Author Topic: New Member  (Read 4351 times)

Offline Bradders

  • SOHC Member
  • Posts: 215
    • View Profile
New Member
« on: December 27, 2018, 04:59:38 PM »
Hi All,
Am a new member on this forum and have been researching about buying a 400 Four in the next 6 months or so.
I am not a mechanic by a very long shot but can do very basic services etc. I get the impression that many people on this forum are very mechanically minded.
I guess my question is do you need to be someone mechanically minded to own and run a Classic bike or would I be permanently taking it to my local Honda dealer for expensive repairs?

Offline Nurse Julie

  • 1977 CB550/4 Mongrel Brat. 1974 UK 500/4 K1. Honda CD250u.
  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 8206
    • View Profile
Re: New Member
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2018, 05:21:03 PM »
Welcome to the forum Bradders. You would be lucky to find a Honda dealer that will even touch these old bikes these days. Many dealers do not have the knowledge or skills to work on these bikes, this is why so many of us maintain our own. Not only does it keep the cost down of running a CB400/4, or any other Honda SOHC/4 but it's all part of owning a classic bike. Basic maintenance is easy when you know how and there are plenty 400/4 owners on here that will help you along the way. Good luck.
LINK TO MY EBAY PAGE. As many of you know already, I give 10% discount and do post at cost to forum members if you PM me direct.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/julies9731/m.html?item=165142672569&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2562

LINK TO MY CB400/4 ENGINE STRIP / ASSESSMENT AND REBUILD...NOW COMPLETE
http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,14049.msg112691/topicseen.html#new

Offline Bryanj

  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 10695
    • View Profile
Re: New Member
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2018, 05:22:47 PM »
If you have and can use metric spanners, 3/8 drive sockets, allen keys and circlip pliers you can, with a manual and the knowledge on here, totaly strip and rebuild reliably one of these bikes. Most Honda dealers will no longer work on them as the "new" mechanics have never seen one!

Offline Bradders

  • SOHC Member
  • Posts: 215
    • View Profile
Re: New Member
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2018, 05:50:30 PM »
Thank you for your encouraging replies.
I would buy as near to totally restored as possible in the hope that it would be reliable.
Are 400 Fours generally reliable if looked after would you say?

Offline Nurse Julie

  • 1977 CB550/4 Mongrel Brat. 1974 UK 500/4 K1. Honda CD250u.
  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 8206
    • View Profile
Re: New Member
« Reply #4 on: December 27, 2018, 05:56:36 PM »
Thank you for your encouraging replies.
I would buy as near to totally restored as possible in the hope that it would be reliable.
Are 400 Fours generally reliable if looked after would you say?
They are extremely reliable if basic maintenance is carried out regularly. Be wary of restored bikes, there is 'restored' and there is 'restored'.....the two being a million miles apart and also a vast amount of money apart, not necessarily on the price you pay for the bike but the unforseen costs involved after you have bought the bike.
LINK TO MY EBAY PAGE. As many of you know already, I give 10% discount and do post at cost to forum members if you PM me direct.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/julies9731/m.html?item=165142672569&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2562

LINK TO MY CB400/4 ENGINE STRIP / ASSESSMENT AND REBUILD...NOW COMPLETE
http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,14049.msg112691/topicseen.html#new

Offline jon stead

  • SOHC Expert
  • Posts: 378
    • View Profile
Re: New Member
« Reply #5 on: December 27, 2018, 06:24:09 PM »
Welcome to the forum Bradders. Good luck in your 400/4 search
2015 Triumph Bonneville T100 Newchurch

Offline Bradders

  • SOHC Member
  • Posts: 215
    • View Profile
Re: New Member
« Reply #6 on: December 27, 2018, 06:50:37 PM »
Thank you all for your replies. What advice would you offer in buying a 400 Four?

