Honda CB's and their mileage
- Thread starter Brendami
- Start date
rays650cafe
No quarter given, none taken.
I was wonderin if maybe you had lost your mind....surffly said:
axeugene27
Over 1,000 Posts
If I were you I would;'t take my time on shit i would jog over to the guy's house who is selling that 400f tonight and wave 900 bucks in front of him and see what happens.
surffly
Over 1,000 Posts
That 400F will need more then $400 to get on the road, safely and legally.
That said it is a proper small bike and not a moped pretending to be a motorcycle.
It is worth thinking about that since its a popular or sought after bike that parts are more expensive and the fact that there is 4 of everything. BUT its a platform that is proven and has tones of support and parts to make a beautiful performing bike. On the flip side if the goal is just and art project then pass that bike on to someone that wants a performance build and find some thing else to hack up
That said it is a proper small bike and not a moped pretending to be a motorcycle.
It is worth thinking about that since its a popular or sought after bike that parts are more expensive and the fact that there is 4 of everything. BUT its a platform that is proven and has tones of support and parts to make a beautiful performing bike. On the flip side if the goal is just and art project then pass that bike on to someone that wants a performance build and find some thing else to hack up
surffly
Over 1,000 Posts
This is a good use
This is a shitty use
That is coming from a guy that believes that the a "cafe" bike should be a street bike that is built to replicate the race bikes of the time
If you just want the look like the second bike then you can build if off of anything
Its kinda like talking a ferrari and putting 24inch wheels and low riding air bags on it. Sure it gives you a certain look but why start with something that is meant to perform and shoe horn it into a style when you could have just as easily gotten a 63 impalla and done the same thing?
This is a shitty use
That is coming from a guy that believes that the a "cafe" bike should be a street bike that is built to replicate the race bikes of the time
If you just want the look like the second bike then you can build if off of anything
Its kinda like talking a ferrari and putting 24inch wheels and low riding air bags on it. Sure it gives you a certain look but why start with something that is meant to perform and shoe horn it into a style when you could have just as easily gotten a 63 impalla and done the same thing?
axeugene27
Over 1,000 Posts
For once i agree with surely that 2nd bike ruined a great looking bike.
rays650cafe
No quarter given, none taken.
That's what CB650's are for! ;Dsurffly said:
Rich's suggestion about the GS twins was good. An EX500 Kawasaki or GS Suzuki twin makes a great commuting, learn as you go type of bike. They are usually cheaper than old worn out CB Honda twins. 400F is an iconic bike and not necessarily the best for getting to work/school in all weathers, but it's capable enough.
GS250/400/425/450/500 is a great place to start.
Look for a bike that runs, starts easily, looks complete and has all the right, current paperwork.
GS250/400/425/450/500 is a great place to start.
Look for a bike that runs, starts easily, looks complete and has all the right, current paperwork.
Brendami
New Member
surffly said:
tried to get a friend of mine who lives in this area to go check some of these out for me, no luck. he wasn't in town and i'm in san francisco. i really appreciate this though. the 400f got me giddy
even though i want to use the bike around town i still want to go FAST and as i understand the 400f was only slightly slower than the rd 350. thank you anyways.
surffly
Over 1,000 Posts
Cb450? vs cb350?
I will never own another cb350 again after having my 450. much better and more useable bike. The 350 is not a small motorcycle, its a big moped. People talk about the aftermarket for the CB350 but thats a joke. What HUGE carbs the never work? Most of the vintage stuff has really little aftermarket.
Thats not to say that there is no room for improvement. Want to build a cool CB350? sure you can do it with nothing more then an intelligent list of parts off other bikes.
But at the end of the day its a street bike. You can spend $15k on a full fledge race CB350 that will dominate at the track and be amazing to ride, then on the ride home some guy with a stock CB550 will blow you away leaving the lights.
I would look into things that improve the way the bike feels and works, rather then outright speed.
I will never own another cb350 again after having my 450. much better and more useable bike. The 350 is not a small motorcycle, its a big moped. People talk about the aftermarket for the CB350 but thats a joke. What HUGE carbs the never work? Most of the vintage stuff has really little aftermarket.
