Author Topic: Hi from Dallas, 1975 CB400F needing "un-cafe" treatment  (Read 1998 times)

Offline kartin

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 26
  • Expat Brit
    • View Profile
Hi from Dallas, 1975 CB400F needing "un-cafe" treatment
« on: June 14, 2022, 03:24:17 AM »
Usual story... Had a 400 Four for many years when I lived in the UK in the 70s/80s. I put 50k miles on that bike and indeed, for many years it was my only form of transport so got ridden in all weathers to work, shops, race meetings, France, you name it... The original exhaust and mudguards rusted out so it had a Yoshimura "crossover" exhaust, a plastic front mudguard from another CB model and a homebrew rear. Then we moved to Canada in 1990 and I reluctantly sold it. Fast forward to 2020s and 3 more international moves later and I started looking for a 400 Four where I now live near Dallas, USA. Of course I've hit the 70s bike "craze" so not many for sale nearby and not for sensible money. I was about to post a "WTB" on the US forum when one popped up really cheaply on local classified ads ("local" meaning it was only 200 miles away!). Of course it was rough and not running but it had correct paperwork (so many don't...) and good compression so I went for it. The bad news is that somewhere along its life it had received a poor cafe conversion attempt and was missing the original tank, mudguards, instruments, front wheel, front brakes (it has a drum brake!), muffler/silencer and lights. I want to gradually bring it back to standard - I realise that little lot will quickly undo the cheapness of the bike but I'm looking forward to the challenge plus it doesn't all have to be done to make the bike rideable. Anyway, I still have all my old maintenance notes and workshop manual so already it's like re-acquainting myself with an old friend!

So far the progress has been to clean the carbs and go through all standard service items and then it sprang to life quite nicely with no smoke or abnormal rattles - result! So now begins the hunt for some original parts - I know the tank and mudguards will be pricey (likely DSS repros).

I'm going to post this on both UK and US SOHC forums (same username). Even though I'm in the US now, my perception is that the 400s are a smaller percentage of the US SOHC population plus I'm in the UK regularly so can pick up parts if needed. Looking forward to interactions on both forums!

The original bike:
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

...and the recent purchase (no laughing...):
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Cheers,
Martin
1975 CB400F, 1977 RD400, 1994 ZXR750

Offline Laverdaroo

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 3407
    • View Profile
Re: Hi from Dallas, 1975 CB400F needing "un-cafe" treatment
« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2022, 04:26:41 PM »
Thats alright, what do you mean dont laugh? The last pile I dought had an upturned skateboard as a seat!!

 loving the tank but not seen a front end like that though. Possibly some of the 'Parts  Jedi's' on here will be abe to identify it.
I was over in South Carolina in July and went to a wreckers yard out there and met the owner called Jay, his details are in the thread...... USA Scrap yards....... He has a mountain of NOS parts as his late dad was a serial restorer, he had fields of bikes and a super nice chap. Have a word with him, you never know.

Welcome to the forum, loving the red n yellow 400, all been there!
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?))

Offline Laverdaroo

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 3407
    • View Profile
Re: Hi from Dallas, 1975 CB400F needing "un-cafe" treatment
« Reply #2 on: August 21, 2022, 04:29:36 PM »
It's in the 500/550 section
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?))

Offline kartin

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 26
  • Expat Brit
    • View Profile
Re: Hi from Dallas, 1975 CB400F needing "un-cafe" treatment
« Reply #3 on: August 22, 2022, 08:34:09 PM »
Thanks for the reply and the note about the USA scrap yards thread. I started following that thread when it was first posted but just went back and I see more has been added. I recall thinking how I admired your willingness to shlep parts back for everybody - well done! I've managed to collect a few of my missing bits but still short of lights, mudguards and side covers so will bear MIDS salvage in mind.

Just in case anyone's interested, my project thread is on the US forum under the title: 1975 CB400F "un-cafe"
1975 CB400F, 1977 RD400, 1994 ZXR750

Offline Oddjob

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 4296
    • View Profile
Re: Hi from Dallas, 1975 CB400F needing "un-cafe" treatment
« Reply #4 on: August 22, 2022, 10:19:27 PM »
Tank looks to be off a CB250/360G5.
Kids in a the back seat cause accidents.
Accidents in the back seat cause kids.

