Honda CM400T

Greetings! I bought this bike in the summer of 2007 but didn't ride it much that summer. Last summer I used it as my daily transportation and managed to rack up about 14,000 miles. It has 26,118 now. Much of this was from Mankato to the family farm along with a few trips to the twin cities and to the lake house near Alexandria; it's surpisingly good on the highway even with a duffle bag on the rack. I bought it to save fuel costs during my last 2 years of graduate school. Extremely reliable. this is the list of things I've had done to the bike:
- new head gasket
- carbs cleaned and snycronized
- new fork seals and oil
- 400 miles on new rear Dunlop ( I notched the chain gaurd to fit a 1 size wider rear tire - it looks good, lasts longer )
- 400 miles on new sprockets and o-ring chain
- New, 20% stronger, clutch springs. The clutch slipped a little this Spring and I thought it might be the clutch, turns out the original clutch measures hardly any wear at all and it was sagging clutch springs.
- front Dunlop has plenty of tread to last this summer.
- new rear wheel bearings
- new bars and grips and mirror - I got rid of the semi-sissy bars it came with for some with a normal bend. MUCH nicer riding now, the bar-end mirror doesn't vibrate very much at all and offers a MUCH better view of what's behind you.

This is a very nice bike that will top out with a BIG guy on it at about 80-82mph on a fairly still day. Low 50's mpg. It's a VERY simple machine to work on. Oil changed with Honda 20-50 motorcycle oil every 800-1000 miles; does not burn enough to require adding between changes. Balancer chain adjusted. Valve lash checked every 2 oil changes, but rarely needs adjustment. It's an extremely reliable design.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Honda
• CM400T
• CM400
• CM
• 400
• motorcycle

[vraydio]

This is the first bike I ever owned back in the early 80's. Great beginner bike. The need more bikes like this today.  Kids are starting off with too much horsepower.

[captainpegs07]

@vraydio agreed

[DakotaRTinTX]

I know this is an old video by now but I just want to thank you for posting it. I traded a 1968 Chevelle for one with only 300 miles and a $1,000. I hated to get rid of my Chevelle but I only paid $300 for it. One grand and a new CM400T was too much for me to pass up. This all took place 31 years ago. I loved that bike. I ride a much bigger Heritage Softail these days.

[captainpegs07]

@DakotaRTinTX Glad you liked it! I've owned a couple bigger bikes but there's something fun about the smaller ones. They turn and brake better and are just so easy to maintain. I really liked my purple cafe CB740F but this 400 was a handier machine in many ways.

Keep your wheels down

[captainpegs07]

@captainpegs07 typo: '76 cb750f

[tom4342]

yep you could have,i bought one in 1982 an 80 model for 1200 had 200 miles on it rode it for 10 or 15 years then gave it to a neighbor,i could kick myself now would love to get my hands on another one.

[captainpegs07]

@tom4342 Yeah, the absolute simplicity of them does have their appeal. Stone realiable and cheap!

[kranzykat]

it has been absolutelty awesome!! havent had even a minor problem with it, you took great care of it. 

[derrickandlynette]

79 CM400T is my first bike, I love it! I did not want tooo much horse power for the first bike! It is A GR8 first bike!

[KeithEaston666]

Nice bike!! I just bought a 79 cm400t with only 6400kms (3600 miles) and I love it!!! It's been a perfect first bike!!!

[captainpegs07]

@kranzykat Nick! Hows the CM400T treating you?