Author Topic: My first ride on the 400/4 more like an Ealing Comedy!  (Read 6237 times)

Online McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

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Re: My first ride on the 400/4 more like an Ealing Comedy!
« Reply #60 on: June 16, 2022, 07:44:22 PM »
Good progress Ted. Make sure you switch the petrol back to main tank when you fill up else you get a nice surprise next time it goes to "reserve".

Not that I've ever done that in rush our on London's south circular  :-[ and a two mile push to get more fuel  :-\ oh no sir, not me.

I made the same mistake when I borrowed my Mums car as a teenager - it was a Triumph Herald - the fuel tap had been left in the reserve position (by me)! Too heavy to push ran out on a country lane where I knocked on a house door in darkness and asked if I could phone home - once they knew I was a local not a criminal it all went well. My Dad was not impressed - I had to treat my Mum to a free tankful - cost less than £2.50 in 1966.
Honda CB500 K1 (new pit dug out ready)
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html

Offline Oddjob

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Re: My first ride on the 400/4 more like an Ealing Comedy!
« Reply #61 on: June 16, 2022, 09:37:58 PM »
I suspect you may have a float not closing off as it should, at those RPMs you'd get a lot more MPG not less.
Kids in a the back seat cause accidents.
Accidents in the back seat cause kids.

Online McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

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Re: My first ride on the 400/4 more like an Ealing Comedy!
« Reply #62 on: July 28, 2022, 02:01:08 PM »
I finally rode my bike today with it & the rider running on all four cylinders  - nice uneventful run to Ashbourne & back without any problems with the bike - the rider though is showing his hip age. My right hip has always locked up at extreme angles but today it was my left hip that gave new some gyp as well. I should have worn my riding trousers instead of Jeans to keep warmer.

Not sure if it's me still being a bit tense as I ride or my riding position on the seat. In reality I'm also a bit long in the leg for a 400 as I'm 6ft 1in tall with a 33" inside leg.
One thing I did notice was how bad some of the roads are for potholes & poor repairs the bumpy ride probably did not help.

I'm having another minor operation on the 16th August to removes some more tissue from a nasty belly mole so I need to get a few more miles on the bike before then as it will mean no riding for 4-6 weeks. Just need the weather to hold for the next two weeks - I timed my ride today just right as it started to speckle with rain as I put the bike away for the day.
Honda CB500 K1 (new pit dug out ready)
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html

Offline Oddjob

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Re: My first ride on the 400/4 more like an Ealing Comedy!
« Reply #63 on: July 28, 2022, 02:07:22 PM »
I'd say the 500 is a better fit for a tall person like yourself Ted. The 400 was always a ladies bike to me  ::) ::)
Kids in a the back seat cause accidents.
Accidents in the back seat cause kids.

Online McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

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Re: My first ride on the 400/4 more like an Ealing Comedy!
« Reply #64 on: July 28, 2022, 02:25:26 PM »
I'd say the 500 is a better fit for a tall person like yourself Ted. The 400 was always a ladies bike to me  ::) ::)

I always knew it was on the small side when I bought it - for the mileage I am likely to cover I might just live with it unless a 500 project comes my way.

Strange as my old Honda 250 Dream seemed comfortable but then I was a lot younger & more supple as a teenager or the 250 frame was bigger?
Honda CB500 K1 (new pit dug out ready)
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html

Offline Sesman

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Re: My first ride on the 400/4 more like an Ealing Comedy!
« Reply #65 on: July 28, 2022, 03:49:04 PM »
Out of interest, I have a 500 four for sale….

Online McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

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Re: My first ride on the 400/4 more like an Ealing Comedy!
« Reply #66 on: July 28, 2022, 04:47:52 PM »
Out of interest, I have a 500 four for sale….

Can you PM me the price with some history please?

It will probably be out of my budget but if I don't ask I will never know.

Do you have some photos you can e-mail to me - macabethiele@gmail.com
Honda CB500 K1 (new pit dug out ready)
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html

Offline Sesman

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Re: My first ride on the 400/4 more like an Ealing Comedy!
« Reply #67 on: July 28, 2022, 05:14:57 PM »
Ok Ted.Will do. It’s a fully restored k2 that may require a little finessing to suit the owners tastes and demands.

I’ll do it tomorrow.

Cheers

Offline SPR

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Re: My first ride on the 400/4 more like an Ealing Comedy!
« Reply #68 on: July 31, 2022, 07:25:57 AM »
What a great read !! :)

I sympathise with the locking hips ... I suffer from that and when I had the Ducati used to think the day would come when I got to the destination and just fell over rather than dismounting :)

Simon

Offline Laverdaroo

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Re: My first ride on the 400/4 more like an Ealing Comedy!
« Reply #69 on: July 31, 2022, 12:28:31 PM »
Thats why I sold my Ducati 748/853! I actually stopped, put the side stand down and swung my right leg off it to put it down and my him give up!

Didnt drop it but nearly! Sold, I didnt want to drop it, it cost me too much money! :-\
Mornings are the invention of the devil!

1977 CB550F (current money pit!!)
2002 VFR800 VTEC (The Beloved)
1977 CB400F (the last money pit!)
1998 Ducati 748\853 conversion(sold :()
1980 ish CB750KZ in a billion bits (need to get rid, anybody want one?))

 

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