Post by: Laverda Dave on November 23, 2025, 06:35:31 PM
The bike when it came to me had 'a minor electrical problem' but like all field bikes it was virtually worn out, no wiring loom, most electrical parts missing, siezed engine, frame brackets cut off and rusty.
It has taken just on a year to restore and thanks go to Bryan for the restoration and all his patient help with the wiring, Ash for the parts he obtained from Yahoo in Japan, Piki for the fantastic decals and Rozabikes Tim for sending the photos of the missing brackets, eBay leads on parts and encouragement when I really wanted to throw the towel in!
Now this is the interesting part, as it isn't my bike and I've restored it for an old mate I had to keep a careful note on the spend, £5735 and he already had the bike (well, some of it!). The cost is so expensive because thats how much services such as painting, powder coat, chrome etc cost now. I have spent 497 hours on it and this includes going to the painter, chromer etc. My time is free but how can any bike (or car) restoration company make any money!
so now onto the next project, a NC30, I'm not sure if I should start a thread on here as there are FOUR cams involved :o
Post by: Skoti on November 23, 2025, 06:49:16 PM
Post by: Laverda Dave on November 23, 2025, 06:51:11 PM
Post by: Laverda Dave on November 23, 2025, 06:54:24 PM
Post by: SteveD CB500K0 on November 23, 2025, 06:56:07 PM
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Post by: Laverda Dave on November 23, 2025, 07:01:53 PM
Your mate had better not bend it around a bloody tree!
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The one thing I have learnt from this is never take anything for granted, just because it looks OK it isn't! Even the fuel tap had a hairline crack in it that I didn't see until I poured fuel in the tank and it leaked through the crack! I had to wait three weeks for the replacement (pattern part) to arrive.
Post by: Bryanj on November 23, 2025, 07:31:33 PM
It will be slightly down on power due to the compression change but that might stop getting in too much trouble!
Not much ideas on the 4 cam, you need Roo for that
Post by: Ken4004 on November 23, 2025, 07:44:11 PM
My cb400 was definitely a two man lift and was awkward putting back into the frame, was it hard to find replacement parts for this model ?
Good luck with your next project it sounds interesting, can you post some pictures of the RC 30 before you pull it apart?
Regards Ken
Post by: Craizeehair on November 23, 2025, 07:51:16 PM
Great job , I love that! Looks amazing.
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on November 23, 2025, 08:47:09 PM
Post by: Rozabikes Tim on November 23, 2025, 08:49:22 PM
Post by: Johnwebley on November 23, 2025, 09:27:37 PM
That looks great Dave top job, the engine looks light enough to lift from the frame single handed but probably isn’t.Yes please,
My cb400 was definitely a two man lift and was awkward putting back into the frame, was it hard to find replacement parts for this model ?
Good luck with your next project it sounds interesting, can you post some pictures of the RC 30 before you pull it apart?
Regards Ken
More details on the NC30
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Post by: Laverda Dave on November 23, 2025, 10:34:46 PM
Stunning Dave. Got there in the end. You ridden it?
Thanks for the comments all. I won't be doing another of these bikes unless its all there to begin with!
I don't have insurance on it Tim so I've only ridden it down the alley at the back of the house, its slow as Bryan suggested! I dont think the owner will wrap it around a tree as he'll have trouble riding over the roots given its power, I think it is 8bhp! It needs a vin plate to finish it, I did email the guy who Julie suggested but no reply but then I'm not on FB (Faceache). I'll leave that for the owner to do (and to get a MOT, I know it doesn't need one but I would get one just to make sure what I have done is up to standard).
I'll start a thread for the NC30 once the TL leaves the garage and I have some room.
Post by: AshimotoK0 on November 24, 2025, 07:17:05 AM
Glad to have helped a little via my 'Man-in-Japan' ChrisJ . It's astonishing what comes up on Yahoo.co.jp Auctions (No eBay in Japan!).
I was convinced your next resto would be another CB250RSA ;D ;D and what's all this buying Julie's SS collets for your next 400F resto?
Post by: Laverda Dave on November 24, 2025, 11:34:11 AM
Wow ! that looks truly stunning Dave ... Wish we all had mates like you.
Glad to have helped a little via my 'Man-in-Japan' ChrisJ . It's astonishing what comes up on Yahoo.co.jp Auctions (No eBay in Japan!).
I was convinced your next resto would be another CB250RSA ;D ;D and what's all this buying Julie's SS collets for your next 400F resto?
Thank you Ash, this bike wouldn't have been completed had it not been for the fantastic people on this forum (I forgot to thank Roo for getting the toolbox in the US and bringing it back in his luggage, thank you Roo
I'm going to get the collets as a spare because the BZP ones always go rusty and look a bit pants (that's a technical word for terrible)🙁.
The NC30 is the next one up on the bench but I've promised myself a major change after spending just under 500 hours on the TL.....No restoration during nice weather, I want to be out riding a bike, not spinning spanners!
I'd love another RSA after the NC, the kickstart model, not electric but it's trying to find one😉.
Don't laugh but I quite fancy a MZ Supa 5, I've always liked those with their ring-a-ding ding soundtrack and I've never owned a stinkwheel.
Post by: MCTID on November 24, 2025, 02:06:15 PM
Looking forward to seeing you work your magic on the NC30..........often drooled over them and the CB400R's that Boxhill Motors and BAT Cycles imported from Japan by the dozen back in the day. Too small for my personal liking, but the excellence of the Honda Engineers (along with the other Jap tiddlers race reps) always filled me with admiration.........after growing up with Brit bikes, these multi cylinder rockets really were things of beauty.
Post by: taysidedragon on November 24, 2025, 03:42:48 PM
Post by: JamesH on November 24, 2025, 09:48:27 PM
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Post by: Laverda Dave on November 24, 2025, 10:31:45 PM
Alan, I used to go to the bike auctions on a Friday night where they would sell tens of NC and CB 400’s. The gull arm 400’s were mini GP bikes! I remember countless Honda 400 Bros's with the occasional 650 passing through. BAT were a regular customer there. I think it took place in Leyton? I never had any money but went for the buzz of it all and to drool🤤
The NC is small, when I sat on it I felt like a giant! If you want to see one being restored back to standard from a wreck look up RRC Restorations on YouTube, it's a series of five or six episodes, you'll be hooked!