Woody's 1980 CM400T Brat Project - Cool name coming

[woody1981]

Okay guys... I'm starting a new winter project with my younger brother.

We acquired a 1980 Honda CM400T... for free. It's in great shape, runs great, about the only thing wrong with it is that it needs new tires. Well, new tires, and the fact that it is undeniably ugly.

After some discussion with my brother, who this bike is for, we've decided to go brat with it. We're trying to keep the cost as low as possible, so far that cost is $0.00.

I am a firm believer that ANYTHING can be cool, you just have to identify the parts of the bike and it's design that aren't cool, and remove or change them.

So anyway. This is the official first post and "before" pics of our Big Arse Project — 1980 CM400T Brat... cool name forthcoming.

- Woody

 

[JRK5892]

nice great start! you going hard tail or slamming the rear end and leaving the shocks? just moving the shock mount location and cuttin out the coils of the spring will drop you down big time!

 

[woody1981]

We're going brat, which I define as having shocks... that's the difference to me between a brat and a bobber. We will be using 11" shocks and then also modding the shock mount location as well.

We got the rear fender/taillight hunk, seat and sissy bar, rack, handlebars, gauges, headlight and brackets and a couple other odds and ends all pulled off last night. It's really nice not working on a crusty corroded bike... everything comes off so easy.

We put some superbike bars on it and took off the rear shocks and dropped the back end down and the stance is pretty nice.

I should have the current pics up in the next few days.

- Woody

nice great start! you going hard tail or slamming the rear end and leaving the shocks? just moving the shock mount location and cuttin out the coils of the spring will drop you down big time!

 

[JRK5892]

nice man! use that front fender as a rear fender then! will work out great for you! going ot be a cool scoot!

 

[Ghosttown]

Can't wait to see more on this build! Looks like a great bike to start with, clean.

 

[woody1981]

Here are the latest pics.

We've removed a bunch of stuff and are looking at the stance of the bike. We like the rear end slammed, but it's probably going to have to come up a bit to allow for the suspension travel.

We've decided to lower the front end 2-3"... we'll mock that up for sure once we get the back settled.

Swapped the stock bars for superbike bars. New tires are ordered.

 

[JRK5892]

man hack off those frame rails... right after the shock mounts... then you can really slam that sucker!

 

[woody1981]

That whole part of the frame is getting replaced. We are getting rid of the part that loops around and repositioning the shock mounts. That's the only BIG modification we think we're going to have to do.

Woody

man hack off those frame rails... right after the shock mounts... then you can really slam that sucker!

 

[MarcW]

man hack off those frame rails... right after the shock mounts... then you can really slam that sucker!

It won't go much lower than that, swingarm will bottom out on the frame.

 

[gser425]

The bike has a great natural stance. Really won't take a ton of work to get a tough looking ride from that. And the green is awesome some may not agree. look forward to seeing progress on this one.

 

[CresentSon]

I have to agree. Mod the rear then add a little elbow grease and spit polishing. Good to go!

 

[troybilt]

That stance does look sweet!! New bars are killer too. Marc brings up a pretty good point about the swingarm. Will you have enough room for it to articulate? I'm not famular with the frame. Hey Marc what might limit swingarm movement?

 

[JRK5892]

cool stance and you want to keep it slammed like that... old school cheap trick... strut that sucker! make her a hard tail!

 

[woody1981]

Yes. At that point in the photo the swingarm is bottomed out on the frame. We are going to have to bring it up a bit.
We don't want to hardtail it. I think one of the things that differentiates a Bratstyle from a Bobber is the fact that Brat's have suspension.

We're still working out the details of the mods. I think it's gonna be a cool bike though.

- Woody

That stance does look sweet!! New bars are killer too. Marc brings up a pretty good point about the swingarm. Will you have enough room for it to articulate? I'm not famular with the frame. Hey Marc what might limit swingarm movement?

cool stance and you want to keep it slammed like that... old school cheap trick... strut that sucker! make her a hard tail!

 

[MarcW]

I'm putting shocks back on mine whenever I have time!!

Great looking build!!!

 

[tWistedWheelz]

Whatever you do, do not remove that sweet ass custom crown royal bag battery bracket retainer! If you do, PM me what you will take for it! ;D ;D

Sounds like you have a firm plan and direction. I like that! Good luck.

Cheers

 

[woody1981]

Not much of a Canadian Whiskey guy... I'm sure it'll go away soon.

Woody

Whatever you do, do not remove that sweet ass custom crown royal bag battery bracket retainer! If you do, PM me what you will take for it! ;D ;D

Sounds like you have a firm plan and direction. I like that! Good luck.

Cheers

 

[Black Motor Covenant]

Any new updates on this bike?

 

[woody1981]

No new updates. My younger brother, who the bike is for, just got hitched. Leading up to the wedding and all that busy-ness combined with the crappy Kansas winter we've had, nothing has been done.

We had new tires mounted on the wheels and we just re-installed them two weekends ago. We'll get cranking on it again soon... updates to follow.

- Woody

Any new updates on this bike?

 

[crazypj]

Haven't seen a green CM before, it actually looks quite good. 8)
I was thinking of doing Neverwas in green and cream, now I'm pretty sure I will (it was a three way between dark green, dark blue or dark red/maroon with complimentary colours)

PJ