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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> Honda 400 /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1450755256 Message started by cheapnewb24 on 12/21/15 at 19:34:16 |
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Title: Honda 400 Post by cheapnewb24 on 12/21/15 at 19:34:16 Found an old Honda 400 down the road from where I live for $300. It's weathered, and it doesn't run due to a kill switch issue. The owner basically explained to me that he had stuffed too much grease into the switch box trying to grease the throttle and messed up the kill switch, and no one has driven it since. The owner said he rebuilt the engine and a few other things, and it has been sitting a couple years. I I'm not sure exactly what model it is. NADA lists it as worth $605 in fair condition. It's another bike to ride and something to learn to work on. Does anyone think I'm creating a money pit, or is $300 safe for a poor boy to spend on an old weathered bike that doesn't run? |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by oldNslow on 12/21/15 at 19:46:06 Quote:
This is the same guy that "rebuilt" the engine ? $300 might not necessarily be too much for a bike that doesn't run , but I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that it's probably too much to spend on that particular one. |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by Serowbot on 12/21/15 at 21:14:41 Add tires, tubes, battery, and probably seat recover,... and you are over $600 on a bike you haven't made run yet... with stale gas, plugged carbs, and possible rust in the tank... Then,... you have to rely on the quality of the rebuild, and whatever else is wrong... Free is too expensive... ;D |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by cheapnewb24 on 12/21/15 at 22:59:45 Ehhh... Still cheaper than my Savage ::) |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by cheapnewb24 on 12/21/15 at 23:41:48 Put a grand on the Savage, not including taxes, tire, and miscellaneous parts, such as grips, pegs, and signals. If I actually got the thing roadworthy with new tires for $600, it would probably be worth it. You're saying it's not worth the gamble, that the chances are not in my favor? To some degree, I'm actually looking for a cheap fixer-upper I doubt that any bike I get hold of will be a "restoration", but something I can get mechanically good and mess around with, like an ugly rat scrambler or something, or sell for cheap. Why do I say this? Because I don't feel confident as a "restorer." One can spend a lot of money making a something look good and ruin it in a split second. Why should I pay a fortune for the best of parts, basically replacing everything on it, when I could simply embrace it's raw ugliness with open arms ;D. Ugly is cheap, produces no burden, and rarely gets in the way of function. Well... that is until people make fun of you, making you feel ashamed enough to hire a shrink. THEN, After having a bad day seeing your shrink and being made fun of--all because of your butt ugly bike-- something rotten breaks off and causing you to wreck at 80 mph, leaving you with a mortgage and a full body cast ;D I reckon that if somebody doesn't get hold of that thing soon, there won't be much left of it. It's an old man that has it. He has a few other bikes, including an old Triumph he says he's restoring. For some reason, he's just left it in his yard to rot :(. Wouldn't be good to let a bike die without a fight :(. He told me, I think, that there was someone who was willing to give that price but procrastinated due to being laid off from his job. The words he used suggested that his initial price was greater than $300. Shortly after I looked at the bike, weeks before I spoke with him, I thought of $300. But, Dad advises me to try for a little lower price ;) |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by WD on 12/22/15 at 00:43:17 The 400 is tricky. 