Offline Laverdaroo

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 3407
    • View Profile
Re: Hi from Dallas, 1975 CB400F needing "un-cafe" treatment
« Reply #5 on: August 22, 2022, 11:25:58 PM »
Thanks for the reply and the note about the USA scrap yards thread. I started following that thread when it was first posted but just went back and I see more has been added. I recall thinking how I admired your willingness to shlep parts back for everybody - well done! I've managed to collect a few of my missing bits but still short of lights, mudguards and side covers so will bear MIDS salvage in mind.

Just in case anyone's interested, my project thread is on the US forum under the title: 1975 CB400F "un-cafe"

Just given a set of panels to Ted on here FOC, see if he wants tosell them theyre n rather good nick tbh. He might want to part with them to help you out, worth an ask.
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?))

Offline philward

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 2795
    • View Profile
Re: Hi from Dallas, 1975 CB400F needing "un-cafe" treatment
« Reply #6 on: August 23, 2022, 09:19:40 PM »
Welcome to the forum(s) - good luck with the money pit!

Sent from my moto g(50) 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 andy120t

  • SOHC Pro
  • Posts: 814
    • View Profile
Re: Hi from Dallas, 1975 CB400F needing "un-cafe" treatment
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2022, 05:43:25 PM »
Tank looks like the G5 mentioned earlier. Front end might looks very similar to my old Triumph 500, (1960/ 5TA), probably one to get rid of, they don't stop very quickly!
andy120t

CB550f/k
Zephyr 550
ZX6R G1
GSXR 7/11 - I need to sell it
Triumph 5TA - and this..

Offline Bryanj

  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 10693
    • View Profile
Re: Hi from Dallas, 1975 CB400F needing "un-cafe" treatment
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2022, 09:58:15 PM »
Def old triumph front brake, stopping distance the horizon

Offline kartin

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 26
  • Expat Brit
    • View Profile
Re: Hi from Dallas, 1975 CB400F needing "un-cafe" treatment
« Reply #9 on: October 16, 2022, 11:12:07 PM »
The idea is to get the bike back (or close) to standard. For the front end, so far I have this little lot!:

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
1975 CB400F, 1977 RD400, 1994 ZXR750

Offline Bryanj

  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 10693
    • View Profile
Re: Hi from Dallas, 1975 CB400F needing "un-cafe" treatment
« Reply #10 on: October 17, 2022, 01:23:32 AM »
Caliper off a 500 or 550 sohc is same

Offline Oddjob

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 4296
    • View Profile
Re: Hi from Dallas, 1975 CB400F needing "un-cafe" treatment
« Reply #11 on: October 17, 2022, 04:36:29 AM »
Proper disc has 6 holes not 4, is that an 18" or 19" wheel?
Kids in a the back seat cause accidents.
Accidents in the back seat cause kids.

Offline Bryanj

  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 10693
    • View Profile
Re: Hi from Dallas, 1975 CB400F needing "un-cafe" treatment
« Reply #12 on: October 17, 2022, 07:57:24 AM »
400 only has 4 Ken, 500 upwards has 6

Offline Oddjob

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 4296
    • View Profile
Re: Hi from Dallas, 1975 CB400F needing "un-cafe" treatment
« Reply #13 on: October 17, 2022, 09:02:34 PM »
Yeah, for some reason I thought he had a 550. My mistake, it was really early in the morning.
Kids in a the back seat cause accidents.
Accidents in the back seat cause kids.

Offline kartin

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 26
  • Expat Brit
    • View Profile
Re: Hi from Dallas, 1975 CB400F needing "un-cafe" treatment
« Reply #14 on: May 09, 2023, 03:38:15 AM »
Quick question - is there a recommended way to link project threads across the USA and UK forums? As you you can see from my opening post above, I'm physically in the US but with strong history and regular visits to the UK. I opted to start my project thread in the US forum, thinking that anyone with parts to offer would at least be on the same continent (and indeed, I got a nice fuel tank that way). However, as I continue to use both forums, as I suspected I feel there are more people with 400-specific knowledge on the UK side so I'd like to get visibility here as well.

Should I:
 - start a project thread here with a single post with a link to my US thread? (but of course that requires people to go across to the US site to read anything and makes commenting on individual posts awkward)
 - replicate each post in both forums (I normally compose in a text editor then copy/paste into the web when I'm happy with it so not as much extra work as it seems)
 - just copy everything across and continue here (but then I've lost my US audience)

Or maybe there are a lot of UK-based members reading the US forums anyway and I shouldn't worry?

Thoughts?
1975 CB400F, 1977 RD400, 1994 ZXR750

 

SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal