Graham, pretty cooool!!! I see that there was a CBX featured in that issue, as well. Two of my favorites!
I've heard, too, that the 400F was considered a "Ladies Bike"...maybe that's why I like it? By the way, there is a Yamaha XJ-550 Seca sitting in my garage, it belongs to a girlfriend. It's also considered a "Ladies Bike". However, to throw a wrench at that notion (and referring to the first picture on page 102), another girlfriend of mine - who is older than I am, and even more petite, rides a Harley.
So much for stereotypes!
Graham, again, your 400F is just magnificent.
What a concept - A Girl Bringing Back Her 1966 Super HawkSara
Many years ago a lady I worked with had an identical 400 to mine but decided that it was a bit pathetic in the performance department and bought an XJ550 instead..... I bought my V50 but never did the miles that the 400 managed. I almost bought a CX500 but couldn't touch the ground. G '60 C77 '60 C72 '62 C72 Dream '63 CL72
'61 CB72 '64 CB77 '65 CB160 '66 Matchless 350 '67 CL77 '67 S90 '77 CB400F
CX500? Puke! Lucky escape there (LMAO). I tried one and had the same issue -- thirty inch inside leg -- plus it was as lumpy as bad gravy..... And I didn't like that taillight. Oddly, in '89, I bought a CB750KZ as a consolation prize to myself when business went tits-up and I had to sell my treasured Sierra Cosworth. Couldn't touch the ground on that, either (the Honda, not the Ford!); and it had the same taillight as the CX500! No pics of that one as I didn't really like it...... No offence to those who are attracted to both bikes, btw! I'd love a 400F. Jensen has one in his collection in Holland and he has always revered them. I don't currently have the time or the space for another bike, though, but I should really find one before prices soar (they're pretty reasonable just now); one with spoked wheels -- not those bloody awful Comstars, as also with the 750KZ. In early '74 I fell for a six-month-old 'Zook GT380J, which would just eat my mate's shiny new CB500 Four for breakfast. I loved it so much; so three months later I plumped for a new, Candy Yellow GT380L. That got sold in 1980, just turning 10k miles upon delivery. I still regret selling it, to this day......
Steve
Two stroke triples - now you've got me going. Never ridden one but my favourite has to be the drum braked Kawasaki 350cc S2. I can still remember the Dave Minton test on MCI. If only you could bottle the sound. I was always being blown away on the 400F by youths on RD250/350 LCs back in the day. I restored one for Classic & MM. What a revelation! Moped under 6k and racer above. Super light super twitchy. Water cooling and electronic ignition banished all of the two-stroke ills. Big mistake selling that one..... Sara - apologies for hi-jacking your thread with boyhood reminiscences...... Nostalgia - it's not what it used to be... G '60 C77 '60 C72 '62 C72 Dream '63 CL72
'61 CB72 '64 CB77 '65 CB160 '66 Matchless 350 '67 CL77 '67 S90 '77 CB400F
Graham, and Steve - no worries! I LOVE reading this stuff (I suspect others do, too)!
Speaking of CB750K's, did you all see this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/331120055291?ss ... 1423.l2649 It's up to a mere $120,850.00 Of course, it is a sand cast version. Some notes: I sold my Suzuki SV650S because I couldn't reach the ground! That bike fell over from under me three times ($90 each time for broken turn signal). That was enough. "For Sale - Kawasaki Triple - injury forces sale" - wheelie monsters! I actually had a basket case 400F in my possession in the mid '80's. It belonged to a girlfriend. She crashed it, damaged the center cases, and her boyfriend took it apart to repair it, and then never put it back together. I somehow ended up with it, but got rid of it not too long afterwards. I WISH I still had it!! I never rode a 400F, and I don't care if it's slow. It spoke to me like my Old Girl does. I intended to buy a new 400F when I was in flight school in 1977. The closest Honda dealer was in a town 15 or so miles away, and it was difficult to get the time to go over there. The Kawasaki dealer was within walking distance from the post. So, I bought a Kawasaki 400 and HATED IT. Darn near gave it away within just a few months. I walked into the local Honda establishment in 1979 to buy a CBX. "Little lady, that's too big a bike for you", the salesman told me. I was impressionable and believed him, and left with a 750F twin cam, instead. I hate myself TO THIS DAY!![/i] 1965 CB77 305 Super Hawk
1989 NT650 Hawk GT 1981 Yamaha XJ550 Seca
Yes I saw the CB750 - a sort of pre-sandcast sandcast and the only one in captivity. Not sure I would fork out that sort of cash fro a pre-production museum piece. I don't mind looking at it but I'd like someone else to take care of it. You could have a lot of fun for 120 grand... My friend had a Kawasaki H2 and I made the mistake of going for a ride on the back with him. I pretty much thought that I was going to die that day. When my buddie saw my 400/4 post restoration he had to have one. I bought a frame with registration and we set about building him one entirely out of parts from swap meets and a few NOS parts from David Silver. The most annoying thing was that it turned out nicer than mine.....  Two Honds 400F2s front by graham.curtis, on Flickr I would really like to try the SV650 it just looks right. ALL bikes are too tall or too heavy for me now. G '60 C77 '60 C72 '62 C72 Dream '63 CL72
'61 CB72 '64 CB77 '65 CB160 '66 Matchless 350 '67 CL77 '67 S90 '77 CB400F
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