1998 CB400 Super Four

ako

ako

Been Around the Block
Bought this 1998 CB400SF a while ago, and been riding it around to see what works and what doesn't:

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At this stage I am happy with it, but will do some minor mods to streamline the looks and reduce some weight. The forks are way too soft so that will need to be addressed.

After one ride I found this on both sides of the swingarm:
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The cracks have formed because the previous owner changed to Ohlins shocks, and the eye of the shock must be narrower than stock. Instead of using a spacer he pinched the bolts up tight and loaded up the bracket.

So I have hauled the bike into my A/C workshop to pull some stuff off:
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And just for shits and giggles I made so go fast stripes to see if I like them or not:
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I will need to replace the tires as well, there are cracks in the sidewalls.
 
Super sweet ride man.
I say get rid of the tail section and go a little more toward a fighter.
I want one of these
 
Thanks. It might be a little bit fighter-ish, but I don't like those pointy tails that bend upwards ;)

I will need to relocate a bit of electrics and the water coolant overflow:
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Damn you people and your amazing bikes that we can't get in the States. I'd kill for one of those. Anyhow, jealous fit aside... ;)

Looking forward to seeing what you do with it. Hopefully you don't change it too much.
 
VonYinzer said:
Damn you people and your amazing bikes that we can't get in the States. I'd kill for one of those. Anyhow, jealous fit aside... ;)

Looking forward to seeing what you do with it. Hopefully you don't change it too much.
Click to expand...
nice bike for sure...imagine what its like for me in the islands, would kill for a CB750, but there might only be 2 of them on the island, but enough about me...NICE BIKE!!!!
 
They are all ex-Japan bikes here. Happy to send one over to the states for anyone. Just need the cash in an advance basis ;)

I am working on tidying up the rear lights, I hate the oversize lights that come from the factory.

Made a little bracket to hold these twin rounds like this:
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And then I want to add a cover plate in front, like this blue cardboard template:
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Obviously all just a mock up, noting the duct tape and cardboard holding the plate on.

I think I want the lights about an inch or two higher, and an inch further apart.

Let me know what you think....

A view without the seat in place:
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As you see the cardboard here, I want to run an under-tray all the way forward to the engine. This will hold all the electrics including a anti-gravity style battery, and keep the road muck on the outside.
 
So the tail lights are ongoing, this was the next iteration and it has changed again:

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This is a before cockpit photo:
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And the reason this bike is in 'specials' and not cafe section. I threw on an old KTM bar, nearly a bolt on affair:
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Will need some shorter bolts, the PVC pipe spacers may not be best in the long term:
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As she stands now:
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The MX bars are a bit wider, but I managed to get all the fittings there. The clutch cable was tight, but it will probably be gone soon anyway. The front brake was also marginal, but I will be looking at changing over to braided lines also.

The bar has seen some serious abuse in a former life, and will probably be changed over to a Renthal Fatbar when I am either feeling rich or drunk on ebay.
 
Got some Shinko rubber today. Glad I could find it locally in the right size, was going to import from USA.

Was $142 for the pair. Would have cost me more for freight that what I paid, so a good outcome.

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And the 'rearsets' are on the way. They are loaded gun ones, from DCC.

In general they are good quality for what you pay, but not happy that rear sets for a Jap bike come in imperial bolt sizes. I changed what I could to metric but the main peg hangers and tapped holes are still imperial.

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I left the template there to show the general intent, a bit too late in the evening to be cranking up the angle grinder.
 
Got drunk and ordered parts on the Internet today. Very important part of the process.
 
I should have never quit drinking. My bike would probably be much nicer
 
Nah. I dig your bike. It's got character.

Plus in all my seaching I only found 4 parts I need to order, and 3 are generic. I got 2 done with.
 
Been doing a few odd jobs.

All the plastic and 'chromed' plastic has been removed, and in the process of painting. Will be doing a load of powder coating for steel and aluminium bits next week.

Had a look at the RHS rearset:

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The more astute readers will notice the pedal angle to be less than desirable. The Loaded Gun rearsets are not adjustable, so I will be making a new lever. I was going to just make a 180 degree one to replace the current 90 degree one, but I am glad I checked beforehand. I have swapped the master cylinder from behind the plate to in front, and in doing so created a clash with the 'zorst.

So I will now be looking at raising the master cylinder, something like a 135 degree angle in the lever.

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Of course, this means the top mount of the master is above my existing plate, so I will need a new plate. Will need to go beg/borrow/steal one next week, as the few scraps I scrounged up are not long enough.
 
So I need to have this bike out of the house by 28th Aug, but found out some parts ordered from Japan won't leave there until the 20th.

So I am going to have to make some brackets and parts that will become redundant later. Such is life.

Anyway, I made a number plate bracket, and formed then bends on my poor man's anvil, otherwise know as a rail way track cut off.

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Still need to source a whole bunch of grommets:
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Tried to clean my plate a bit and the numbers started rubbing off a bit. Brings naughty thoughts to mind (wonder if speed cameras need the black contrast):
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So not much has happened latety. My drunken parts orders came in.

Most people attribute lack of progress to work committments, family issues or illness.

Mine is due to some kind of mental illness. I keep on buying cheap bikes.

I have gone in 50/50 with a mate on a KTM 520, a '91 Honda CR250 and a '06 Yamaha Rhino buggy.

They were all cheap and we are just fixing and flipping.

The KTM is done already, all fluids changed, carb cleaned, new air/oil filters, new plastics and headlight, new fuel lines and carb overflows, and new spark plug. The good/sad part is that everything excluding the plug was in my "inventory" in the shed.

The Honda was stripper tonight and search for parts tomorrow.

The Rhino has a King suspension long travel kit and needs axle parts from USA.

Also sold my car.

When this is all sorted CB will resume.
 
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