1978 Honda CB400T - Hawk - Cafe Racer built from JUNK

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Here is a link to an on-board video
   • Onboard Video - 1978 Honda CB400T Hawk  

This is the first bike and motor, that I have rebuilt. I bought it from a bunch of bogans/red necks from the bush. It came with a 250cc motor installed but not running, and the original 400cc motor was supplied in bits.
When I looked inside the case of the 400 motor, it had bits of metal, broken conrod, and above all, A BUTTER KNIFE!! yes, why the knife was there, I do not know...
Anyhow, I stripped the bike, had the frame parts powder coated, rebuilt and polished the forks. Tidied up the wiring and fitted a small electronic speedo/tacho.. the front caliper was from a Ducati Sport1000 and the exhaust is from Motad.
It took a couple of goes to rebuild the motor... turns out the 400 has spun a bearing.. I needed a replacement crank, replacement pistons, rods, and cylinders.. you will see why when you watch the video.
The engine went together really well and had good compression.. the kickstarter worked, right up till the point that it didn't!
It cracked the mounting boss inside the case, so I had to strip the motor and found someone to do a repair to the mounting boss.
I hardly used the kick starter for fear of breaking it again! But it starts on the button, within a single rotation... New clutch, sprockets, chain, tyres, rebuilt rear caliper etc.. everything was new.
The bike was since sold and went with all the service manuals and even the original service book from the first owner, that was hidden under the seat!!

Such a fun project and I learned HEAPS!!
Dont forget to watch my on board video riding the bike after it was completed!
   • Onboard Video - 1978 Honda CB400T Hawk  

0:00 intro
5:27 video with me yammering on
5:57 engine start