16, 2018, 01:19:15 PM »
Is that Noel Edmonds on the front cover  ;D
Dunno, had a quick glance at the tekst and discovered two names: race mechanic Dave Degens and service school manager Brian O'reilly. If needed I can scan the article for the archive.

I met Brian O'reilly back in 1973/4, my new cb750 k2 was jumping out of 3rd or 4th gear regularly when on full chat dicing with my mates, of course the rev counter needle would hit the end stop before i could react. I was concerned that this would damage the valve's or pistons, and having no faith in my local dealer and his monkeys (mechanics) i decided to take a ride up to Honda HQ, Power Rd, Chiswick. There i met with Mr O'reilly who assured me that no damage would occur as the 750 was over engineered. That was good enough for me.
1971 cb750 K1

Offline deltarider

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Re: Does anyone know how many CB500s vs 400/4s were made?
« Reply #14 on: October 21, 2018, 03:36:14 PM »
Is that Noel Edmonds on the front cover  ;D
Dunno, had a quick glance at the tekst and discovered two names: race mechanic Dave Degens and service school manager Brian O'reilly. If needed I can scan the article for the archive.
I'd like to see that if you can do it. 👍
I've scanned the article. Can someone explain how to attach it to a PM here???

 

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