Honda CB400F

The Honda CB400F is a motorcycle produced by Honda from 1975 to 1977. It first appeared at the 1974 Cologne motorcycle show, Intermot, and was dropped from the Honda range in 1978.[3][4] It had an air-cooled, transverse-mounted 408 cc (24.9 cu in) inline four-cylinder engine with two valves per cylinder operated by a single chain-driven overhead camshaft. Fuelling was provided by four 20 mm Keihin carburettors. The CB400F is commonly known as the Honda 400 Four.[5][6]:110

This article is about the CB400F sold between 1975-78. For the CB400F sold between 1989-90, see Honda CB-1.
Honda CB400F
Honda CB400F 1975
ManufacturerHonda
Also called400 Four
Production1975–1977
PredecessorCB350F
SuccessorCB400T
ClassStandard
Engine408 cc (24.9 cu in), Air-cooled, inline-4-cylinder, sohc
Bore / stroke51 mm (2.0 in) x 50 mm (2.0 in)
Compression ratio9.4:1
Top speed103.8 mph (167.0 km/h)[1]
Power37 bhp (28 kW) @ 8,500 rpm[1]
Torque24 lb⋅ft (33 N⋅m) @ 7,500 rpm[1]
Ignition typeInductive discharge ignition; electric and kick start
Transmission6-speed, manual, chain final drive
Frame typeTubular single downtube cradle[2]:46
SuspensionFront: telescopic forks
Rear: swingarm with two spring/shock units
Brakesfront hydraulic disc;
rear expanding drum
Tyres3.00 x 18 front;
3.50 x 18 rear
Rake, trail26.5° 85 mm (3.35 in)
Weight178 kg (392 lb) (with 1 imp gal (4.5 l; 1.2 US gal) of fuel)[1] (wet)

Background

After introducing the four-cylinder CB750 motorcycle in 1969, Honda followed with a string of smaller-capacity four-cylinder models; the CB500 Four in 1971 and the CB350 Four in 1972. The CB350F was available for two years until Honda announced the CB400F model.[5]

For the most part, the CB400F was simply an upgraded version of the 350 model from the previous year.[5][7] At the time Honda's R&D department had devoted much of its resources towards automobile models such as the Civic. This meant that motorbike development was limited to mechanical changes.[6]:112 In order to develop the CB350F into the CB400F, Honda increased the bore and modified the cylinder head to raise the compression ratio. In a first for Honda, a sixth ratio was fitted to the gearbox.[6]:111 Instead of aping the styling of the bigger Universal Japanese Motorcycle (UJM) style CB750, like the 350F had, the CB400F had a more café racer look with lower handle bars, rear set footpegs and more svelte styling.[5][7] It also gained one its most recognisable attributes, a swooping four-into-one exhaust system.[2]:45[6]:114

CB400F with distinctive four-into-one factory-original exhaust system

Although aimed at the sporting segment of the market, the four-stroke CB400F did not have the acceleration of the competition's two-strokes, particularly the triples from Kawasaki.[8] But what the CB400F engine lacked in power it made up for in refinement, the small-displacement four-stroke being smoother, quieter and much more economical than the two-strokes.[9]

Reception

The CB400F was well received by the motoring press and reviewers. They praised its renewed focus over the previous 350F model, preferring its clean lines and sporty café racer looks. In America, however, the CB400F was not the sales success Honda had anticipated.[10] Honda revised the model in the US in an attempt to recapture lost sales by fitting higher bars and footpegs set further forward, but the CB400F struggled against the dominant Kawasaki twin-cylinder model.[6]:114 It was also 15% to 20% more expensive than its competition.[1]

Variants
CB400F2 model

The CB400F was produced in three variants during its production cycle; the F, F1 and F2.