400/4 done right is worth a fortune. CB/CM like the Hawk series is worth 5 cents per hundred weight at the melt yard, IF the price of scrap is high. If you are looking at a CB/CM twin, as a serious potential project... Go check into the state hospital, now. Bad electrical system, bad carbs, weak timing chain, failure prone rim rivets (Comstars), bad transmission dogs and shift forks... I have torn down several dozen 400 twins. And smaller Hawk/Twinstar Hondas. They are junk. |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by Rodger on 12/22/15 at 06:51:42 I bought a new CM450C in 1982 and rode 30,000 trouble-free miles on it, other than 1 chain replacement and 2 sets of tires. Sold it to a friend before I bought my first BMW. However, I do agree that a non-running "rat bike" 400 twin is virtually worthless. A 400 4-cylinder (the successor to the CB350-4) might be a decent project, but we're still talking a 40-yr-old bike and the scavenger hunt for parts. Are you willing to commit to a possibly long-term project? Have room for it in "coffin corner" of your garage? Check the gas tank VERY carefully. At that age and level of decrepitude you describe, the only thing holding gas in the tank might be the paint. |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by engineer on 12/22/15 at 07:57:14 Three hundred bucks doesn't buy much these days and it might be worth the $300 to just have something to tinker with. I bought $200 dollars of groceries today and it wasn't a big chore to unload the car. I consider getting something to run after many years to be fun and fun is worth some money. Maybe offer him $150 and show him the cash at the same time. I bought an old Honda that didn't run for $250 and the guy delivered it. All it needed was the tank cleaned, the carbs cleaned and the ignition switch circuit repaired. Then I did a foolish thing, I bought new tires, mirrors and all that sort of thing and now I have at least $600 in it. The later 450 would also be my choice in those mid-sized Hondas. And get a title just in case you want to sell it. (And buy another junk project for some more fun) Good luck and let us know what happens. |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by cheapnewb24 on 12/22/15 at 09:35:31 7B682C0 wrote:
It's a 400 twin :-/ To think of it, I already parts sources found for converting it to a kicker :-/ |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by cheapnewb24 on 12/22/15 at 09:53:59 Well, I'll think about it. :-/ |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by Serowbot on 12/22/15 at 09:55:09 42494440514F4456431315210 wrote:
I realize now,... that you didn't really want an answer... You just wanted us to yell "Jump!"... "JUMP!!!!".... ;D ;D ;D |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by Dave on 12/22/15 at 11:30:07 Buying a motorcycle that doesn't run and has an engine that was previously "rebuilt" is never a good thing. You have no idea if the person did the job correctly..............especially if the bike is not running. You would be better off to get your Savage running again, put some miles on it, then sell the Savage and buy a different "running" bike if you find the Savage doesn't do what you want to do. With your limited mechanical ability and limited funds, the last thing you need is a 2nd non-running motorcycle project in the garage. |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by cheapnewb24 on 12/22/15 at 12:56:24 Uhhhh.... Ahem... :-? I rode the Savage to look at the darned thing! ;D Anyway, the throttle, kill switch, and brakes are more or less stuck or don't work, the seat cover is rotted off, the tires are rotten, the saddlebags are rotten, and the thing hasn't been tagged since '09 :P That doesn't count the ugly paint job on the tank :P. He (kindly) let me know that he'd let the thing rot in his yard before he'd drop below $300. He's still holding out on that other fellow buying it. A shame! If He'd just sell it cheap, say $100-200, or better yet give it away, :o someone would have the chance to salvage this thing before there's nothing left :( It's a shame to let old bikes die like that :(. But then, we have our share of things rotting down in the yard, especially the old VW Rabbit Convertible, but that's another story :(. That doesn't count the MGB-GT's I let go. On occasion, a wave of regret hits me :'( . Well, maybe not quite crying...usually...I don't know ::)... but it gets pretty sad sometimes. :-/ |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by cheapnewb24 on 12/22/15 at 13:07:26 How about a Ninja 250 for $280. It supposedly runs...kinda ::) :D Might make a good project... give me some mechanical experience on a popular modern bike? I was thinking of a cheap ugly rat scrambler? Rip the fairings off (what's not already broken), put dirt tires on it... maybe some other tweaks like shocks or something and call it a poor man's dual sport? Or am I talkin' crazy? ;D Besides, them ninjas sell like hot cakes, probably even 250s, and they bring a good price. Hey, if it's in too bad a shape, I could part it out. I wouldn't think it's nearly as rotten as that other bike :P I gather that some people have scramblerized ninjas, and they look pretty darn good :o. Besides, I've never ridden a crotch rocket before 8-)... assuming it even has sport seating ::). Some of