1975 Honda CB400F first ride of 2021 - the "non-project" returns!

[@MatthewPettyST1300]

I had the 74 Honda 400four Super Sport as my first bike. I did all the maintenance and modifications. Cafe'd it out along with quite a few other mechanical tricks. Painted black with Electric Blue pin striping.That bike would do a wheelie with my 225 Lb weight. I laid down with my chin resting on my left glove between the gauges and feet up over the rear turn signals. Stable at 110mph. Even though it had an electric starter ( which I used on hot summer days at stop lights) , It never failed to start with the very first kick start now matter how cold. Not a single back country road here in the bay area i didn't go on from Half Moon Bay to Mount Hamilton to Carmel. My first ever date was to Laguna Seca Motorcycle racing,......and yep....I'm still married to her. I put 120,000 miles on it before I bought the V-45 Magna and put 130,000 on her, then the Pacific Coast 800 115,000, then the 98' ST1100 with 180,000, then on to my current commuter an ST1300 now at 128,000. I haven't owned a car since 1979. Cold and rain.....I have a rain suit for the 60 miles a day. Weekends are for my 2014 Gold Wing Valkyrie here on the central California coast near Santa Cruz. I'm now 67.

[@donmathias1705]

I had one new. 1977. Changed rear shocks to Mulholland brand. Cast up a new cast iron front rotor, machined and drilled with different rear shoes and changed pads. Like you put a bikini faring on it. Put quartz halogen 55w bulb in headlight and mounted another pair on a cross bar off frame above the pipes. Rode it everywhere on the throttle stops. Every three weeks oil, every other oil and filter and rear tyre. Tt100. Every two rears I did a front. Continental RB 2. Was an amazing bike. I put 57000km in 18 months. That's around 36000 miles. Fuel economy was from 100mph down to 27mpg. It often ran to 190kmh. I sold it to a friend who had one but his was quite a bit slower. It lost a piston top 3 weeks after I sold it. No idea why. Fun, scary, handled and very comfortable.

[@Stripping_Bolts]

75 was the first year of the cb400f?

[@robertbalena4547]

It is wonderful to see a 400 again. I have owned many bikes over the years but the 400 has always been my favorite. I put 175,000 klms on it. driving from Montreal to Vancouver four times , and it was still running fine when I sold it ,would give anything to own one again, B

[@jamesgordon4754]

The sweep of the four into one is so unique and iconic, lovely bikes. At this time, nearly 50 years old, I doubt 1000 miles a year would decrease its value. Enjoy it.

[@lizchatfield692]

The sound of that motor made me smile i remember it so well.

[@haint7709]

Had the '77 400f super sport. It was a blast. Perfect bike to learn on.

[@ballockybill2277]

Had a VFR 400 NC30 , absolutely beautiful !!

[@finnjakobsen3999]

my neighboir had one 400f also and later a Nimbus750 a Fisker bike

[@marmaladeyuki]

Beautiful bike, gorgeous scenery.

[@billwhite8479]

I had a 78 in 1982-6 it was such a joy to own and ride...that sound I remember so well..

[@user-se7vt5ow4e]

One of the best looking motorcycles ever.

[@kathleenyurick3902]

Bought a used CB400F Yellow, back in the mid 80s, and love it.

[@charlesgraham9954]

the 78 CB 350 has a place in my heart, my dad bought one new, then i road all four years, 84 to 87. that bike never gave me one bit of trouble. wish i still had that bike. thanks for making this video and the time it took.

[@1teenybop]

Beautiful bike, so looking forward to getting in back after a full engine refurbishment ❤

[@manstersr]

You're so right about the JIS screw drivers. Also worth mentioning that the JIS screws have a little dot stamped into the head at one of the points of the X. Back in the 80s before I knew what JIS was I stripped a bunch of screws on my Yamaha but replaced them all with Allen head bolts, made it much less likely to strip out.

[@nikolaslarson6891]

Lovely bike!

[@greekpapi]

Man, what a GREAT looking bike!!!! Always had a soft spot for this one......

[@garagemoneypit]

Thank you. I do think they are great, especially compared to most of their competition in the 70s.

[@bryanpalmer9660]

Beautiful bike in what I feel is the best color-Red

[@harrysmusicroom]

I love that motorcycle, I've owned two of them in my lifetime.

[@David-rx2to]

I had a red 75 just like yours during my college days in the late 70s. I put tapered roller bearings in the steering head, a nylon sprocket in the rear to lower highway rpm a few hundred RPM a Kerker 4 into 1 with individual k&N pods on the carbs. Increase your main jets from the 75s to 85s and the induction sound at low RPM is intoxicating. I'd like to think it increased the mid range HP/torque too. It really bellows! Put wider rims on so I could mount fatter tires. Bar end mirrors and a friction lock cruise control. Put a 7 inch headlight shell on it from a CBX so I could use bigger brighter, more widely available lights. Bronze bushings in the swingarm pivot and S&W progressive shocks on the back. Thicker oil in the forks...Toured the New England states twice camping out and staying in youth hostels. I'm older now and am able to take more expensive vacations, but I never had as much fun as I had with my CB400F.

