Honda CB400F Vintage Cafe Racer | Purpose Built Moto Builds

With its fresh motor, new tyres and brakes the CB400F is a real joy to ride. A small carbureted four breathing through a set of DNA pod filters with all its glorious ticks and noises. Around town the Green Honda turns heads on every corner, and once the traffic lights disappear and the roads open up getting the CB400F up past 6000 RPM brings it to life. The engine work done has given the CB400 a great amount of usable power that begs to be twisted out of the throttle. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. There’s nothing better than riding a small bike fast.
The parts used on this bike are:
- Universal fit Aluminium front fender and Mounting kit:
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- LED 3 in 1 Indicators:
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- PBM 3 Button Switches:
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- Black Box:
purposebuiltmoto.com/black-bo...
- Custom Seat:
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Check out the full build blog here:
purposebuiltmoto.com/cb400f-v...
And complete picture gallery here:
purposebuiltmoto.com/cafe-rac...

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

Check out more from this Honda CBF400F Vintage Cafe Racer build on the Purpose Built Moto blog purposebuiltmoto.com/cb400f-vintage-cafe-racer/

[@stephenwalker6980]

That road looked slick. I road a 400f for 15 years, I had faster ones, but that little bike was just so fun to ride, a truck backed over it, or I would still have it.

[@sasi9285]

I've never seen anything like this bike before. It's really amazing to see how much effort u put into it. Keep up the good work.

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

Thanks mate, the build actually wasn’t that involved. The Honda is just that good of a base on its own

[@parithrush7921]

7 minute ride - zero other vehicles on the road!

[@peterduerr4154]

makes me rethink my love of my big bore bikes

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

They all have their place

[@deborahchesser7375]

I sure miss my lacquer blue 76’ ✌️🇺🇸

[@SkinPeeleR]

I've owned a cb400f. Loved it.

[@adhyantorokusumo7451]

ASMR of riding a bike. I like this

[@MotorcyclesTVOfficial]

The Engine is amazing

[@Vankookz]

Tom!!!! Your channel is killing it! God shit dude! We miss you bro! Keep being an all time legend!

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

Cheers you guys, I miss you too 🖤

[@jamesruralsparkynz3504]

Beautiful bike man, super clean lines and sounds great too 👌

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

Can’t beat the sound of a carb 4 cyl

[@martindavies8326]

Great looking cafe racer, I love my 400 there great little super bikes,🇬🇧👍

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

Unbelievable fun!

[@jellevandesteeg4512]

Awesome bike and an awesome road! I have an original CB400F from '75 which is gettin a top end rebuild atm. Cant wait for next spring/summer to ride it again.

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

You’re going to have a lot of fun! I good top end rebuild really brings these bikes back to life

[@bikerbrinrac]

Wow that's a great looking cafe racer style bike 🏍️👍

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

Thanks Michael 👌🏽

[@peterroda8156]

Great job.

[@nibbles7178]

G'day mate, what a beautiful looking bike and incredible vision you guys had! My old man's got a Navy Blue 1976 400 Four sat in the garage out in the Mediterranean. Said he would never sell it and would leave it to me, bless him. It needs a bit of TLC but would love to restore it to it's former glory but with a Triumph Thruxton-type exhaust set up and change the colour scheme to a subtle brown/tan and maroon leather seat config. Am just too scared on where to send it to, to have it done properly.

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

Thanks so much, we’re on the Gold Coast Australia if you want to get it to our garage I’d be happy to bring it back to its former glory. Shoot me an email, we can also help with logistics

[@MonsterRider64]

Makes me miss my CB350F that I had a long time ago.

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

Have a look at our channel, we’ve built a CB350F too!

[@tibidonjacques]

Magnifique!!

[@deanherbig9178]

nice . well done .

[@fantabuloussnuffaluffagus]

A couple of my favorite 400-4 speed tricks: When you have a couple of worn out clutches, make a new clutch stack from the worn frictions and steels, an extra of each will fit, making for a stronger, longer lasting clutch with the same feel as the original. If you have the top end apart you will notice that the valve springs are progressively wound, but the heavy end of the springs are placed randomly. Put the heavy end down on both the inner and outer springs, this will give you a few more revs before the valves float. I would always set my valves just a bit tight. This meant that the valves would sometimes not close completely when sitting in traffic on a hot day, necessitating a shut down and cool, but of the three of us that had 400 Super Sports, mine was always the fastest (for a lot of reasons).