them are standards, I think. |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by cheapnewb24 on 12/22/15 at 13:11:04 Besides! If I rip the fairings off and other stuff so that it doesn't look like a Ninja, maybe then no one will steal it ;D It's not a Ninja.... It's a Watchamamamacalllittt! ;D ;D |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by cheapnewb24 on 12/22/15 at 19:17:49 Any opinions? |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by Art Webb on 12/23/15 at 06:48:25 Nobody will steal a Ninja 250 / 500 anyway, they're one of motorcycling's best kept secrets And you're right that the EX series is more a 'sport standard' than a true crotch rocket They're very good bikes, when in good shape, the only thing I dislike about them is the way the handlebars are mounted, makes it hard to change to a more upright seating position if you want to for $280 I'd likely get it if it runs half decent (I've had 2 Ninja 5s, and would happily buy another, especially if I could get the last one back) |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by gizzo on 12/23/15 at 12:47:54 777C7175647A7163762620140 wrote:
Sure. Here goes: I f...ing hate ninjas. I can't stand the foul noise they make, and it only gets worse when put loud pipes on them. Every second dickweed witha learners or provisional licence gets one and thinks they are road gods, even though they don't realise they can't ride for s..t. I had a go on a ninja 300 and it was a lovely motorcycle but for that Noise. Handled like a dream and goes pretty well. IMNSHO, ymmv, no offense to ninja lovers etc. |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by cheapnewb24 on 12/23/15 at 14:13:38 Turns out that the owner (or his father, in this case) never got around to titling the thing, so I'll have to wait till after Christmas so his father can title it. I'm not about to risk legal exposure over this. I ain't buyin' it without the title in the name of the man who's selling it to me. ;) Not sure exactly how that works, though. I would assume that one needs to title something (and pay associated taxes) before reselling it? At the least, it gives the documentation to cover me in case something goes wrong. To beat all, the boy lost the key to the thing. :P Now ain't that shady! :P In the ad, he said he had "clean title and registration." Hmmm... :-? It's a title, at least :P. I'll give him a chance, anyway ;) Gotta be careful. There's a lot of scams and stolen goods out there on Craigslist. Buying cheap comes with risks. |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by cheapnewb24 on 12/23/15 at 15:54:45 More opinions are welcome. |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by Serowbot on 12/23/15 at 16:03:46 28232E2A3B252E3C29797F4B0 wrote:
That Kardashian girl's butt, is way too big.... :-? |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by Rodger on 12/23/15 at 16:06:18 After a similar experience, buying a bike from "2nd owner," who never titled or registered it, I will NEVER EVER buy one without clear title in the seller's name...period. It took me 4 months and a "shadey" notary public to get that mess sorted out. The Ninja owner has already misrepresented the bike to you. I'd say either pass on it or check the seller's I.D. against the title and whether or not it has any lein on it. On 2nd thought....just pass....my "2˘ worth." |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by cheapnewb24 on 12/23/15 at 17:03:40 One time I ran into a Craigslist scam. It was a cheap Goldwing trike. The "owner" or something ::) gave my Mom some crazy complicated story which included the bike being in a storage facility in some other state and the shipping being paid for, or some big bunch of crazy stuff like that. I went to checking it out, and it turns out that the bike was actually on EBay for way more money. That scammer just pulled the pics off EBay. Now ain't that something! |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by old_rider on 12/25/15 at 07:04:00 Um, I have a ninja 300, with the original exhaust... and it is quiet... not noisy, so if you buy one, put it back to OEM specs. My only gripe with it was too short of gearing, I put a bigger tooth sprocket on front, haven't messed with the back. I've ridden from florida to Illinois on it, from florida to north Carolina..... Anywho..... if that ninja sounded awful.... it didn't have original pipes on it. |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by Art Webb on 12/25/15 at 08:58:48 I concur with OR, my first Ninja 500 was annoying at freeway speeds, but it was OLD, and the baffles were likely half rotted the 07 I had was nice and