[@plunder1956]

I had one in Blue when they first became available in the UK and really loved it, beautifully smooth and nice to ride. unfortunately I had to sell it after only two years.

[@rt2255]

Had blue one.my favorite bike ever

[@kevinmcdonald6446]

Beautiful bikes.

[@garagemoneypit]

Thank you.

[@TimCausleyhorsemanship]

Had a 1975 400F -shifted most of the time around 9000-never an issue-cruised on hwy at 8000 rpm as that was 80 mph-super reliable-super fun-great ride-also shifted without clutch constantly-no problems

[@garagemoneypit]

Thanks. It is definitely a fun bike. and i'm hoping o put a few miles on it this year after doing some maintenance and additional improvements.

[@garysmith-of6dp]

2 years ago I put new rings etc in my 1975 400four .I have owned the bike since 1976.A fantastic bike @Gary Rosindale-Smith

[@Stripping_Bolts]

I have a red one just like it. Engine built, .50 over pistons, dynatech coils & ignition, new wiring harness, etc... i fully restored it myself (except the engine build was done in Colorado - they did a shit job and i had to fix a ton of stuff & buy a whole bolt kit as several were missing). Id really love to put an exhaust on it and put the K&N pod filters back on because they sounded awesome but had issues getting it running right with them

[@fantabuloussnuffaluffagus]

I always just turned the breaker plate as far as it would go in the advance direction. More zing at high rpm. The main chassis point that was a wear item was the swingarm pivot. If my bike was wiggling more than usual it was generally time to change the swingarm bushings.

[@kramnam4716]

ride it ! sweeter it will be! 2k mikes is still v low and won’t reduce its value. increase it if any because of your knowledge and care.

[@cb400fhonda6]

Your bike is gr8

[@garagemoneypit]

Thank you!

[@raybrensike42]

For some fun, take the quiet muffler off and run it though the gears at high rpm. You will be amazed at the sound.

[@ballockybill2277]

Ride It !!

[@michaelmeuser7763]

I had a cb500. Always wanted a cb350 or cb400.

[@richardwarner746]

Ach! Sie sind Deustcher?? How ironic...I helped a couple of guys with a cranky Saab near my house a few weeks ago, and gave them a lift to their apartment 2 miles away. I drove back with the Studebaker to see if they needed further assistance, but they got it going. It was a broiling hot day here in upstate NY.....probably just needed to cool down. They were from Germany as well! I studied German in High School for 5 yrs...did well on the Regents exam...and then they said, congratulations, you can speak the equalivalent of a two yr old!

[@richardwarner746]

Hi just picked up a 77 candy Antares red...what a doll! I think the only remedy for the brakes is to upgrade to a stainless steel hose. Older rubber hoses swell in diameter when the brakes applied, taking away the motion of the fluid into the caliper. I have a2017 Wolf Classic 150 with a braided steel line...it has better brake feel than the 400!

[@garagemoneypit]

Agreed, the front brake line is likely part of the culprit. I've owned a couple of SOHC Honda and the front disc brake on none of them were great, but I think this is particularly bad. The brake line is the original one so I'm planning to replace it with a stainless steel one, plus I'll probably have to take the caliper apart and make sure the pivot is free as well.

[@richardwarner746]

@@garagemoneypit my 82 Aspencade is the same deal...it should have MUCH more feel from the dual vented rotors with twin piston calipers!

[@sophietucker1255]

I had one and it was a great little bike. Never had any issues with the points but I had a big battle with the tank rusting and leaking. Finally just got a new tank and had it creamed before I even put fuel in it. Traded the bike for a 1982 Gold Wing. Really wished I had kept the 400F and not gotten the Gold Wing. The front brake is just okay but is next to useless if it is wet then that back brake really comes into its own

[@garagemoneypit]

Agree, the front brake on pretty much all the SOHC Hondas I've ridden are downright scary in the wet. Fortunately this bike doesn't get to go out in the wet anymore.

[@Stripping_Bolts]

The cb400 is probably worth 10 times as much as that goldwing is worth now 😭

[@edwinbruckner4752]

It's a bike, a Honda, ride it ! Collectors who don't ride their classics be damned.

[@jimtincher7357]

I almost bought the 1976 version (blue) when I was 16... bought the CB750 instead.

