My Honda CB400T Hawk

[flammenwurfer]

Finally got my first real motorcycle. A 1980 Honda CB400T Hawk.

It was listed on CL in the cars and trucks section with no picture. I ended up giving $600 for it. It's in very good shape, very clean, no rust, starts right up. Needs the choke to stay running for the first minute or so when cold. Might need some additional carb cleaning/rebuilding. Doesn't quite seem like all the power is there when I rev it up, but I don't really know and have nothing to compare it to as it's my first bike.

Now I just need to get my M on my license so I can get out there and ride it.

Here are a couple pics. Sorry they are not very good as it was dark. I will try to take some good ones tomorrow when it's light out.

[HondaIlya]

if it looks as good in person as it does in the pics you got a good deal, i still say you should have offered $500 for it )

[flammenwurfer]

I actually did offer $500 for it. But he was firm at $600 because he thought he could get at least that much for it from someone else if I didn't want to pay that much. I think he was probably right so I payed the $600.

[HondaIlya]

that bike is worth 600 easy, great find dude. take the MSF course, get your M class endorsement, and keep her rubber side down

[flammenwurfer]

I'm pretty excited about it.

What exactly is the benefit of taking an MSF course as opposed to the written test and skills test at the DMV? I'm not real excited about spending 20 hours of my weekend at an MSF course. Also, I play in a soccer league and our games are on weekends, so I don't know if I will be able to do that, at least until the league is over.

[HondaIlya]

pretty much you spend a bunch of money on having someone teach you how to ride right. As odd as it sounds, it actually does work pretty well. This is my take on the MSF course read it and see if the course is for u. I use to be an anti-MSF course guy till i took it and realized i don't know how to ride right

[flammenwurfer]

Here are some much better pictures in the daylight!

[bobs77vet]

looks good.....take the course, i was trained to be one of their instructors 25 yrs ago and it teaches you things you wouldnt normally learn or practice.....such as jumping over boards in the road......going slow and maintaing a straight line, and try the slow curves around the cones.... i spent my several days in the hospital and its no fun.....take the course learn to ride safely and enjoy, bob

[flammenwurfer]

Originally Posted by bobs77vet

looks good.....take the course, i was trained to be one of their instructors 25 yrs ago and it teaches you things you wouldnt normally learn or practice.....such as jumping over boards in the road......going slow and maintaing a straight line, and try the slow curves around the cones.... i spent my several days in the hospital and its no fun.....take the course learn to ride safely and enjoy, bob

It may be a little while until my schedule will allow me to take a course, but I do plan on taking one. I got my "permit" today and will get my M endorsement by taking the skills test at the DMV so I can start riding. When I have the time I will take an MSF course. The insurance discount should be a good motivator to actually take the course .

[05hog]

Looks like a great bike. I have a 1981 cm400T. Make sure you keep that oil changed and be sure to keep the cam shaft chain tensioner adjusted. It is a 5 min. job that will keep your bike running for many many miles. Have fun!

[HondaIlya]

turn your self in to the sheriff because you stole that. In my area we have a some of CB's for sale, but you could not get something that nice for $600. I mean, it even has chunks of the first maintenance reminder sticker!

[flammenwurfer]

Originally Posted by 05hog

Looks like a great bike. I have a 1981 cm400T. Make sure you keep that oil changed and be sure to keep the cam shaft chain tensioner adjusted. It is a 5 min. job that will keep your bike running for many many miles. Have fun!

Do you have any links explaining how to adjust the cam shaft chain tensioner? I have no idea how to do it.

There is also a little bit of a clacking sound to the engine. Any idea what that could be? Valves need adjusted?

How hard is adjusting the valves on these things?

Maybe I should just start a new thread, haha.

[HondaIlya]

adjusting the valves can be done in 15 min if you done it before.
1. Take the valve cover off(2 10mm bolts on the sides that have the rubber bushing on them)
2. Take the stater cover off(LEFT side if you are sitting on the bike/gear shift side)
3. You will see a wheel with markings "T" and "F" on it under the stater cover.
4. Set that wheel to "F" (easiest to do with spark plugs out) and move the rocker arms and see whitch side is loose, this is the side you are adjusting. The other side should be tight/maybe even with a valve being pushed down.
5. Break loose the nuts holding the tappets(10.mm) and use a flat skrewdriver and a flat feeler gauge to adjust the intake valves to .004(.10mm) and exhaust to .005(.14mm)
6. Tighten the nut back up and check the clearances with a feeler gauge and make sure you still have it right.
7. To do the other side rotate the motor till the other rocker arm frees up and do 4-6 again.

