Honda-SOHC
General => New Member Introductions => Topic started by: Dave on September 19, 2020, 02:52:28 PM
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Started riding in the early eighties. Like many people at this time you could buy bikes from the seventies for very little money. My first Honda was a CB200, which is one of my favourite small bikes. That said, I’m pretty small myself so I should say it was a prefect fit! I remember sitting on a friends CB400F and deciding that would be my next bike. Sadly, it didn’t happen – I ended up buying an RD250 (coffin tank) instead. The fickle choices of youth…
Anyway, a large number of years later I finally bought myself a CB400F. It’s a UK bike from 75 (registered early 76) but at some time in it’s history it’s been painted in the later USA colours. Personally, I rather like it and don’t intend to change it, although I suspect there may be a few people would prefer to see a more authentic varnish blue or ruby red.
After I bought it I replaced the oil, oil filter, plugs, air filter, adjusted the electronic timing (it was too advanced for some reason), adjusted valves and timing chain. Some useful posts on this forum helped with the timing chain adjustment. It’s generally been looked after but there are some areas that will keep me busy in the winter months. The squealing front brake is also turning into a challenge but I’ve not tried everything suggested in forum posts, so I’m sure I will get there. No complaints though, it’s running very well so I’m just enjoying as is.
The biggest problem I have is the squidgy blob that rides it. I think overall the bike is in better shape after all these years.
Dave
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Welcome to the Forum Dave. Enjoy the last few weeks of summer riding.
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Welcome to the 400four forum Dave.
A good write up and photos. Let's hope we all get to go on more rideouts next year.
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Welcome Dave,
Saltburn is a nice place. I quite often end up there on rides out over the North York Moors for fish and chips down by the Pier.
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Welcome Dave - hope you enjoy the forum
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Welcome Dave. I too like those US Colours... somehow a fresh change. I bought my first 400F back in Bradford 1977... wish I’d never sold it.
This is an amazing forum; you’ll enjoy it.
Simon.
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Thanks for the kind words and warm welcome!
If anyone is in my neck of the woods feel free to PM me for a (socially distanced!) meet up...
Dave
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Welcome from East Yorkshire .. had a few 400/4s over the years and I still own a Varnish Blue '75.
I sold a 2k mile CB250G5 I found in a shed to a chap near you and he made a stonking good job of restoring it to original.
Plenty of manuals I have put links to on here for the 400 &350F. (in the Alladins cave section)
HONDA CB400 CB350 FOUR
CB400F PARTS
https://www.dropbox.com/s/u51uf0p1dv6m29q/Honda%20CB400%20F%20Parts%20Manual.pdf?dl=0
CB400F PARTS USA Searchable
https://www.dropbox.com/s/j0hysqub5jsfg46/400-4%20Part%20List%201975%20searcheable.pdf?dl=0
CB350/400F SHOP MANUAL WORKSHOP
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1n3w5433jkph228/350F%20400F%20_4%20Shop%20Manual.pdf?dl=0
CB350F Parts Manual
https://www.dropbox.com/s/7pieydvznvy7nhp/CB350_F_F1%20Full.pdf?dl=0
CB400F DEALER SETUP INSTRUCTIONS .. RARE !!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ewl1d9td0nhxeya/CB400_set-up_man.pdf?dl=0
Clymer CB350 to CB550 Performance Mods (Versions 4 & 5 of book) Plus Specs and Colour diagrams
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/z4obnflkw7v198l/AAC6J2D9uWPxuiotqfwGUB86a?dl=0
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Some really useful links. Thank you!
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Welcome to the forum Dave and for choosing what some might say is the four Mr Honda produced!
My front brake squeals, I'm not going to try and fix it as I like car drivers to know I'm there!
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Hi Dave
Yes, it's a great bike for some of the roads around here. The more I get to know the bike the more I enjoy riding it.
If there was a 0 to 10 scale for squealing brakes mine would be a solid 9 I think. You are right though, it certainly warns other road users. Although I'm pretty sure there was blood coming out of the ears of a small child who had the misfortune to be within 10 metres of my braking the other day! And cyclists make a path for me pretty quickly but that's probably because they think there is a huge truck behind them :D
As I previously mentioned there are some great tips on the forum about fixing squealing brakes so I'll work through a few more. But it is what it is - I'm not going to worry about it...
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Welcome Dave,
I'm pretty new here as well - currently in phase 1 - getting my CB400F2 running before full strip down over the winter. Slightly behind target date but there is no rush,
Next year I'm planning a run up to Mathewsons Auctions with the Missus - on 4 wheels though are you near there?
As you may have already discovered - listen to Nurse Julie she knows her stuff!
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Yes, pretty close - about 50 minutes ride (and a nice ride it is too). At the moment the auctions are online / phone only - so hopefully things will be better for next year when you take a trip. If you make it up and have the time, give me a shout...
...and I will certainly pay attention to Nurse Julie! She has been very helpful already...
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Hi DBJ
Welcome to the forum good to see a fellow SOHC forum member in NE Yorkshire I am north of York in Northallerton area & Muttley is my CB550 K3 which enjoys nothing more than a run over over the roads of NE Yorkshire.
Nigel
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Hi Nigel
I'm originally from Darlington so know the Northallerton area pretty well (a mate of mine used to live in Brompton). Lived in Saltburn for about 20 years now. You are right, some great roads...
Dave