[@SherKhan-b1kes]

I used to despatch ride in London on a 400/Four and really missed that bike after having sold it for a Cx500. That low speed wobble shouldn’t be happening. They’re sensitive to tyres so, other than the pressures make sure they are matched. I had best handling with Michelins, progressive fork-springs + Koni shocks at the rear. I always need a goal before setting out on a ride, which does these bikes more good than sitting around so get out there and enjoy. Thanks for a cool review, Best greets from Düsseldorf 😉

[@garagemoneypit]

Thanks for confirming that this wobble isn’t normal. I’ve ridden a mate’s 400/4 in the UK eons ago and owned one in the UK myself, and neither of them had the wobble. There’s a fork rebuild and new tyres on the cards for this year, so hopefully that’ll take care of the wobble. Even though I have other bikes better suited to longer distances, I still want to take this bike further than 5-10 miles from home.

[@SherKhan-b1kes]

Almost forgot to mention checking the Head-race bearings. A set of new ones will benefit the handling should the old ones be worn out.

[@garagemoneypit]

@@SherKhan-b1kes I did remember to check those when I bought the bike. They didn't seem particularly loose or notchy, but I think it might be worth checking them again.

[@SherKhan-b1kes]

Prior to my despatch riding I worked as a mechanic in a Honda dealership. The 400/Four was a cheeky excellent handling bike that was capable of showing her taillight to motorcycles twice it’s size. When working at Mocheck we had a Harrier, fully blown up to 460cc that could out-drag and out-handle any 550 - 750‘s of the time. I and many others loved those 400/Fours….

[@404Matt]

How unfortunate when your project bike just unexpectedly starts running perfectly.

[@garagemoneypit]

How unfortunately indeed :). It's not quite running perfectly, but then again it wasn't supposed to be a project. It still does need some catch-up maintenance, but hopefully that'll be most of the work needed.

[@Cuttingwedge.]

How much is market place today!?

[@richardwarner746]

Ps that head shake is a characteristic of Honda's rake and trail specs....my first street bike was '73CB500/4....one of the green/black ones... would shake its head at about the same speed unless you had a firm grip on the handlebar.looks like the original tires? My Gold Wing Aspencade almost deposited me in a heap when the back tire started to disintigrate...but it was 11 yrs old at the time! A chunk was missing from the center of the tread!!!

[@stevenmoran4060]

Head shake easily prevented by using thicker fork oil and stiffer springs in the legs. Worked a treat on my 550 K4 in the seventies. Oversize Dunlop TT 100 tyres also made it grip like anything. Managed to scrape the rear tail pipes, that were upswept at one point.

[@richardwarner746]

@@stevenmoran4060 hi Steven...they ARE great bikes, aren't they? Tyres? You must be from across the Pond! I tried preloading the springs by placing a 1 inch piece of pipe under the nut on top of the fork leg...I really didn't notice any difference. I traded that bike for a 79 CB750F, which I purchased on my birthday in 1980...I STILL have that bike! 65k on the clock...she's a little tired...

[@garagemoneypit]

Tyres/tires ;) fortunately aren't the originals, but they're not exactly new - if I remember the date codes correctly, they're at least 6-7 years old so I'll likely replace them next year.

[@garagemoneypit]

This one's got some interesting marks on the collector from touching down. during exuberant cornering. Wasn't me, though.

[@roberttatlow5535]

Still got mine, made 1976, registered 1977.

[@marksmith-pz5yx]

The engine and transmission sound a little tight, In 1979 I bought a 1977 UK F2 model (passenger pegs on the frame not swinging arm) same colour with UK indicators, which were more bulbous but smaller diameter and Black Tail unit not Chrome. Loved it did over 40 000 miles on it, then foolishly swapped it for a nearly new 250 super dream a big mistake. Oh how I wish I could get that bike back, now riding a CB650F just because I liked the swept downpipes. Please ride it or give it to me!

[@garagemoneypit]

I definitely have to have a closer look at its general state of maintenance. It does feel a bit tight as you say, but it's not that easy right now to determine if that's because of the very low mileage or for another reason.

[@marksmith-pz5yx]

@@garagemoneypit I didn't get mine from new so cant say if it was tight from the factory, still you have an awesome bike and you have the know how to get it right, enjoy.

[@pathenderson3470]

“I don’t want to ride it that often”, is the WORST possible thing you could EVER say about classic motorcycles. Sell the bike to someone who’s gonna ride it. It has low mileage and looks beautiful but, again, ride the damn thing or sell it to someone who will because it was made for that purpose.

[@georgerix3224]

Was that whining an over tightened cam chain? It happens when people have a stubborn or seized cam 'horseshoe' and resort to tapping down on the cam tensioner bolt at the top, instead of the proper tensioner bolt below it.

