Honda-SOHC

I'll have a revisit and try to throw some grey cells at it and come back on here to get a sense check. I was given the bike by a pal at which point  the  Mrs bagged  it as as shews only got a small inside leg, it fits her perfectly with her feet on the ground. She saw the enclosed and wants a slightly revised version of this fine looking Honda (although a 550 I think.)

Its been a great build so far with plenty of head scratching and trying out new techniques, I have vats of stuff electroplating gurgling away behind me and all sorts of this n that being fiddled with to get the result she wants bless her.
I saw this bike on Pinterest and thought it was a great look and saves me a heap of cash replacing and fixing all the bits that were knackered on the original bike. I'm a bit of a standard trim bloke (with a pipe!) but this has been great to do as its a bit of a blank canvass.

Morning all,

I've not done one of these 400/4's before and undertaking a full build up and a bit of a swap of this and that when I pop it back together, I have a question regarding the  forks as I've not worked on these sorts of brakes before.
With all the front end assembly all built up after cleaning, stripping, drilling, (just finished the disc, easier than I thought!) and ultimately swearing, I notice that the fork leg with the calliper holder on actually rotates about 15 degrees when you twist it slightly. I presume this is the slack being taken up by the adjustable screw that dictates the setting of the fixed pad against the disc?

Is this right or have I missed something out of the build?
There's no front mudguard on the forks and I don't think I'm going to fit one but will this mean I will need some sort of fork brace to stop this twist or can this be dialled out via the adjuster screw once all together?

I'm no way 'green' at this sort of thing after building bikes for years on and off but just simply not too sure, can anybody reassure, help, suggest a fix or simply take the piss for being sausage fingers and forgetting something?

really sorry to be thick but im still finding my feet on here and not too hot with the site geography, I cant even find the for sale section? Can you point me in the right direction?


Im a grow man ffs!

Evening all,
I'm really struggling to find a pair of the headlight brackets for a CB550 build I'm on with, does anybody have any at all, don't care how knackered just not dented, Im trying to make em fit something else and they'll end up painted or coated so finish isn't an issue just no twists or dents.


Like the ones that i cant afford from DS or CMSNL   

Hi all,

after the initial strip down and the putting of various bits in various tubs for 'keeping' and tubs for  'moving on' I have finally identified some bits that are no longer required for the update of the Long Haired General's restored 400/4.
Couple of shots of the collective mound of bits no longer required, bell me if you cant see what you might be after I might have it but give me a shout.

All the bits have come off a 1977 CB400F that was parked up in 1981 so they are a bit grotty but a bit of nannying and they should come up ok. I think the thin layer of farmyard 'GAK' that covered the bike has saved a great deal but never the less a sponge and some wet n dry might be in order. I also have a front wheel complete where the hub is good, the rim, not so but if it comes up as good as the rear it shouldn't be a problem for most of you.

Not sure what stuff is worth but have a look and drop me a pm and if I can sort it I will. cheers all

Hi, sorry to jump on the band wagon a bit here but if you’ve ordered enough and have any spare could I buy a couple off you too? I was only pondering over this very subject this morning over head scratching coffee number 3!

Or a swap of some bits of you need any I’ve quite a pile now the old girls been stripped down?

Great stuff, thanks Julie that's really helpful and saves me chasing my tail asking a million suppliers a million questions.

The builds coming on, frame n swinger done and waiting powder coat, front wheel done, gotta try building the rear next week when it comes) and never done iot before so that's something to have a ponder on.

Brakes cleaned and re done, and thankfully all the moving parts on the systems on the bike that didn't turn or work ,now do so beautifully. That last three weeks in the shed haven't been totally wasted. Ive even managed to map out the holes and drill the fornt disc after getting it skimmed down to remove the pitting.

After getting the bike Ive cleaned the carbs, new points, plugs caps, valves done and everything to get it started for the first time in yars, it was parked up in 1981!

started on the second dab, albeit a bit lumpy but got her unbalanced but ticking over so the full build started now I know she's alive. Breaking the engine next to get that cleaned and refinished so really looking forward to getting on with the build.

Back to cleaning, polishing and fiddling then!

Oh and Ive got a chap building me a new collector to allow for a twin exit, reverse cone pipe, set up, happy days!

This forum is fantastic and been such a help reading through all the bits and pieces on here, some of which wouldn't have occurred to me, to the extent that I now have a full bright zinc plating set up bubbling away in the shed, re coating all my nuts and bolts bringing them up to new finish......brilliant!