SuzukiSavage.com - Honda CB400SS

HAPPYDAN Senior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 270	Honda CB400SS 01/12/17 at 17:57:18 Why can't we get these here? Only sold in Japan! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh3U4-D3zCw
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jcstokes Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com is very useful Posts: 2119 Mauku New Zealand Gender:	Re: Honda CB400SS Reply #1 - 01/12/17 at 23:16:55 Honda USA, may not think there's a market, how are sales of the Yamaha 400 going over there? Would the bike meet US emission standards. Do people want kick starts?
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Re: Honda CB400SS
Reply #2 - 01/13/17 at 04:33:53

That is a nice looking bike, and I would buy one of those before I bought a 250 or 400 Rebel.

What it the finned aluminum tank behind the engine.....is this a dry sump engine?

It is a shame that we have a pretty limited selection for "standard" style motorcycles in the US. Yamaha SR400, Suzuki TU250....Royal Enfield. And nobody really offers a believable Cafe' or Tracker style bike.....there are a few attempts at Scramblers. I am sure that corporate research shows that there won't be enough sales to justify making one - but who at Honda thought that the NM4 would be something that people would buy? I wonder if Honda has sold any?

http://powersports.honda.com/touring/2016/nm4.aspx

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ohiomoto Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2772	Re: Honda CB400SS Reply #3 - 01/13/17 at 04:53:21 Dude needs to take his hand off the throttle when he's trying to start that thing. He's using a 2-stroke technique (cracking the throttle) which doesn't work with well with 4-strokes. This lost some races for motocrossers when they switched to 4-strokes.
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ohiomoto Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2772	Re: Honda CB400SS Reply #4 - 01/13/17 at 04:58:49 Wheelies at the end... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag2H_V5jmnw
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Re: Honda CB400SS
Reply #5 - 01/13/17 at 07:16:26

jcstokes wrote on 01/12/17 at 23:16:55:

Honda USA, may not think there's a market, how are sales of the Yamaha 400 going over there? Would the bike meet US emission standards. Do people want kick starts?

Not good, I don't think. The sales manager of one of the largest dealerships near me told me that they have never ordered one for their showroom, and that they get very few people asking about them.

I think the biggest problem here is not the kick start though, rather it's the price. $5,999 MSRP.

With tax and the other fees that's pretty close to 7 thousand US dollars out the door. That's just too much for what this bike is IMO.

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Gary_in_NJ

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Re: Honda CB400SS
Reply #6 - 01/13/17 at 12:05:01

I happen to like the CB400, but then again I grew up on bikes like that. I don't think people out shopping for a first bike would look twice at the old tech CB (unless it's priced at $2,499). In the US, that bike appeals to the guy that has been away from bikes since he trashed his Dynamite-8 or maybe...just maybe...a hipster looking for a retro ride (which means it will belong to the old guy in about 6 months).

Me, I see cafe racer. But I look at almost every bike with what it could be.

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Re: Honda CB400SS
Reply #7 - 01/13/17 at 12:43:24

oldNslow wrote on 01/13/17 at 07:16:26:

jcstokes wrote on 01/12/17 at 23:16:55:

Honda USA, may not think there's a market, how are sales of the Yamaha 400 going over there? Would the bike meet US emission standards. Do people want kick starts?

Not good, I don't think. The sales manager of one of the largest dealerships near me told me that they have never ordered one for their showroom, and that they get very few people asking about them.

I think the biggest problem here is not the kick start though, rather it's the price. $5,999 MSRP.

With tax and the other fees that's pretty close to 7 thousand US dollars out the door. That's just too much for what this bike is IMO.

At that price, the re-released Honda CB1100 isn't that much of a stretch at $11,000. Huh

Granted, it is a little larger bike, but...... Roll Eyes

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Re: Honda CB400SS
Reply #8 - 01/13/17 at 17:12:10

That price is a bummer,to bad because I think this bike has a lot going for it. Good disk brake ,external cam chain tensioner,shocks with progressive springs. I think the motor has potential as well,1 cyl but 4 valves and duel cams and exhaust ,a bore larger than the stroke ,and last but not least a carb ,that could be swapped for something better. bike weight of 306lbs ,it could make a good base for a scrambler or café, 29hp @7000rpm (but what's the red line?) I think with a little work this bike could easily do the ton. bty . I looked at Honda's home page and I believe I saw where these bikes were allowed to be shipped and sold in the us and Canada,I just think Honda America didn't want to bother after watching Yamaha 's sales of their 400.

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« Last Edit: 01/13/17 at 22:15:22 by batman »

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Re: Honda CB400SS
Reply #9 - 01/14/17 at 02:28:37

In the olden days when I grew up, Honda would make an engine, then provide different models of the bike for those who rode on the street (CL), a scrambler model (CB) for those who might dip a toe off the pavement, and for those who wanted a dual sport bike(SL). The bike shared a lot of common parts to help simplify the parts supply - but they were different enough to appeal to different buyers.

I don't see why companies couldn't continue that practice a bit more. It would be great if the LS650 could be bought in a cruiser, standard and scrambler model - same for the Yamaha SR400, the Honda Rebel and the Kawasaki Vulcan S. Yamaha did a poor job of trying to do this with their Bolt........it just didn't come off very well as there is just too much cruiser seating position in their scrambler and Cafe' models.

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old_rider

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Re: Honda CB400SS
Reply #10 - 01/14/17 at 08:10:50

Well?

Why don't we each email Suzuki, and spread the word then?
Asking for different versions of the S40?
Bobber would be the cheapest
Base model in the middle
Tracker/Scrambler high end (because it performs as the cruiser and off-road as a dual purpose)

There are tons of LS650/S40 fans out there!
Of course the bobber company might dis-own us!

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HAPPYDAN

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Re: Honda CB400SS
Reply #11 - 01/14/17 at 10:49:41

Gary_in_NJ wrote on 01/13/17 at 12:05:01:

I happen to like the CB400, but then again I grew up on bikes like that. I don't think people out shopping for a first bike would look twice at the old tech CB (unless it's priced at $2,499). In the US, that bike appeals to the guy that has been away from bikes since he trashed his Dynamite-8 or maybe...just maybe...a hipster looking for a retro ride (which means it will belong to the old guy in about 6 months).

Me, I see cafe racer. But I look at almost every bike with what it could be.

Honda tried that with the 500 single Ascot. Lasted for 2 years, didn't sell. It was fast, all business and no beauty. I saw one a few years ago at Condotta's in Wenatchee, talked with the owner who loved it.

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jcstokes

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Re: Honda CB400SS
Reply #12 - 01/14/17 at 11:37:29

Dave's comments on the Yamaha Bolt are interesting. I like it's look. I did sit on one once and the air box banged my knee, and there's a stupid digital speedo, I don't care how much more accurate it is. I don't think they're the greatest seller down here. I'm watching a second hand one, but still love the S40, the Bolt would have more grunt for overtaking.

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T And T Garage Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 9839	Re: Honda CB400SS Reply #13 - 01/18/17 at 11:42:36 HAPPYDAN wrote on 01/12/17 at 17:57:18: Why can't we get these here? Only sold in Japan! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh3U4-D3zCw Sweet - that sounds like an A-type Dream.... so nice!
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Ruttly Serious Thumper Offline Thumpers Rule Posts: 5108 Manteca , CA Gender:	Re: Honda CB400SS Reply #14 - 01/18/17 at 12:50:15 I would hang some flat track bars on that and ride the crap out of it !!!
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