Hello Smudger - I am Alan, up the road from you in Swindon.
I was browsing the web for CB400 Four related articles and found you
I thought that you might be interested in my story on my 400/4s and perhaps I can offer you some local help if you are interested.
Years back, in 1976 when I was 16, my older brother passed his bike test and PX'd his Honda CB125S for a brand spanking new red Honda 400 Four F1. I loved his bike and was soooooooo jealous as I was still a couple of years away from getting a licence. He used to take me out on the back and I was blown away by the little turbine. What an engine - he would wring its neck through the gears and it seemed like it had twelve gear changes.
Anyway, he sold it after a year or so and bought a completely boring CX500. Me? I fell for British bikes and ended up buying a very non standard 1960 Matchless G80 500 single, which I still own (my pride and joy).
The years went by and the little Honda was still in the back of my mind. Until... When Friends Reunited kicked off in the early 2000s I decided to organise some school reunions. At the second one, one of my old classmates pulled me to one side and said "Alan! Do you remember that your brother had a red 400 Four? Well I always wanted that bike, so with my first paycheck after I joined the RAF when I was 18 I bought one just like his. I rode it on and off for ten years or so. It's been sat in my garage for the last twelve years. I'm not going to ride it again. If you want it, it's yours!"
Hmmm. Having a shed load of bikes and a few cars in bits at the time I didn't think that this would go down too well with my good lady, so I let it rest.
I got a phone call last summer from my old classmate. "Alan - I'm selling up and moving to France for a new job. You know I promised you the 400? Well if you want it you are going to have to come and get it before the end of the month." Bugger. Double bugger. Another bike in my collection would not be a welcome move at this point in time. "Ah, ok Barry. Erm, how much do you want for it?" "Oh, I don't know. I will have a look and see how much they are going for."
My heart sank. I knew full well that reasonable examples are selling on eBay for over two grand. I wanted this bike SO much. That was way out of my price range and would be divorce inducing.
The following week I got another phone call. "Hello - about the Honda - I have investigated. But to be honest Alan, you are a very old friend of mine. I know that you will look after the bike and if you promise to take me out on the back of it when it is going again I will let you have it for £200."
Jaw hit floor. Stomach went over. "Are you sure Barry? That doesn't sound like much?" "No, it's fine. When can you pick it up?" Needless to say the hire van was booked for the very next weekend.
A knock on the door and there was Barry. "I will have to dig it out, it is buried at the back of the garage." The accumulated rubbish was removed and the covers came off. My god. A
totally original red 400 Four in very good condition. The same as my brothers. I did a double take. "Err Barry. Your garage is very dry, isn't it?" I looked at the speedo and nearly fell over. 11,000 genuine miles from new. Very little rust, just grime from years and years of storage.
"Oh, by the way" said Barry. "Over here is another one in bits. A mate gave it to me for spares yonks ago. You can take that away as well." Stunned. Speechless. Two little Hondas headed back to Wiltshire
I have taken my time with the complete one and spent a fair amount on it. It is nearly finished but I didn't want to ruin the originality so have replaced the cruddy bits - Campbell rusty silencer, ripped seat cover, nasty OEM rear shocks. Along with a new front mudguard, new points/plugs, HT leads, carb kits, cables, front caliper/brake master cylinder kit/hoses, full service, new tubes and Avon Roadriders. Plus loads of Solvol, T-Cut and polish. It is looking pretty sweet and should be back on the road in the next couple of weeks. I can't wait.
Apologies for the long first post. I hope that my tale is of interest. Sometimes these things are meant to be.
If you need any help Smudger, then drop me a PM. I have technical reference stuff, links and have trawled the web for tips and advice over the last nine months. Perhaps we could meet up and compare notes if you would like.
PS - a footnote. My brother came to visit last autumn. I hadn't told him about the 400. After lunch I asked him to come out to the garage to 'see my new bike'. The reaction was amazing. He was completely gobsmacked, I thought he was going to cry! "This is incredible" he said. "You have taken me back to when I was 18." He couldn't stop stroking it. I guess that some bikes just have that effect, eh?