Singapore based CB400

[singkiwi]

ok, as you can imagine the availability of "classic" bikes in Singapore is rather limited, but I had a plan, take the countries most popular bike (and arguably the most boring) and create a cafe racer.
Donor bike 1998 Honda CB400 Super4 - VersionS
battered beaten and looking very tired.
Myself and a Buddy from down the road Tom set to work!

 

[singkiwi]

Next step was the strip down, my drive is about the size of my car, it can't fit because there are 2 (now 3) bikes up there, as as you can imagine, not alot of room, no shed, a little rain shelter and a sloping drive. not the best location but better than most in Singapore.
look how heavy this beast is!

 

[singkiwi]

Tank -
The idea was to bring the tank back to polished steel. hadn't quite put enough thought into that... more later.
sanding and stripping, what a nightmare, this bike had about 6 different paint jobs over the years, layered on thick and baked in the tropical heat. it took two weeks to strip and sand it back.
We tried a few options to stop corrosion, none of which worked, so we put this on the back burner for a while...

 

[singkiwi]

Frame ground back the lugs etc - powdercoated - all good

 

[singkiwi]

Seat - we built a cardboard mockup. measured it and found a similar one on fleabay.
was in ok condition but took a huge amount of sanding to get back to a polished finish

 

[teazer]

Actually looks better than I expected and there are clear coats that are designed to cover bare steel, so it's possible. I would have gone with a min CB1100R look. The tank has all the right curves in all the right places and would look very Honda like of course, but it might work.

By that I mean that it would be instantly recognizable as a Honda.

But polished metal would work too.

Good to see something different.

 

[singkiwi]

Actually looks better than I expected and there are clear coats that are designed to cover bare steel, so it's possible.
Good to see something different.

I went another way... The seat and the tank would always look different, looking after it would be difficult so I gave it to the Chromer...

 

[singkiwi]

Engine:-
ok nothing really done here... quick paint job.
replaced
- Water filter - old one was pumping oil through the radiator
- new hoses - do you think Honda created the company Yamashita just to piss Yamaha off?
- new radiator bits and pieces thermostat etc
- carb refurb
- new rocker cover old one had gone yellow
- new Stainless headers and a free flow exhaust
Back in the bike!

 

[singkiwi]

Its alive! fired it up last night! runs like a piece of shit right now, need to re-jet the carbs (after installing the pod filters) and give it general tune. still need to fab the underseat area to house the wiring and get the seat upolstered.

 

[jonwright]

wow that looks awesome

 

[JustinLonghorn]

I can dig it.

 

[singkiwi]

Heading off for inspection, fingers crossed. Damn that last 20% is a bitch! still wiring is now nicely tucked under the seat, all the little bits and pieces are in place... almost time to ride!
Had to put the old exhaust back on, it wont's pass the inspection without a cat.

 

[RotaryDanglish]

Jaw dropping! The chrome and red really pops, I dig it. ;D

 

[andrew6v]

Looks good!

That would be cool if you could chrome paint the lower fairing/splitter/spoiler thing (what are they called?) that came with it or maybe black, and chrome the swingarm.


Really like it though, kinda reminds me of the production moto guzzi cafe racer.

 

[maules]

Not bad not bad. Battery is housed in the seat hump? But where's the coolant reservoir?

 

[singkiwi]

Not bad not bad. Battery is housed in the seat hump? But where's the coolant reservoir?

Well spotted, not mounted yet, it'll go on the right side of the radiator, there's two bolt holes, looking for the right sized bottle...

 

[03rangerxlt]

Nice! The only thing I would change on this is the color of the wheels, and maybe th ecolor of the swingarm. I love the tank and seat!

 

[CarbsAndCylinders]

Very nice, love the chrome on red frame.