Mirrors

[wildtapholer]

This could be the first stupid question I ask but here goes, I'm currently giving a CB400f what I call a sympathetic restoration others my think I've gone too far, I would have included a pic but I can't crop it down that far, but I bought a set of mirrors for the bike, they fit but the right mirror because it screws into the brake lever what is built up and the clutch lever isn't it makes one mirror higher than the other, my question is should it be like that or should the left mirror have a longer stalk if you get my drift. For the purists what is the correct mirror if anyone cares, my mirrors don't look like the one in the photo I've attached, it was just one I came across.

[philward]

I'm no 400 expert - does this CMSL link help?
https://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb400f-england_model14639/partslist/F01-1.html#.YK0qHKhKjWV

[Bryanj]

That pic is of a mirror from a later Honda

[wildtapholer]

Thanks for the replies, I did download a workshop manual what I couldn't read, I did buy a work shop manual, which was clearly a very badly scanned copy of a copy etc etc and again difficult to read so bought a proper reissued workshop manual. I have looked at the CMS parts web site for cross matching trying to find out what is or should not be fitted, for example it had the wrong clutch cable fitted, bought the correct cable only to find there no adjuster on the engine case, bought the adjuster only to find it should have an adjuster on the clutch lever. It came with a front braided hose what was frayed so I replaced it with like for like, only to find if I wanted to put the front brake pipes back to standard would cost in the region £200 and that's if I could find the parts because the inline brake switch has been chucked and is braided hose from caliper to brake lever doing away with the 3 way joint(MOT failure if it wasn't exempt) but back to the original question of mirrors if the example picture is of a later model what about the left mirror then, everywhere just shows a pair of mirrors but nothing about the left mirror not having the built up threaded area or if it should have a longer stem.

[Bryanj]

Not front brake light is not an mot failure if the rear works

[Kelly E]

Our 75' 400/4 still has the stock mirrors and one is taller than the other because of the difference in mounting point heights. The 74' 550 is the same way.

[billdn]

I bought a non standard set that were longer stemmed 'cos all I ever saw was my elbows! as was the case back in the day! Think you'll find the link somewhere in the archive search.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I have checked my two mirrors the LHS looks original it has a significantly longer arm than the RHS.

The RHS is a shorter arm - it has a convex mirror head (not original).

[Spitfire]

The mirror in the picture that you posted looks like the ones that I bought after a suggestion from Nurse Julie and they are great.
I bought my bike new in 1976 (CB750F1) and the standard mirrors were rubbish at anything over walking pace, so I fitted rubber mounts which improved matters but were still blurred.
When I rebuilt my bike in a fit of authenticity I removed the dampers and bought new mirrors, and they were still rubbish so I bought the Julie ones and they are great.
I don't know how vibration affects the 400 mirrors but I went the seeing behind me route rather that the authentic route.

Cheers

Dennis

[TrickyMicky]

Being of the same opinion re. rear view as opposed to looking authentic, I took the plunge and fitted a pair of Halcyon bar end mirrors. Superb quality, clear view, and no vibration. I now have to use the bathroom mirror to check on my elbows!

[wildtapholer]

I can't for the life of me remember where I bought the mirrors from but they were a pair and both the same size, I was buying that many parts and chucking them in a heap before I got round the sorting everything. One or two parts were wrong, even from silvers, but too late to do anything about them, all supposed to fit but don't. The problem is even if you look on the David Silvers site no one gives the measurements, I might just shut my eyes and ignore it because I don't want to order a left mirror to find it's the same size. Just started it up and put it in gear, bugger talk about a wheel wobble, it's gonna have to be respoked but the rims rusty so might have to buy new rims as well.