75 CB400 "Dad's old bike" project

[Nurse Julie]

Your definitely not talking to yourself, there are many of us I'm sure watching your progress and enjoying it very much

[mike the bike]

+1

[Green1]

I'm lurking in the shaddows 

Mick

[Nurse Julie]

I'm lurking in the shaddows 

Mick

We really don't want to know what you Essex boys get up to on a Sunday evening Mick 

[Pops400]

Thanks All, that's very encouraging to hear. Mick, is that you that keeps making my security light go off... 

[Green1]

You don't want to know what I'v been up to.
So best I stay in the shaddows

[mike the bike]

Are you a mate of Hank Marvin then?

[Green1]

I taught him everything he doesn't know.

[Pops400]

 

Righto, well while I have your eyes, I shall ask opinions and advice.

Now getting bogged down with riding position v's aesthetics, v's budget. I'm thinking I can save a lot of the front end now, apart from the tubes, so now I have abandoned the modern front end idea to save funds. That took me straight back to clip on's, but there are so many available I don't really know where to start. Can the quality be that different that I should pay a rake of money, or just buy relatively cheap?

If I go clip on's, I have two concerns.

1. My poor old back... What are they REALLY like to ride?
2. If I go that route, I can't be doing the bar clamps reassembled and just sat there sticking up. So that means a bespoke machined piece, (pricey, so no) or grinding them off here :

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So that leaves me to ask :

A. How well will the casting take to being ground down and
B. Will I get lynched for cutting up genuine parts... 

Lastly, clubmans got me all excited at one point, then I decided I prefer the look of clip on's, so is there any reason to look further at them? Any advantages?

And then I had a sudden urge to go dead straight bars. Bluntly, has anyone done this and does it look great or bobbins? 

Many questions, but welcome your input!

Thanks in advance, you helpful lot. 

[Nurse Julie]

I'm not into the tech stuff but I have standard English bars on my UK 400/4 and they are quite low anyway. Much lower, you need to be a lot younger and more supple. Would you have rear sets too?. I think straight bars may hit the tank but, I could be wrong.

[Green1]

I like the look of clipons but after riding so many bikes with high bars I now find them way to extreme.
I rode my dads Triumph Trophy last week and was crippled after an hour.

[Nurse Julie]

And your only a young whipper snapper Mick. I would have the same crippling feeling if I rode our Thundercat for any real distance. Saying that, the 400/4 makes me ache a bit after about 100 miles and my wrists/ hands are dead after about 10 miles.

[Green1]

Due to work I have old man knees I find ladder work hard going now.Thats one of the ressons I outed my Triumph S4

[Pops400]

Julie, yes I think that rear sets would be a necessity with clip on's, but trying to figure it all out in my head. Can't really mock up without parts, so a bit chicken and egg.

From yours and Mick's comments, I do have my reservations about clip on's, though I like the look. My reservations about actually being able to ride it comfortably are what made me suddenly think about straight bars. Head spinner. 

[Nurse Julie]

Yes, clipons and rearsets do look good and a million years ago I had plenty of bikes with them on but I was a lot younger, so my body didn't kick up too much of a fuss. It depends if you want comfort or looks I suppose, unfortunately you cant have both. I personally think a 400/4 looks lovely standard.