Hello from a newbie

[Rural Rider]

Hi all,
Finally decided to join the forum after spending the last few weeks reading through posts and picking up loads of useful tips - thanks
I have not owned a bike since my pride and joy — a 1976 400F — was sold to pay for our wedding reception 38 years ago.
Amazingly, I’ve just been gifted a bike and I’m now rediscovering the freedom of the open road.
It’s another 400F, this time a 1975 model.
This one had been standing for years, but with a basic flush and service it burst into life straight away.
I am planning a full restoration over winter, but for now I’m simply enjoying it while the weather holds.
After driving diesel cars at 2,000 rpm for the last couple of decades, winding the revs up again doesn’t come naturally — but I’m getting there.

Adrian

[Orcade-Ian]

Hello Adrian,
Welcome to the forum, hopefully you will find lots of other owners of 400's willing to share their knowledge with you.  I too have a 400/4 (amongst others) and there are many folk with spares you might need.  I think when you get to 5 posts you can add pictures of your new steed (we all love pics).

Ian

[Otis]

Yes welcome Adrian,

As Ian has said the 400F is well represented on this forum so you will find all the help you need.

[Athame57]

Welcome here Adrian, glad you came aboard! 

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Hi Adrian, welcome to the sohc community.

[taysidedragon]

Welcome to the forum.  👍

[Nurse Julie]

Welcome to the forum Adrian.

[Oddjob]

For what it’s worth Adrian I’d give your plan to restore it some serious thought.

At the moment it’s essentially costing you nothing. You’re getting the same enjoyment right now that you’d get after restoring it. Parts for the 400 are still ok to find BUT they ain’t cheap.

So consider this, a new chrome cover for the points is around £50-60, they used to be around £10, points themselves, £70 a pair for genuine ones and aftermarket ones don’t work that well and that’s if you can find a pair. Things like oil and air filters ain’t cheap anymore. Everything costs a fortune and if the parts rare expect to double or even triple what you think it will cost. Once you go down the rabbit hole it’s damned hard to stop.

Other than that, welcome 😊😊

[Laverda Dave]

Welcome to the forum Adrian. It goes without saying you have been gifted a fine motorcycle 👍
I agree with Ken about the spiraling restoration costs nowadays and having restored three 400/4’s over the past 10 years I can safely say costs for everything have risen three fold during that time. The last 400/4 I restored cost over £1k just for rechroming.
If you do go the restoration route keep as much of the original parts as you can and especially bodywork such as mudguards, handlebars, light rims. Oh, and repaint it parakeet yellow, everyone knows they were the fastest 😉.
Lots of advice on here, we've all been through the pitfalls. Enjoy the rest of the summer on the bike and keep the revs up!

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

As has been said the cost of restoration is not cheap. that said speaking for myself I part restored my 400 during lock down without thinking about the costs involved, I did it for the challenge, enjoyment etc.

My bike is not the original colour & I haven't as yet had a repaint, I built it for me so originality is confined to the engine.
It was worth every penny I have spent on the 400 in terms of enjoyment and satisfaction. I spent over £5k on the bike excluding the purchase price, my main indulgance was the wheels.

This is what it looks like now, I love it, purists will probably hate it.400 lamp change 2 by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr
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[Rural Rider]

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Hi — thanks for the warm welcome and the comments.

The bike’s fully rideable at the moment and I’m enjoying every minute of it.
Although it’s technically exempt, it sailed through its MOT with no advisories,

There’s definitely some engine work lined up for winter: the rattling cam chain needs attention, and I’ll be fettling the clutch whilst in there.
The forums have already been a huge help — the slight off/on feeling while riding now seems almost certainly down to the cush washers, so they’re on the list too.

I am really fortunate to have a polymath friend with a well‑equipped workshop and a wealth of mechanical and tuning experience, which makes the deeper jobs far less daunting.

Aesthetically, the tank has a couple of crazed patches that I actually quite like — they suit the bike’s age.
Both side panels were replaced last week and painted in Duplicolor Milano Red (another great SOHC tip), and the match is remarkably close.

And yes, I’m taking the rabbit‑hole warnings seriously.
I’m resisting the urge to blitz everything at once — partly for sanity and partly to avoid emptying the bank account in one heroic weekend.
Adrian

[Ken4004]

Welcoming to the forum Adrian, your bike looks really nice especially the chrome , looks like the last owner looked after it .
How many miles on the clock ?

I have attached photos of my 400 four which used to be the candy colour but like others I prefer the yellow, I was lucky to find an original exhaust which are like hens teeth but I don’t think you can beat the look of those 4 in 1 pipes in my opinion.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

A couple of nice looking 400's there Adrian &  Ken.

[Ken4004]

Thanks Ted, a lot of time and money to get it to this stage as most people on this forum will appreciate but very rewarding.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Thanks Ted, a lot of time and money to get it to this stage as most people on this forum will appreciate but very rewarding.

Looking at No4 plug lead route,  have you have moved the coils so they are rear facing?