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

You can never replace experience, thanks for leaving us a comment. I love hearing stuff like this

[@fantabuloussnuffaluffagus]

@@PurposeBuiltMoto A few more then. Just turn the breaker plate to full advance. It gives up a bit of bottom end and gives you a bit more on top. I seem to recall having to close the plug gap a bit to keep the spark from blowing out at high rpm (this may be a memory from some of my later turbo shenanigans). GS 850 shocks and springs from period will bolt on, 30 weight in the fork IIRC (along with spacers on the springs). Truss the bottom side of the swing arm, that thing is floppy AF. Ferodo track pads. Drill the disc. Buy every piece of Kaz Yoshima kit you can get ahold of (I had barrels, pistons, rods, cam, carbs, oil pump, and probably some other stuff I'm forgetting). Even a back yard port polish yielded good results. I only polished, no reshaping (I didn't have a clue or a flow bench). All speed mods were tested by comparing to previous top speed on the local freeway (averaged two way run). One tooth less on the front sprocket and about 12,500 rpm in high. Much over 13,000 and the rods come out the bottom. I think the best mod was the Marving pipe. It had a glorious howl.

[@allnighterist]

bro thats a really handsome bike 👍

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

thanks so much mate!

[@richardwarner746]

Boy those primary drive gears are noisy...until that great exhaust note takes over!

[@rarebreed6703]

It's perfect.

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

This bike is actually for sale if you're seriously interested

[@caseycrocker8279]

Just picked up my dads old 75’ CB400F super sport. Hasn’t been touched since 87 and wasn’t stored properly so I need to restore everything on it. Tires surprisingly still hold some air though! Would love to go this route but I have no clue where to start.

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

Start by checking out our website, we have so much information for garage builders. That will get you on the way.

[@kelstra1997]

Excellent video. I don't where in Australia this road is but what is surprising is that you didn't come across another vehicle of any description on your road. That has to be some sort of a record.

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

We close the roads for all our epic stunts! Haha

[@donmathias1705]

Another rider who has iron skin. Gloves are cheap.

[@henno.666]

Now searing marketplace cb400f

[@daveco1270]

Love this bike but I don't think those are the stock headers. The 400F header pipes famously sweep down to the right together. They may have been on the bike when you guys got it, but the factory pipes would be different. Unless Honda changed them at some point.

[@Rasmus_Nylander]

Any customizing needs to be done for the Excel rims ? Or does the stock hubs, spokes and nipples work just fine ?

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

the stock hubs are OK to use, but new spokes and nipples are the way to go!

[@Rasmus_Nylander]

@@PurposeBuiltMoto But standard size spokes and nipples I assume :)

[@Rasmus_Nylander]

Awesome build. How wide are the rims, and where did you get them ? I need some new rims for my CB400F. :)

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

Thanks man, they’re Excel rims from memory 2.15 wide front and rear

[@Rasmus_Nylander]

@@PurposeBuiltMoto Thanks I will definitely check that out :) Any customizing needs to be done for the swap ? Or does the stock hubs, spokes and nipples work just fine ?

[@2Diablox]

Hi, is it possible to buy a tail like this one ?

[@peterroda4181]

Wonderful job. Can you tell me how much the wet weight is?

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

Check out the build blog - Linked in the video description. We usually weigh our bikes, but im not sure if we did this one.

[@MrPeterJDM]

Where can I get a seat cowl like that? The link in description shows a 404 page.

[@theyeetus1428]

Why would you remove the stock 4-into-1 exhaust?

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

We've re-used the headers and removed the damaged mid pipe and exhaust.

[@brandonloder3711]

Could you post a link the the muffler y’all used.

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

It’s available through purposebuiltmoto.com

[@andrewmckay2118]

Excellent job great video on one of my favourite Bikes

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

They’re a near perfect machine. We’re building another one at the moment

[@andrewmckay2118]

@@PurposeBuiltMoto looking forward to the video Bro

[@tongeric2740]

What is the colour of the bike?

[@marcoverdolin9871]

Hi mate, what a brake do you used?

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

16mm radial brake master cylinder. I cant remember the brand.

[@kundantiwari2533]

I want to build a cafe racer for myself, I've a 1990 royal Enfield bullet, can i build a cafe racer with zero experience in bike building and repairing??

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

It’s not impossible, I would reccomend you start with some small modifications. Simple things to see if it’s the thing for you.

[@user-jf2ed8kh3m]

Can I know the size of the rim used?

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

The rims are an 18" x 2.50 if I remember correctly

[@carlosandres6843]

Hellooo, I got a cb 400, can i build the same style of your motorcycle ? or i need something else, i appreciate if you give me , the the same characteristics that your motorcycle has to make it identical, it is really spectacular the color the tachometer the sound wow pds: sorry for my english, i hope you can understand.:)

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

Check out the build blog linked in the video description.

[@roonewby8112]

Those arent standard headers theyre after market and more than likely Delkevic. Just so you know!

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

OK cheers, they were on the bike when we got it

[@markhayvren2203]

Is this a 4 speed tranny?

[@fredrikabinger4818]

I rode a cb750 Four for many years so i know a little bit about the cb lineup. Am i the only one who hears a realy anoying scraping sound comming of this bike? Or is it simply the recording that is bad and im the one beeing stupid about this?

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

That’s probably wind noise because I was riding so damn fast

[@Stripping_Bolts]

Awesome build, but for the love of God put some damn gear on 😂

[@PurposeBuiltMoto]

I usually test ride right after I finish work for the day, and always leave my stuff at home