Honda-SOHC

Other Stuff => Misc / Open => Topic started by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on August 14, 2024, 09:47:31 AM

Title: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on August 14, 2024, 09:47:31 AM
Spotted this 400 Rat Bike on my notifications.

.https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1976-honda-cb400f-8bOWrg?bsft_aaid=a5ce63ed-6419-48b8-adb6-8692f74daf04&bsft_bk=block2&bsft_clkid=a9a030a6-9bf7-4270-b9f7-cae09d1e7c75&bsft_eid=c626c1c3-7a2f-eb5e-c898-7ce9ab71b433&bsft_ek=2024-08-14T07%3A00%3A00Z&bsft_lx=32&bsft_mid=8d286774-9dbe-4998-93da-afc28e2eb1b8&bsft_mime_type=html&bsft_pid=a4af69b5-68e1-48c1-a186-c41d0437b56d&bsft_pp=2&bsft_tv=12&bsft_txnid=ba999d9d-562c-4e57-aaa0-e1e1b7fc44fa&bsft_uid=90a00ed2-99f0-4b9d-a501-f50a8b66c44a&utm_campaign=targeted-uk-new-design-automated-email-0-30-daily-22-07-24&utm_content=targeted-uk-new-design-automated-email-0-30-daily-22-07-24&utm_medium=email&utm_source=blueshift
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: Athame57 on August 14, 2024, 12:27:24 PM
How do these Rat Bikes function without a battery?  :o
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on August 14, 2024, 04:07:44 PM
How do these Rat Bikes function without a battery?  :o

I assume there is a liitle Lithium  battery hidden somewhere?
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: Mike_Berkshire on August 14, 2024, 05:06:15 PM
As I have been reading up on the electrics the last couple of days I have come across a few posts where the bike is modified to only start on kick start (much cooler by all accounts) allowing for a much smaller battery and reduction in wiring.
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on August 14, 2024, 06:33:20 PM
Back in the day there was nothing cooler than pressing a button to start your bike rather than using a kick start🏍️🏍️🏍️
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on August 19, 2024, 10:10:28 AM
Currently 7 bids so far at £2k shown as reserve not met, I think I have seen this bike up for sale on Gumtree previously.
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on August 19, 2024, 09:49:55 PM
Looks like it sold for £2499 plus any extra charges.
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: Murf on August 19, 2024, 11:21:15 PM
‘modified to only start on kick start (much cooler by all accounts)’ 😂😂😂😂😂,

Having started biking in the days of the British 2 stroke running on 20:1 premix and the 500cc single with Lucas electrics there is nothing cool about kicking a bike over  🤬🥵🤬🥵🤬🥵🤬
Then again I didn’t have a brown seat so maybe missed something?
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on August 20, 2024, 09:27:40 AM
Oh the joy of British two strokes - my Ariel Leader was a pig to start from stone cold - once it ran it was fine for the rest of the day.
I found by accident that if you removed the right side pamel and pushed down the little button on the carb float chamber it would flood and then start first kick.

I ended up drilling a small hole in the side panel and fashioned a length of weding rod that I attached to the float button with some plastic tubing. More plasic on the outside to make it look tidy & to stop the rod falling inside the panel.

When I later bought an Ariel Arrow - as it was not enclosed so easy to start.
We complain about 400 brakes - the Ariel was in the bottom division of the lowest league - not helped by the way the trailing link front forks responded. Lots of drama a the front wheel dipped but not much actual slowing down. Happy days.
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: Johnny4428 on August 20, 2024, 04:01:16 PM
And a lot of truth in the myth that the number of kicks is based on the number of people watching you trying to start the f…….g thing.😜
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: taysidedragon on August 20, 2024, 04:10:04 PM
And a lot of truth in the myth that the number of kicks is based on the number of people watching you trying to start the f…….g thing.😜

Oh yes! 😫
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: Laverda Dave on August 20, 2024, 10:08:44 PM
And a lot of truth in the myth that the number of kicks is based on the number of people watching you trying to start the f…….g thing.😜

Very, very true ;D. That and if it's a really big crowd watching not only will it be difficult to start but it also comes with a guarantee you'll stall it and have to go through the sweaty rigmarole again!
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: Johnny4428 on August 20, 2024, 10:29:07 PM
And a lot of truth in the myth that the number of kicks is based on the number of people watching you trying to start the f…….g thing.😜

Very, very true ;D. That and if it's a really big crowd watching not only will it be difficult to start but it also comes with a guarantee you'll stall it and have to go through the sweaty rigmarole again!
🤣🤣 bloody Sod’s Law!!
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: Green1 on August 20, 2024, 11:29:21 PM
This reminds me of an old kh125 I had for awhile. I was out side talking to a neighbour and  that inevitably turned in to the nosey neighbour coming out. So I wanted a quick getaway. The battery was dead so had to bump it. Just as it fired and I went to swing a leg over it the battery slid out the side taking out my left leg.
The bike took off as I face planted the tarmac
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: Johnny4428 on August 22, 2024, 09:24:12 PM
This reminds me of an old kh125 I had for awhile. I was out side talking to a neighbour and  that inevitably turned in to the nosey neighbour coming out. So I wanted a quick getaway. The battery was dead so had to bump it. Just as it fired and I went to swing a leg over it the battery slid out the side taking out my left leg.
The bike took off as I face planted the tarmac
😂😂😳
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: Martin6 on December 06, 2024, 06:23:12 AM
Slightly resurrecting an old topic, but it made me laugh 😂 and reminded me...

I have a mk3 850 Commando. 8,000 miles since rebuild with excellent compression. Last of the line with electric and a kick start. Thought I would try the kiickstart, on the centrestand in my garage. Found I could stand on the kickstart and not move it. Thinking it was just technique, I jumped into the air and gave it an excellent prod with my right boot. The kickstart barely moved, I was unbalanced and decided the best route was to slide off the bike to the left, rather than drag the bike over and off the centrestand.

Only pride wounded.

When it's warm up, standing beside the bike, it takes a bit of a shove, but I can start the CB750 on the kickstart with my hand.
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: Bryanj on December 06, 2024, 03:39:44 PM
Ah, those prestolite norton starters that made a lovely click.

Seriously though the fist sign of a gearbox layshaft bearing going is the kickstart going round on its own, not sure about being tight to move.

Also the last Commandos suffered from incorrectly hardened rocker shafts which wore quicly, allowed excess oil to sit on top of valve guide coupled with oil consumption and smoke.

Not a well known problem nowbut had 2 of the last batch do it back in the day
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: Martin6 on December 06, 2024, 04:33:46 PM
Upgraded starter, Portuguese layshaft bearing replaced with a reliable one. No smoke   :)👍
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: Bryanj on December 06, 2024, 05:23:30 PM
Just reminicing, may help somebody
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: Martin6 on December 06, 2024, 11:04:21 PM
And you were spot on. Few additional things on the early bikes, then you get into isolastic replacement rubbers/adjustment, anti wet sumping territory and finally, which oil...  ;D 👍

If anyone ever needs help with a Commando, the 'Access Norton' forum is just phenomenal.
Title: Re: I feel I know this bike is it a members ?
Post by: andy120t on December 07, 2024, 11:31:17 AM
I assume that the ' modified to start etc' wording just means it had a broken starter button/switch so it's been removed and replaced with the rather ugly throttle mount!  Starter motor still seems to be in place.
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