[@garagemoneypit]

I guess I should really have a closer look at it. The whining is much more audible in the video than in person, but given that this bike is from the time of not-so-great Honda camchain tensioners and people keep mentioning this one the video, I might have too much hopium in my ears :)

[@athame57]

@@garagemoneypit I just replaced my entire cam chain system and she feels and sounds great for it. After market 'horseshoes' like that from David Silver Spares are aluminum with a copper bush and that works better, ie not seizing. Cheaper too!

[@maakatipa4613]

Personally I've always been of the opinion that bikes are meant to be ridden. Getting out on the road and enjoying it is worth way more than any monetary value it may have in fifteen,twenty or even thirty years from now, hidden away in some garage ,when I'm too old to really enjoy it. But that of course, is just me.

[@garagemoneypit]

I hear you and I'd generally agree. I think that's probably what's going to happen here as well - while the bike does look very nice in the videos, its condition isn't exactly as pristine as the mileage suggests anyway. Plus I have the right kind of roads around here.

[@cosicave5179]

Gorgeous bike. You appear to have found a gem. Now, please allow me to put your mind at rest… Like all Hondas, they are meant to be ridden! If genuine, this is exceptionally low mileage but beware; all Japanese bikes from the era are very easy to 'clock'; but with basic maintenance, it hardly matters. In 1977, I toured central and southern Europe on a 400/4, clocking up 37,000 miles in just 7 months. The bike always started immediately. I think yours did not because you deliberately starved it of fuel! Not good. Honda did not design it to need such an 'old-fashioned' approach! Don't worry about putting some good mileage on it. These bikes were made for mileage and they are an absolute joy to ride; so unless you want to make it a museum piece, RIDE IT!

[@garagemoneypit]

Oh, I've owned several Hondas of that vintage, and I totally agree that they're made to be ridden. It's just the usual quandary if you're buying a bike that's really low mileage, and some of the value then being due to the low mileage. I can't prove that the mileage is original, but knowing a little bit about how some of the telltales age (like the paint on the clocks, or the little details like the paint marker on the seat lock) I'm pretty sure the mileage isn't far off from what the speedometer shows.

[@richardstoffel6585]

Ride and enjoy it! Or sell it to me :-)

[@thetruthonlydementia7379]

I had a blue '76 400F and it was a screamer. The swept pipes, the chrome, 6 speed wowee, but to be honest the brakes and power sort of not there requiring max revving to keep up with big bikes. My '85 700 Nighthawk S was more fun and less work (and a true big bike beast sort of at the time at 80 hp). That 400 gas tank a bit small. It only seemed to go about 100 miles and maybe shaking the gas from one side to the other to get that. Still, too bad I sold it cheap not needing 2 bikes.

[@garagemoneypit]

The brakes are definitely a throw back to the 1970s. I find them less scary than the same brake system on SOHC CB750 that I owned a while ago, but it's still marginal.

[@richardwarner746]

Is it for sale???

[@garagemoneypit]

As of right now, it isn't. Although I might change my mind anytime :).

[@richardwarner746]

Ok well I have an 82 Aspencade, 79 CBX, 2017 CB1100, 2012 NC700X, 2017 WOLF classic 150....yeah, I'm a collector! And a 1979 CB750F project bike, that I bought on my 20th birthday in 1980! Other bikes are manufactured...Hondas are ENGINEERED!!! Where are you located?

[@michaelkoukos5396]

Ride it for a couple of years then sell it if you feel the need. IMHO

[@richardwarner746]

Check your tire manufacture date, and give her a drink of ethanol free gas! And DONT end up like the poor guy from JAF Motors, Schenectady, NY....hit a deer with his new V 65 Magna...deer fur stuck between the front rim and tire!

[@CPLJimmy-bh9kc]

It doesn't sound right. I had the same bike. I know.

[@thetruthonlydementia7379]

You call that a ride? I didn't see 10,000 RPM!!!

[@garagemoneypit]

In my defense, that ride was on local roads that have 25 - 35mph speed limits...

[@hideto.latrova7157]

日本で、人気爆発的にうれたんですよ！movement is teenager Honda CB400 4in.one

[@motorbikewhisperer]

"recent developments" sadface

[@iannowell6802]

I lived my life on these bikes it sounds wrong

[@richardwarner746]

I've watched this several times....what is that strange whine? Sounds like clutch or gear box issue.

[@snake_eyes_garage]

@@richardwarner746 I guess I learned something... FWIW... "The 350-4 and 400F have straight-cut primary gears that produce a characteristic whine - that is normal." That would do it.

[@richardwarner746]

@@snake_eyes_garage I suppose....it almost sounds like the clutch. If you look carefully, it looks like the bike has less than a thousand miles, and the owner said something about lack of use. It probably just needs to run...like my '60 Studebaker!

[@snake_eyes_garage]

@@richardwarner746 After watching Honda's video, I'll walk that back. This is louder than it should be. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmKnoKZoaNOAias

[@SkinPeeleR]

Had a '76 cb400f. Same whine.