Offline Nurse Julie

  • 1977 CB550/4 Mongrel Brat. 1974 UK 500/4 K1. Honda CD250u.
  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 8206
    • View Profile
Re: New Member
« Reply #7 on: December 27, 2018, 07:15:18 PM »
Thank you all for your replies. What advice would you offer in buying a 400 Four?
That sounds just like a job interview 😀😀😀
Do your research and homework so you know exactly what you are looking at as even though a lot of bikes are advertised for sale as 'totally original' or 'totally restored' they are not and you need to know what parts are correct or incorrect. Don't fall for the line 'the carbs just need balancing' when the engine is very noisy, if it were that simple why hasn't the seller done it. There is no such thing as a 'cheap' Honda SOHC/4, if it's cheap, there is something wrong with it. But, conversely, it doesn't mean to say that an expensive one is correct either. Same old same old, buyer beware.
« Last Edit: December 27, 2018, 07:20:22 PM by Nurse Julie »
LINK TO MY EBAY PAGE. As many of you know already, I give 10% discount and do post at cost to forum members if you PM me direct.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/julies9731/m.html?item=165142672569&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2562

LINK TO MY CB400/4 ENGINE STRIP / ASSESSMENT AND REBUILD...NOW COMPLETE
http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,14049.msg112691/topicseen.html#new

Offline Allington (Steve)

  • SOHC Member
  • Posts: 132
    • View Profile
Re: New Member
« Reply #8 on: December 27, 2018, 07:29:13 PM »
Welcome Bradders. You will get loads of help here. Good luck with your search.
"A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing..."

FS1E - RD200 - CB500 - Norton Commando - Z900

Offline Moorey

  • SOHC Master
  • Posts: 1666
    • View Profile
Re: New Member
« Reply #9 on: December 27, 2018, 07:38:38 PM »
Welcome to the forum and good luck in finding the right bike. If you do it will be a joy. If not it can be turned into one.

Online Laverda Dave

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 2531
  • Health is wealth
    • View Profile
Re: New Member
« Reply #10 on: December 27, 2018, 09:44:45 PM »
Welcome to the forum and have fun. Don't worry about working on your bike, there's lots of advice on here.
If you haven't yet bought a 400/4 yet James has a really nice 350/4 for sale. Look under the bikes for sale section, it's a very recent post with photos.
1976 Honda 400/4
1977 Rickman Honda CR750
1999 Honda VFR 800FX
1955 750 Dresda Triton
1978 Moto Morini 350 Sport
1978 Honda CB400/4 'Rat' bike
1982 Laverda 120 Jota

Online Laverda Dave

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 2531
  • Health is wealth
    • View Profile
Re: New Member
« Reply #11 on: December 27, 2018, 09:46:37 PM »
1976 Honda 400/4
1977 Rickman Honda CR750
1999 Honda VFR 800FX
1955 750 Dresda Triton
1978 Moto Morini 350 Sport
1978 Honda CB400/4 'Rat' bike
1982 Laverda 120 Jota

Offline Trigger

  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 8434
  • Engines built on reputation, not advertising.
    • View Profile
Re: New Member
« Reply #12 on: December 27, 2018, 11:34:14 PM »
Welcome to the mad world of the SOHC, 350 four's and 400 four's are worlds apart  ;)

Offline philward

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 2795
    • View Profile
Re: New Member
« Reply #13 on: December 27, 2018, 11:57:57 PM »
Welcome Bradders - you'll be fine maintaining a 400 with the forums help - key is getting the right bike so consult the experts on hear prior to purchase - good luck

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

Current Bikes:-
Honda CB750K2 (1975)
Honda CB500K2 (12/1972)
Honda CR750 Replica (1972)
Honda CB350K0 (1969)
Kawasaki ZZR1100D3 (1995)
Kawasaki ZZR250 (1990) Project (Going on eBay ASAP)

Offline dave400

  • SOHC Expert
  • Posts: 370
    • View Profile
Re: New Member
« Reply #14 on: December 28, 2018, 12:52:40 AM »
Here you go:
http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,17821.0.html

I’d hold out and find a decent 400 for that kind of money.....Dave

 

SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal