So you bought a CM400 / CB400T, now what...(50+ Build Links!)

[Maritime]

No problem Baconpocket, I felt it needed to be done. As far as making it a priority or sticky that is up to the site administrator I guess.

I hope you did not mind, as with many others, I took the liberty of abbreviating your thread name to simply "Broke Ass".

Only problem is it describes a lot of us here I know I am a "Broke ass"  My bike dumped over in the driveway and i was in a panic that I may not have the funds to fix it.  But thankfully it is just cosmetic and can get fixed over the winter.

[Frankenfe]

Devon, Start taking pics now, if you are like me before you know it it won't be recognizable. Have you decided what direction you are going to go?

Right on! Thanks Frankenfe, this fall you'll be able to add my newly acquired cb400t1 to that list. I find myself using the search feature a LOT and digging through so many posts to find any information/inspiration for the CB400. It's gonna take some work, but it's my first bike and I absolutely love it.


Devon

[Frankenfe]

Are you restoring or building? Cafe? Bobber?, Brat? Tracker?.......Start a build thread on DTT.

I've got a 78 CB400TII project going.... slowly.  I post more on the Hondatwins site; faster responses that are more specific.  I'm in the repair stage right now. 

[Maritime]

I've got a 78 CB400TII project going.... slowly.  I post more on the Hondatwins site; faster responses that are more specific.  I'm in the repair stage right now. 

remember to post up if you need parts.  Also, don't limit searches for just CB/CM400's  A lot of the same parts for these carried all the way through the 450 nighthawk range and into the late 80's I think right up to 89.  Only thing that changed was the body panels and maybe the forks from hydraluic to air/hydraulic.

[yayuppp]

I'm making a cafe, but right now I have to get it running.   The previous owner threw away the ignition coil and it didn't come with an igntion switch.  Money is tight right now so it's moving realllllllllllly slow.  Still rebuilding the carbs.  The primary main jet was siezed in one carb so I drilled it out.  I've had the second soaking in pentrating oil for some time now.  This site is great for getting ideas and inspiration.  I have a thread floating around here somewhere...   http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=24308.0  I'll update it.     

[Frankenfe]

Yayuppp, I added "Lucy" to the list, so keep up the contributions in your thread.

If you are going with a very simple stripped bike, then I say do a basic wiring harness & forget the keyed ignition and hide a simple toggle somewhere.

I'm making a cafe, but right now I have to get it running.   The previous owner threw away the ignition coil and it didn't come with an igntion switch.  Money is tight right now so it's moving realllllllllllly slow.  Still rebuilding the carbs.  The primary main jet was siezed in one carb so I drilled it out.  I've had the second soaking in pentrating oil for some time now.  This site is great for getting ideas and inspiration.  I have a thread floating around here somewhere...   http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=24308.0  I'll update it.     

[yayuppp]

Ya, I'm trying my best.  Slowly but surly...   
Without using a key switch; I'm worried about it getting stolen.  I'm going to tuck the key switch somewhere, maybe under the tank somewhere? 

[devon]

Devon, Start taking pics now, if you are like me before you know it it won't be recognizable. Have you decided what direction you are going to go?

Hey Frankenfe, I'm definitely gonna start taking pics. I already wish I had taken pics when I first got it with the HILARIOUS fairing that was on it (three feet tall! LOL) I Might have to put it back on just so I can show you guys.


It's running really well right now, I picked it up for 8 bones to use as a commuter this summer. I really wanted a 750 but they're selling for 3k+ in half decent condition in my area (Edmonton, AB. we only get to ride 1 month a year, the rest of the time we take our dogsleds   jk)


It's gonna be fun, I've got a "I'm gonna do some unique mods to make it look really good, but I'm not really worried if I break it cuz it only cost 800 bucks and if it gets me to work for the month of July then it's paid for itself" attitude 


I just love the cafe racer bikes, and love this site!


Thanks for putting this together, there's a ton of useful information here.


Devon

[devon]

btw, I've got the unique CB400T1 model with the spoked wheels and no tach. Anyone else on here have one of these?


I really want to put a tach on it but where the tach cable should go there's an aluminum cover. Not sure if I can just open up the clutch cover pop that cover out and insert the cable.


Does anyone know if that's possible? I'd just open it and check but the exhaust connections are rusty and if i take the exhaust off to get the clutch cover off then I'll have to either
a) order a new exhaust ($350+ (half the cost of the bike!)) or
b)make my own ugly ass exhaust and header wrap it, but then I'll have to learn how to rejet for the different airflow    or
c)tack this pos exhaust back together which means ill have to. beg/borrow/steal a welder, watch a couple hundred youtube videos, read a half a dozen books and then practice for hours which I'd love to do but c'mon it's summer I'd rather be riding. I think I'll just learn how to weld in the fall and make something pretty    I can learn how to rejet as well during our 11 month long winter 


Devon

[Frankenfe]

Devon,
It is funny how many CM/Cafe guys want to change the reverse comstars to spokes, so you have a jump on it with your CB. Mine was as much about getting a larger rear wheel, since the Rev/Com was a 16" and I wanted 18". What size rear is your spoke?
 
There is a similar stripped CM version (The CM400e "Economy") If I remeber correctly, it came with spokes & no tach, drum front vs disc, and had a steel plate type upper triple tree vs a cast one. If you look at my early pics of my bike it has CM400E forks and tripple tree (including the steel plate upper). I do plan to keep the Drum and Drum mount forks (CM400e) but use a CM400T cast upper tree (with gauge mount tabs cut/ground off and CM400T fork caps.   
 
Post a pic of the engine cover where the tach would go in. Is it casted closed or is it have a removble plug? my 79 cm400 has a kick start, the 80 does not, the engine cover is molded cast closed. If you decide to go with newer gauges you could use an electronic Tach.
 
AND I VOTE "B" since that is what building a Cafe is all about. Just try and leave the ugly ass part out.

[coldfuzion76]

Hey, I just thought to ask, what's everybody doing for cables after the switch to lower bars? I know of a couple that made custom ones, but it would be nice if someone with acres to similar bikes with shorter cables had come up with an easy, off-the-shelf setup since most of us are new to this whole thing. I'm going to order custom Motion Pros if nothing else.

[Maritime]

I haven't gotten around to shortening or finding shorter cables. I just re-routed to take up slack where I could.  I only went to a superbike style bar so the stock cables aren;t bad, but if/when I go to clipons, I will need t shorter throttle cables fro sure.

[coldfuzion76]

Mine are the European style bars, and I did reroute them, but I'be got more slack than I can stuff anywhere without binding. More of an aesthetic thing, now.

[baconpocket]

i rerouted mine with clubmans without binding issues.

as far as adding a tach goes, i was thinking about loosing mine and going with an electronic tach to slim down my dashboard.  haven't decided what i'll do yet as i'd kinda like to go kickstart too.


one of you guys started this wiki...i forget who
http://motorcycles.wikia.com/wiki/CM400

[devon]

Hey frankenfe, I might just do b looks like I got a leaky gasket anyways.

Reading the wiki just posted here that guy did not require any rejetting when making his own exhaust similar to what I was thinking.

Here's a pic of the port where the tach cable should go. Would an electronic tach be easy to add or does it require use of the same port?



Thanks,
Devon