Newbie

[ted_paper]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1975-HONDA-400-4-RESTORATION-SPARES-/110579121156?pt=UK_Motorcycles

That looks good - except its a bit too far south.

Is that the main thing to look for when buying on old bike, that the engine turns?

Cheers

[SteveD CB500K0]

At 56k miles it will need a complete engine rebuild (as well as a respray...)

[Octavian]

Hey Ted, no doubt, I realise I got lucky on price, but she was only half a bike with a box of bits.  I gambled, it could have been a lot of cash, a long drive, a heap of junk and a trip to the tip.  So far I think I have done ok, but she is nowhere near an MOT yet.

Octo

[ted_paper]

Seen a bike advertised as a '78 400/4 Supersport ..didn't they stop making them in '77?

[exvalvesetdabbler]

Thanks for the welcome.

My ability could safely be classed as zero!! My great fear is getting a bike and then getting stuck for lack of a) knowledge and b) tools.
From lurking, I see that that a lot of folks out there are very helpful so that would leave me worrying about specialist tools. Would I need any or are they all your bog standard sockets and screwdriver sets?

Cheers

standard tools  ie sockets and combo spanners will allow you to take most of the bike and engine apart, nothing special needed unless you strip down the engine  ie  you will need an impact driver if the standard screws are in the outer componments, clutch centre nut tool, and a rotor puller will allow a total stip down of the engine,  also if you gonna go further ie take of con rods, then thinwall 12 mm socket needed  also stud extractor as no doubt one or 2 will be a bugger to get out (studs that is) you can get away with a valve extractor by tricks of the trade so to speak as well as some other processes

Clutch center tool - angle grinder or Dremmel and an old socket of the right size works wonders. 

Valve extractor - I once saw an emergency replacement of a broken valve outer spring done on an old car by stuffing a ball of string down the plug hole, bringing it to TDC and brute force to compress the new spring.

Rotor puller - I fashioned one from an old spark plug body, screw it into the rotor with a couple of soft washers as packing that press on the end of the crank and then hit it with the hammer.

Oh, and decent torque wrench is a must!!!!

[steven400/4]

mine is a 78 its because thats when it was put on the road i checked it out with honda

[dave400]

I have seen a V reg 400/4 "ted"  (1980) stored in Italy for a while and new out the crate ........give it up fella, you have got to be taking the pI$$ with your Q's.   or you are a troll or.......

[ted_paper]

Sorry if I've upset anyone with my questions...It's just that I'm really nervous about taking the plunge and don't want to end up with a pile of worthless  junk.
Again, apologises for any offence...

[rigwit]

Sorry if I've upset anyone with my questions...It's just that I'm really nervous about taking the plunge and don't want to end up with a pile of worthless  junk.
Again, apologises for any offence...

you haven't, any q,s you have asked are straight if you haven't had a 400-4 b4 or don't have a lot of mechanical knowledge, most peeps will help, my first 400-4 was a 78 as well, f2 400-4 supersport as for taking the plunge 2 things to concider,  1, low mileage on the road compleat standard, will cost anything from 1.5 k upwards. 2, a non standard or one that needs a overhaul will be a lot cheaper  but bear in mind that to do it properly will cost anything from 500 to whatever condition you want it to be. and as said I'm close to help if needed (as long as the coffee,s keep comming) so if you want to dip you toe in keep looking in the mags local papers flea bay etc Ive found when you don't need one  loads about  when you do there like the proverbial rocking horse sh8t but keep at it.

[dave400]

Sorry if I've upset anyone with my questions...It's just that I'm really nervous about taking the plunge and don't want to end up with a pile of worthless  junk.
Again, apologises for any offence...

No offence felt by me fella we all had a 400  newish once ,I'm sure most of your questions can be found by a simple Google search, just get one and one and if it

[rigwit]

Well it looks like ted-paper is gone thanks to these 2 following.

I have seen a V reg 400/4 "ted"  (1980) stored in Italy for a while and new out the crate ........give it up fella, you have got to be taking the pI$$ with your Q's.   or you are a troll or.......

No offence felt by me fella we all had a 400  newish once ,I'm sure most of your questions can be found by a simple Google search, just get one and one and if it

[dave400]

Well it looks like ted-paper is gone thanks to these 2 following.

I have seen a V reg 400/4 "ted"  (1980) stored in Italy for a while and new out the crate ........give it up fella, you have got to be taking the pI$$ with your Q's.   or you are a troll or.......

No offence felt by me fella we all had a 400  newish once ,I'm sure most of your questions can be found by a simple Google search, just get one and one and if it

[ted_paper]

Still here Dave, just keeping a low profile..

[ted_paper]

I seem to have got off on the wrong foot with some members. Perhaps I can just explain my background.

My biking took place in the late

[K2-K6]

I feel you can achieve a lot of things if you are positively determined about it, and there is some good advice from people on here that have experience very relevant to you so it's a valid way to find out what you need to know.

I guess money is one of the greatest variables in how different projects are viewed by their owners so some qualified answers from them will allow you more of an insight as to what you are taking on.

So for me a reasonable start point would be to find something that runs and is MOT-eable to give you a base line cost that you could make a proceed or abort decision on, anything above that is more open to the question of how good it can be but having something you can ride in  a reasonable time is a big part of the enjoyment.

Just take the open helpful answers as you need.