Honda CB400F Café Racer – BikeBound

Chattahoochee Skunkworks builds an “Outlaw CB400F”… 

On the time of its introduction, the Honda CB400F was hailed as a mini-superbike.  The small, extremely refined 408cc inline 4 boasted a ten,000 rpm redline and six-speed transmission — the primary sixth gear on a Honda road bike. Few different machines pointed so intently to the unique engineering and howling fury of Honda’s small-displacement, multi-cylinder GP bikes.

Whereas two-stroke twins, triples, and large-capacity four-stroke fours had been uncooked and plentiful, an entire section of riders cared about corners as a lot as straight-line, muscle car-eating energy:

“When Honda unveiled the café racer-inspired CB400F Tremendous Sport in 1975, sport bike followers had been both hypnotized or cheering within the streets. No person anticipated a Japanese producer to hit the mark so squarely. The 400 had all of it. Its tiny inline 4 had the mystique of Honda’s unique highway racing multis…” –Final Motorcycling

Within the storied hills of North Georgia lives a person some name “the 400F whisperer” — our buddy Toby Jones of the Chattahoochee Skunkworks. Whereas Toby does some inventory restorations, he has extra enjoyable constructing gentle customs, and the 400 4 is his fingers down favourite — he’s accomplished seven thus far!

“Within the classic bike world there’s a factor known as character, and the character of the CB400F suites me simply positive. Though not the quickest bike in its class, it’s easy, peppy, fairly nimble within the curves and, when it hits the higher revs the sound that the little 4 makes is totally superb!”

As with most of Toby’s 400F builds, this one began as a basket case — in any case, these bikes are getting rarer by the day, and it wouldn’t make sense to begin with an entire, resto-worthy donor. Highlights embody a powder-coated body and swingarm courtesy of Toby’s buddy Monte Turner, a newly-laced set of shouldered alloy wheels with Avon rubber, rebuilt high finish and carbs, repro tank and manifold from the 400F professionals at David Silver Spares, and a prototype seat constructed to spec by the nice people at Texavina, which makes use of the unique hinges and seat lock.

Then there’s the stunning paint, paying homage to the unique Honda RC racers of yesteryear:

“I’ve an actual smooth spot for the normal crimson/silver Honda racing colours, so the tank, seat cowl, facet covers, and sectioned entrance fender received the Home of Kolors Orion Silver remedy.”

Whereas the bike was offered to a Florida collector earlier than Toby received a lot seat time, he’s received sufficient components mendacity round for an additional construct — maybe a classic drag bike?  We are able to’t wait to see that, Toby! Under, Toby provides us the complete story of the construct in his personal phrases.

Outlaw 400F: Within the Builder’s Phrases…

My identify is Toby Jones and my little outdated store, the “Chattahoochee Skunkworks,” is up within the foothills of North Georgia. Prior to now few years I’ve constructed extra classic bikes than I care to consider and I’m nonetheless pluggin’ alongside turning out just a few bikes yearly. Though I’ve accomplished just a few inventory restorations, I’ve extra enjoyable constructing gentle customs. The Honda CB400F is my fingers down favourite to work with and, ultimately depend, I’ve accomplished seven of them.

Within the classic bike world there’s a factor known as character, and the character of the CB400F suites me simply positive. Though not the quickest bike in its class, it’s easy, peppy, fairly nimble within the curves and, when it hits the higher revs the sound that the little 4 makes is totally superb!

The “Outlaw” CB400F venture started, as most of mine do, with a basket case or two. These bikes are getting so skinny on the bottom that it simply doesn’t make sense to begin with a pleasant restorable one. A great deal of thought and planning went into the venture.

The body and swingarm was despatched out to my buddy Monte Turner for a slick coat of Viper powder coat. The highest finish of the motor was rebuilt as was a set of unique carbs. The tank and exhaust header are new replica components from David Silver Spares. The oldsters at Texavina had been good sufficient to produce a prototype seat to my specs. It makes use of the unique hinges and seat lock and makes for a really tidy set up.

Dime Metropolis Cycle equipped candy the Acewell tach/speedo unit and 4 into 1 equipped the switchgear, cables, replica wiring harness, and stainless brake hose package.

As we all the time do on these bikes, we laced up a set of shouldered alloy wheels and wrapped them in Avon Roadrider tires. I’ve an actual smooth spot for the normal crimson/silver Honda racing colours, so the tank, seat cowl, facet covers, and sectioned entrance fender received the Home of Kolors Orion Silver remedy.

Though I’ve accomplished commissioned builds up to now, I’m at some extent now the place I design and construct them as if I had been protecting them for myself and this little bike was no exception. I had deliberate to indicate it at just a few occasions and do some seat time on it when the climate received somewhat hotter up within the mountains, however when a collector from Florida dropped by the Skunkworks to select up somewhat DT125 Yamaha that I had, he made me a proposal I couldn’t refuse and ended up with each bikes. The excellent news is, I nonetheless have just a few CB400F components laying round and have been contemplating a classic drag bike venture. You by no means can inform?

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