[flammenwurfer]

Thank you for the walk-through HondaIlya. Unfortunately, I don't have or know how to use a feeler gauge. I don't have much experience with working on motorcycles or cars.

Do you think the valves needing an adjustment is the likely culprit of my clacking noise? Or could it be something else?

How much do shops usually charge for a tune-up? I got such a steal on the bike, I'm thinking it might be worth it to have it professionally done. I would still like to learn how, so I can do it in the future though.

[Ckaliban]

Nice bike, Flammenwurfer! You took some really cool pictures! Have fun on it and take the MSF Basic Rider's Course. It was very helpful for learning defensive driving and handling. You can play soccer the next weekend.

[markk53]

Originally Posted by flammenwurfer

Here are some much better pictures in the daylight!

To paraphrase Larry the cable guy, I don't care who you are - that's one sweet bike!

I wanted one of the 450 versions from 82, a bit more punch all the way around. If you ever have to do mechanical work - which you likely won't - consider doing the stock 450 pistons in it. Learn about how to adjust the valves, they're nut/screw adusters that are a breeze to do if you have even medium mechanical skills. The cam chain tensioner is a semi-automatic deal that just requires cracking a nut loose then retightening it while the bike idles.

That bike isn't common and has a classic look like the old orginal Honda superbikes ridden by Freddie Spencer, Mike Baldwin, and Roberto Pietri. Your bike even has a modified cut down seat. The stock one didn't look that good.



I personally love that look. I hope you do too and appreciate just how well that 400 can handle. They are no slug in a corner. If you want to spend some good money on it some time consider cleaning out the fork legs, put in some Progressive Suspension springs, and some fresh fork oil. Some web site for the bike, and I am sure there are ones for it, will tell you what weight would be best. The other would be to buy some aftermarket shocks, any of which will be better than stock. These changes will transform the handling.

Now go ride and learn the skills. The bike is perfect for that and, in my opinion, a keeper when you go to another model. I think you scored big at $600. I wish I'd stumbled on it first. I'd have my daughter on it (not because she's a girl, but because I already have my old school superbike look with the Zephyr).

[flammenwurfer]

Thanks markk53! I do really like the bike! Before I went to look at it I wasn't so sure because he didn't have any pictures in his ad. But when I got there I loved it! I also didn't notice that the seat was different until you mentioned it. I like it though.

The styling of this bike is really nice. If you look at the 60s-70s bikes and the current bikes, then look at this you can really see the evolution. Kind of cool.

I already adjusted the cam chain tension, now I just need to attempt the valves. Sounds like it shouldn't be too hard.

I really like the Zephyrs! I think I might have to keep an eye out for one of those when/if I'm ever ready to move to something bigger.

[markk53]

I really enjoy mine. On the way home from school the other day I redlined three gears and ran it out a bit further in fourth - still being maybe around 70 or so... fun... try that on a hundred horse supersport, you'd be over a hundred. I just find it fun to be able to run the bike hard with far less risk to license and wallet.

I think you're going to find it fun to run the 400, especially if you live in an area with some sweet winding roads where horsepower is less important and momentum and skill are.

Have fun with it... and keep it if you can. I seriously think it will become a classic mid-size ride, like the Honda CB750F, Kaw GPz/KZ, and Suzuki GS models with the tails. Maybe not big money, but more than $600!

[HondaIlya]

mine will nail 60 @ redline in 2nd...but it feels like your going 160 with those gutted trumpets screaming 10-11K

[Thebauda]

Hey there Everyone names Aaron i have a cb400t hawk i had it in the garage for 6 months it was running befor winter and right now its not running was woundering for some advice of what i should do i bot new spark plugs new battery, new fuels for the lights and battery it wants to run but just wont start any advice of what i should do

thank you

[ClassicVW]

Hi Aaron, This is an old thread. You might get a better response if you post your problem in a new thread.

The vintage bikes don't like to be parked anywhere near 6 months. (Shame on you!) Probably needs carb service. I HOPE you aren't trying to use old gas. The gas they force us to use nowadays turns to damaging varnish in only a couple of weeks if you don't add a fuel stabilizer first.

[Thebauda]

hey there classicVW thanks for responding and i took out the gas befor storing it away put new gas in it yesterday got a new battery new spark plugs and im going to take your advice and clean the carb maybe thats the problem i will keep you posted and no bike likes to be stored all i know is it was working befor i had to store her.

[curlyfry959]

yeah i wish i could find some stuff like that around where i live

[JWoodman]

i wish i could find that in LA.

[ZombieLand INA Custom]

Looks like a great bike