  • 1975: Launch model had swingarm-mounted passenger footpegs and was available in Light Ruby Red or Varnish Blue.
  • 1976: Passenger footpegs were moved to a loop off of the rear subframe. It also gained a lock for the fuel filler cap.[2]:42
  • 1977: F1 model released as a US and Canadian-only model, with few bikes coming over to the United Kingdom.[2]:42 It had higher bars and footrests repositioned further forward to cater to consumer demand.[11]:117:118
  • 1978: F2 model was virtually the same as the earlier F model except for a minor restyled fuel tank and decal changes. This variant was available in Candy Antares Red and Parakeet Yellow. American F2 bikes had black side covers. Longer cylinder head studs were fitted after engine number 1084315 to try to remedy the problem oil weeping from the head gasket.[2]:42

To comply with licence restrictions in France and Japan, Honda also produced a 398 cc (24.3 cu in) version by fitting a shorter 48.8 mm (1.92 in) stroke crankshaft.[6]:111

Performance

The CB400F produced a claimed 37 bhp (28 kW) at 8,500 rpm and 24 lb⋅ft (33 N⋅m) at 7,500 rpm. Bike magazine reported a 0 to 1⁄4 mile (0 to 400 m) time of 14.68 seconds. During the same road test they recorded a top speed of 103.80 mph (167.05 km/h) prone and 93.5 mph (150.5 km/h) sitting up.[1]

Racing

The CB400F was somewhat successful motorcycle in club or privateer racing. Kaz Yoshima, a former employee at Honda's R&D department in Japan,[12]:65 built 492 cc (30.0 cu in) race versions capable of 13,500 rpm and producing an estimated 60 bhp (45 kW).[12]:66 Ron Haslam won the 1980 Formula 3 title on a CB400F prepared by Honda dealer Nettleton Motorcycles. He also came third in the F3 class at the Isle of Man TT on the same machine. Racing versions of the CB400F were also raced successfully in the Formula 2 under 500 cc four stroke/350  two-stroke class.[6]:113

Legacy

Around 105,000 CB400F units were sold.[6]:113 The CB400F was succeeded by the lighter and more powerful twin cylinder Honda CB400T. It wasn't until 1989 that Honda introduced another 400 cc inline-four, the all new Honda CB-1.[12] The 2006 PlayStation 2 title Tourist Trophy featured a CB400 Four as a prize for getting a gold 'Junior License'.[13] In late 2011 a UK-based company, David Silver Spares, announced they would be acquiring used CB400Fs to restore and resell to the public. The aim was to use economies of scale to restore 49 CB400F bikes in batches. The project was featured by Classic Bike magazine in April 2012 and showcased the bike owned by Top Gear presenter James May.[2][14]

See also

References
  1. "400 cc Giant Test". Bike. Bauer Media Group. August 1976.
  2. "Classic Bike". Bauer Media Group. April 2012: 36–46. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. Motorcycle Mechanics, December 1974, pp.34-36. Koln Show. "Four-into-one does go on the new CB400 from Honda ". Accessed 2015-05-31
  4. "Record £4000 paid for mint 400-4". Motor Cycle News: 2. 22 December 1993. An unused Honda CB400-4 set a UK record when it was sold for a cool £4000 to a mystery buyer...Honda axed the model from its range in 1978
  5. Robert Smith (November–December 2006). "Honda CB400 Four: Less is More". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 2015-05-11.
  6. "Classic Bike Guide". Mortons Media Group. April 2013: 111–116. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. Greg Williams (January–February 2012). "The Smallest Four: Honda CB350F". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
  8. Margie Siegal (July–August 2011). "In Love with the Honda CB400F". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  9. "Ridinglife:CB400F". Classic Bike Guide. Mortons Media Group. May 2015.
  10. "1975 Honda CB400F". AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. Archived from the original on 2011-01-11. Retrieved 2015-05-15.
  11. "Cycle (magazine)". Ziff Davis. June 1977: 117–123. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. "Cycle (magazine)". Ziff Davis. June 1989. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  13. "Tourist Trophy". GamerFAQ. Retrieved 2015-06-09.
  14. "CB400 Four Project". Retrieved 2015-05-12.


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