Newbie here

[ianholdendc]

Hi guys,

My name is Ian, i'm from Johannesburg, South Africa and I found this forum when I was looking for Honda CB400 Cafe mods. You guy seem to have a LOT here

A brief history, I studied mechanics in high school and college and I bought a CB400 (about 20 years ago and in parts) for a Cafe Racer kind of build. I never managed to get it off the ground, I was too busy chasing tail at that time ;D

Anyways, for the last 3 years or so I find myself going back to the second hand lists in the paper looking for a Honda CB400, I have no idea why but for some reason the bike just appeals to me. Towards the end of last year I thought screw it, let me but a brand new retro (just for the sake of convenience) and I was looking at brand new Royal Enfield 500 Classic. That all fell through so i'm back to looking a CB400

A question to everybody out there, i'm looking for doing either a Cafe Racer or Bobber type of build, what would be a good bike to look out for. CB400's are pretty scarce out here unless they are in pieces, theres a few running CX500's and GS450's and a nice Kawasaki Z650 that needs a lot of work. Any bike thats easier than the rest to tackle? Any bikes that I should definately avoid?

 

[Big R]

Welcome to the site man!

I'm impartial to the GS450 of course. Especially because there are a LOT of similarities in the motor with the "modern" GS500. So much so, the motor ALMOST bolts right into the 450's frame.

 

[ianholdendc]

I'm Suzuki man myself! That is definately a big plus!

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

The Suzuki 450 is one of the easiest vintage bikes for getting parts for. Most parts are still available new from Suzuki. New-old stock parts are abundant on eBay, and it seems like there are always dozens of them being parted out on eBay.

 

[ianholdendc]

How about a 1981 CB650? its evidently still a runner and it looks original besides the 4-1 pipe. I think it lends itself better to a cafe look than the CB650 Custom.

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

Very good bike.

 

[ianholdendc]

It looks in good nick as well

 

[ianholdendc]

Well I took a look at the CB650 and for the price, R16000 (USD $1700) its not in bad condition. One odd thing, when ever you open her up, over 3500rpm she just chokes? I'm thinking the carbs are flooding, the owner thinks its the spark plugs? I want a bike I can use daily for the next few months so unless the seller can sort it out i'll move forward.

Found the attached lady, Suzuki GS750, 72000km on the clock, quite a bit more at R25000 (USD $2700) but she looks in better condition. I'll see her on Saturday.

I need a runner, I dont have a garage so this bike will have to modded over the weekends at my folks house. So i'm hoping all teh mods I do will be plug and play or as close to it as possible

 

[ianholdendc]

Ok so its been awhile but I ended up bagging this lady for a good price...2007 Royal Enfield Bullet 500 (Iron Barrel). She is very pretty but not so fast but thats fine...

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

Awesome.

 

[ianholdendc]

Yeah lovely bike and very old school. The mods will come slowly but 1st to change will be the pipe, evidently theres a catalytic converter in there?! then the carb along with the air filter et all.