quiet, at 70-100 it hummed along beautifully Only reason I don't still have it is long rides on it made my hips hurt due to riding posture (I have short arms and a long torso, so I am leaned forward more than most folks on these machines, and I have very tight hips) The Ninja 250, 500, 650, 250, and 300 are all great bikes One possible point of confusion ; Kawasaki has TWO Ninja lines the true sport bikes are ZX600, 1000, 1400, etc the 250, 300, 500 (now defunct) and 650 are EX models, and more sporty commuter bikes that true sportbikes ZX models are all inline 4s, EX models are parallel twins just so we're all on the same page RE Ninjas |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by Art Webb on 12/25/15 at 09:00:24 1204130E16030E15610 wrote:
That Kardashian girl's butt, is way too big.... :-?[/quote] I also concur with this |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by cheapnewb24 on 12/31/15 at 12:28:34 Well, it turns out that, after procrastinating through the holidays-- and longer-- in order to give them the chance to get the title straightened out and give me a chance to deal with the one who legally owned the bike (his Dad), I gave him one more phone call to keep in touch. Lo, and behold... the guy's Dad supposedly went to the DMV, and they wouldn't give him a title. Supposedly, he would have to file for a lost title. Now this boy is talking about getting a company to part out the bike, and dropped the price to $100. He said he bought it from Craigslist. I talked to my folks about it, and it seems to me that these 3 possibilities exist: 1. He stole it, knows it's stolen, doesn't trust the origin of the bike, or otherwise doesn't feel safe with it. 2. He's lazy and would rather take a loss and be done with it than bother with parting it out himself. 3. Any combination of the above. "He" can also include his Dad. I kinda wonder just how honest the boy is being with me. :-? I am pretty confident I'll just pass this one up. ;) And that's how you deal with shady deals-- You make your terms based on legal and common sense, and you stick to your guns. ;) If it's a good, honest deal, it will work... if not, it won't. If they are offended, that is unfortunate. It's a litmus test, I guess. The worst possibility is when you find out something bad, and the bad guy feels like he has to kill you to keep you quiet. :( Maybe Dad was right to insist on going with me to meet this bunch (Convieniently, I never had to). Times like that a fellow could use having a CCW. Gives sticking to your guns a whole new meaning. ;) |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by gizzo on 12/31/15 at 13:24:03 7F7C746279747562100 wrote:
I don't mind if you like the noise, Old Rider. It's just me that can't stand it. something about it makes me feel like fingernails on a blackboard. Obviously a lot of people feel different, given that every ninja has a loud slip on. I think the stock exhaust also sounds horrible, just quieter. Of course I'm just funning ya, and if a friend had a Ninja I'd still ride with them. They'd be behind me anyway!!!! :D Also, I don't mind that Kardashian's butt. Yeah It's big, but I bet it doesn't sound like a Ninja and it is probably just as much fun. |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by Art Webb on 01/01/16 at 08:38:01 22313734262121430 wrote:
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by gizzo on 01/01/16 at 14:05:31 I mean the 300cc parallel twin Ninja. Don't know about ex v zx, im not that into them that i've noticed different versions. Funny how a British 360 deg twin can sound so good while the ninja has a completely different sound. |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by old_rider on 01/01/16 at 20:50:27 Ask the fella's that were at the last spring dragon meet at the blue ridge.... they will tell you how quiet my ninja was..... ain't no "whine" to it, or bee buzzing ect.... |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by Art Webb on 01/02/16 at 08:35:40 250 300 500 650 all EX 600 636 1000 and I think 1400 ZX (I'm not sure if there's a 700 or not) it is odd, I found the 500 annoying with bad pipes, acceptable with good ones and British twins sound sweet haven't actually ridden a 300 |
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Title: Re: Honda 400 Post by Art Webb on 01/02/16 at 08:39:20 3C3F37213A373621530 wrote:
yes there is lol, not a buzz but a whine, or maybe hum is a better word just not loud All EXs sound like that, over 4k rpm. Hell the Savage hums at 4k rpm, stock but EXs are quiet at speed, it's an almost unnoticeable sound at speed |
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