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Honda CB400N Super Dream any good?
AshimotoK0:
--- Quote from: Rozabikes Tim on September 20, 2024, 09:11:24 AM ---Mine was a great bike in doing what it should - and more when i tuned and raced it! A bit a bit characterless as standard. It just did everything well.
I had no carb or generator issues or any others not related to abuse.😱 I don't know if the later and rarer 450 version was more reliable with the generator etc. Basically the same bike in most aspects I think
--- End quote ---
I think the problems start when the bike is unused for a long period Tim...certainly the case with the carburettors ... my mates was bought new by a work colleague who did a couple of thousand miles and then didn't use it for years. He went into all of the dealers in Hull to buy a new 400F, as he loved mine at the time .... but they were all gone, so he bought a new 400N instead (salesman told him faster than the 400F .. not sure if that's true or not ;D).
McCabe-Thiele (Ted):
Thanks for the information Guys - to complicate things a local 550 has come up so clearly I am still not sure what to buy next.
I liked the 250 version but back in the day I liked the idea of a 400 more. I am going to be sensible and not rush into anything - only definites are it will be a Honda with only 1 or two cylinders that will not break the bank with essential spares available.
I'm going to Stafford show with BiL next month so I'll see what floats my boat.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276642125451
Rozabikes Tim:
Look up CL77 (350cc) / CL72 (250CC) US soft off road look, raised pipe, lovely looking motor. I love them but not everyone's cup of tea!!
McCabe-Thiele (Ted):
My main worry with smaller bikes is that my hip angle will be a problem as it is on the 400, the 500 is really comfy.
The reality is I've spent much more time restoring than riding so for me with my low annual miles it's pretty much irrelevant I guess.
AshimotoK0:
--- Quote from: Rozabikes Tim on September 20, 2024, 02:33:34 PM ---Look up CL77 (350cc) / CL72 (250CC) US soft off road look, raised pipe, lovely looking motor. I love them but not everyone's cup of tea!!
--- End quote ---
Agreed it's a pretty bike the CL...... the engine looks lovely but in really is a bit of a pain in the ar$e .... OK it has ball races for the cams, which is great.... But the cam is in two halves and joined by the cam sprocket which incorporates the auto advance, which can be troublesome. A lot of the heads weep oil around the steel skull insert too. There are a total of 5 chains whizzing round but the biggest pain in the flimsy kickstart cover and its associated gears and bushes..... The kickstart kicks forward weirdly, at least it does on the CB.... plus the kickstart shaft runs in needle rollers through the gearbox shaft and when the rollers seize it whacks the kickstart forward. Latter is on the CB model though and may have changed on the CL. I rebuild one these engines when I was a 19 year old student but I steered clear when I got my current '66 CB72 and engine rebuilt by my friend Graham Curtis ... he does all sorts of updates/ modified assemblies/ crank rebuilds for that model. Not my favourite Honda engine though. The CB160/CD/CB175 engines are a peach of a design in comparison and lovely to work on.
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