Honda-SOHC
General => New Member Introductions => Topic started by: Rural Rider on August 04, 2026, 05:52:34 PM
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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
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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
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Yes welcome Adrian,
As Ian has said the 400F is well represented on this forum so you will find all the help you need.
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Welcome here Adrian, glad you came aboard! ;D
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Hi Adrian, welcome to the sohc community.
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Welcome to the forum. 👍
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Welcome to the forum Adrian.
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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 😊😊
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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!
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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.(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53411967203_4c6a41f97e_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pnQi1g)400 lamp change 2 (https://flic.kr/p/2pnQi1g) by Macabe Thiele (https://www.flickr.com/photos/187487200@N03/), on Flickr
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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
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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.
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A couple of nice looking 400's there Adrian & Ken.
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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.
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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?
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Hi Ted I have carried out the coil cable upgrade (from instructions from Ash) and yes I have also now have turned the coils so the leads from the coils facing backwards.
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Hi Ted I have carried out the coil cable upgrade (from instructions from Ash) and yes I have also now have turned the coils so the leads from the coils facing backwards.
I like that idea, unfortunately my 400 has Dyna Coils, I adapted the alloy coil mounting to suit.
Due to their size I was unable to mount them facing backwards, great idea to keep water out.
Update
PS I tried it at Kens suggestion on the 400.
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Backward facing coil leads, another of my innovations I introduced to the forum. I did my coil fix (compliments to Ash for that idea) with red HT leads with red silicon sheaths like the standard leads got, except those were black of course. Slid off the number sleeves as well and refitted them to the red leads. Red NGK caps as well. I like being different and if I don’t like the look I’ve done a set in black as well.
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Backward facing coil leads, another of my innovations I introduced to the forum. I did my coil fix (compliments to Ash for that idea) with red HT leads with red silicon sheaths like the standard leads got, except those were black of course. Slid off the number sleeves as well and refitted them to the red leads. Red NGK caps as well. I like being different and if I don’t like the look I’ve done a set in black as well.
Sorry Ken I forgot to mention that my decision turn the coils to face backwards was based on advice you gave me so thank you again regards Ken
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Wasn’t looking for kudos Ken, tbh I had forgotten it was me that first did that. I think the leads look miles better coming over the engine from the back than drooping down at the front and chancing getting melted on the exhaust.
Sorry, bit maudlin recently, just looking for stuff to validate my life I reckon. It’s been a really bad year or so.
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Sorry to hear that Ken I hope things improve for you over the next few months , try and keep the faith and stay positive there’s light at the end of the tunnel.