Honda CB400F2 Four with aftermarket exhaust and rear shock absorbers
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Manufacturer | Honda |
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Also called | 400 Four |
Production | 1975–1977 |
Predecessor | CB350F |
Successor | CB400T |
Class | Standard |
Engine | 408 cc (24.9 cu in) inline-4 sohc |
Bore / stroke | 51 mm (2.0 in) x 50 mm (2.0 in) |
Compression ratio | 9.4:1 |
Top speed | 103.8 mph (167.0 km/h) |
Power | 37 bhp (28 kW) @ 8,500 rpm |
Torque | 24 lb·ft (33 N·m) @ 7,500 rpm |
Ignition type | Inductive discharge ignition; electric and kick start |
Transmission | 6-speed manual |
Frame type | Tubular single downtube cradle |
Suspension | Front: telescopic forks Rear: swingarm with two spring/shock units |
Brakes | front hydraulic disc; rear expanding drum |
Tyres | 3.00 x 18 front; 3.50 x 18 rear |
Rake, trail | 26.5° 85 mm (3.35 in) |
Weight | 178 kg (392 lb) (with 1 imp gal (4.5 l; 1.2 US gal) of fuel) (wet) |
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. 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 over head camshaft. Fuelling was provided by four 20 mm Keihin carburettors. The CB400F is commonly known as the Honda 400 Four.
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.
For the most part, the CB400F was simply an upgraded version of the 350 model from the previous year. 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. 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. 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. It also gained one its most recognisable attributes, a swooping four-into-one exhaust system.