'78 Honda Twin Project

TonisToo

Well-Known Member
So this followed me home…
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1978 Honda CB400T with 11,000 kms. Plus it’s brother… a nearly complete, running when parked, parts bike.
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You probably saw this being advertised for sale recently if you have a habit like me of perusing the classifieds. I met the guy in CBS and it was just too good a deal to pass up. I feel like I stole this from him. Nice fellow. He bought it about 4 years ago and only put a few thousand kilometers on it. The tires are virtually new. Like many people he had too many projects filling the garage and two young kids at home. He just got back from working in Russia in the oil and gas industry. No time for motorcycles.

I had been thinking about a winter project again. Something to tinker with in the garage to stave off boredom and depression. Something requiring more cosmetics and bolt on parts as opposed to major mechanical open heart surgery (haha see what I did there?). Even if this turns out to be a giant pile of failure in the form of dismantled parts in the Spring, the price I’ve paid will be worth it in personal entertainment value alone. Disclaimer: this project won’t be at the level of our friend Herr Deacon’s work and I don’t claim to be any sort of bike mechanic. But when it comes to motorcycles, I’ve always found people here to be interested and helpful.

I drove it home to the east end from CBS in the evening. It was 6 degrees and blowing a gale. My hands almost froze and it started to rain after it got dark. I was questioning the wisdom of this purchase all the way. But, the bike started easily in the cold and shifted like a brand new machine. It feels light compared to the R80 even though it weighs 400lbs. I sensed some occasional hesitation from the carbs when I held the throttle wide open to unleash all 27 horsepowers from the 40 year old air cooled twin. I suspect (hope?) this is from old gas and the carbs needing a good clean and maybe a sync. The brakes are a bit iffy. Old technology. The rear feels good, operating the front brake requires swearing and praying. I adjusted the play in the front lever and it feels a bit better. Electronic ignition, no points. Once I got it home there were a few more surprises. Under the warm garage lights I found some damage to the headlight trim ring and the front signal light ears. There’s a LOT of crud and dirt and virtually all of the chrome is pitted. The original seat is in excellent condition, no holes or tears and the foam is still comfy. The original owner’s manual is found in a neat closed pocket underneath the seat. The tank has a weird vinyl “bra” and a small ding. The locking helmet holder functions better than the one on my modern GS. I did have a moment of regret and thought about selling today to cut my loss but really I’m in it for hardly any money so on we go.

Check this out… kick start only! Love it.
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My first bike was a 1977 Honda CT70.

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This one will be a different than the BMW R80RT project. I don’t plan to spend money on higher dollar items like a new Corbin seat or progressive fork springs and I don’t need new tires. With items scavenged from the parts bike and a shit ton of shop towels, cleaners and elbow grease, I hope to have a decent fun ride for the Spring. The bulk of the cost will come from paint. I plan to have someone repair the ding and paint the tank and two side covers. Selling pieces of the parts bike I don’t need will fund the project as I don’t want to end up with junk cluttering the garage and I just don’t have a lot of room indoors for the parts bike. The other thing is the handle bars… I can’t stand how they are swept back. I will change them to something a little wider with less sweep. Although over the lunch hour I rotated them upwards and it is significantly better. The fenders might get a trim. I don’t like chrome and there is a lot of it. I hope I can clean it up reasonably. I tested a couple of spots and it looks doable. I have no plans to paint or power coat any of the chrome parts at this time. I’d like to polish the engine case. I will change the oil and inspect the chain and sprockets.

A lot of people make projects out of this model, lots of café racers out there. My plans for this bike would be more “brat” style I guess. This bike below would ultimately be what I would like it to become minus all the nice black parts. I also have the spoked wheels of course instead of the Comstar tubeless alloys. But the parts bike has the alloys and the associated hydraulic front disc brake. I will consider a swap depending on condition. That might be within the realm of my mechanical skills.
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So anyone else got any ambitious winter projects planned? Follow along if you’re interested as work will begin once the dreaded salt gets spread on the roads. Drop by the garage to check progress this winter. I’d love to have a pdf of the service manual if anyone can find it online. Wayne, I may need the paint code for that Honda blue you had laid down on your truck. Tips on cleaning aluminum and pitted chrome are welcome. And if anyone wants to buy my R80 it would sure free up some space. I’ve had two interesting 2 wheel trade offers worthy of consideration.
 

-Cy-

Member
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