Thats not to say that there is no room for improvement. Want to build a cool CB350? sure you can do it with nothing more then an intelligent list of parts off other bikes.
But at the end of the day its a street bike. You can spend $15k on a full fledge race CB350 that will dominate at the track and be amazing to ride, then on the ride home some guy with a stock CB550 will blow you away leaving the lights.
I would look into things that improve the way the bike feels and works, rather then outright speed.
surffly
Over 1,000 Posts
Yes they are fun, and yeas you can build anything to be faster then other things
But that takes alot of skill time and money, these are not beginner projects
Most important thing for a beginner is riding
And finding a bike that runs every day is just as important as finding a bike that can be ridden in all conditions in an enjoyable fashion.
Yeah I ride my CL125 all over the place, but when doing a distance its much nicer to be on my 450
But that takes alot of skill time and money, these are not beginner projects
Most important thing for a beginner is riding
And finding a bike that runs every day is just as important as finding a bike that can be ridden in all conditions in an enjoyable fashion.
Yeah I ride my CL125 all over the place, but when doing a distance its much nicer to be on my 450
I agree with you.
If you want a bike you can ride everyday ... you should stay away from vintage bikes. in general.
It is kind of a running joke I have going with someone in my building ..."what's broken this week" . ;D
Old bikes are old bikes.... they need you to be able to turn a wrench to keep them running properly.
Honda twins are simpler than 4 cylinder machines and are easier for a nub (like me) to work on.
If you want a bike you can ride everyday ... you should stay away from vintage bikes. in general.
It is kind of a running joke I have going with someone in my building ..."what's broken this week" . ;D
Old bikes are old bikes.... they need you to be able to turn a wrench to keep them running properly.
Honda twins are simpler than 4 cylinder machines and are easier for a nub (like me) to work on.
rattpunk
Been Around the Block
This ^
Haha 8) when I got my 450 it was a daily rider and all I had to do was replace a battery, replace the front master cylinder and headlamp as they went out over the course of a couple years. And there was the leaking gas - float needle adventure. But when some serious components went out and I started doing this and that ... its turned into a major project. I haven't even gone more than 10 miles this season.
If I had started the build process from the get go, I would have been majorly frustrated. But honestly I'm enjoying the hell out of learning how to take off all the parts and put them back on. Making it truly mine has been almost as much fun as riding. And thinking back in it, I really take back recommending a cm as a first cafe.
Haha 8) when I got my 450 it was a daily rider and all I had to do was replace a battery, replace the front master cylinder and headlamp as they went out over the course of a couple years. And there was the leaking gas - float needle adventure. But when some serious components went out and I started doing this and that ... its turned into a major project. I haven't even gone more than 10 miles this season.
If I had started the build process from the get go, I would have been majorly frustrated. But honestly I'm enjoying the hell out of learning how to take off all the parts and put them back on. Making it truly mine has been almost as much fun as riding. And thinking back in it, I really take back recommending a cm as a first cafe.
I spent a ton of cash getting a cb350 (my first bike back after 10 years) looking where I wanted it to be....then quickly realized it wasn't the bike i wanted to ride every day. Didn't feel comfortable on long trips, too small for aggressive NYC traffic, I could go on and on. It is very difficult to make a decision on a strong rideable bike when you are immediately taken by aesthetics, bikes are really exciting.... But if you don't have the money or skills to fix your shiny (or matte black) new (old) bike you're gonna get frustrated and disappointed really quickly cause these things need love. Try to temper your taste for now in preference of rideability if RIDING is the priority. You just have to ask yourself what do you value more? Personally after an accident shook me I decided I wanted to learn something more than I wanted to ride; a 350, a 450, and a 750 in and I have spent only 1000 miles on the road and about 30 hours a week in my garage learning the hard way..... That's cool but is that what you're after?! I'm even getting sick of it!
I reckon you should make your decisions on practical terms firstly given your experience and budget (trust me I understand a lack of these things) and then naturally and organically move on as you're more confident and have more tools and cash
I reckon you should make your decisions on practical terms firstly given your experience and budget (trust me I understand a lack of these things) and then naturally and organically move on as you're more confident and have more tools and cash
