Too old for me and no Honda's in my collection, but if still in restored condition needing a dust down and polish, just for a barometer I would pay £3000
Why not keep it registered in your mother's name and let the relative keep and use it. It then stays in the family, relative can't flog it to exige for £3k and if you ever do want it back it's still available.
Heh.... We'll as I said here's some photos... Uncovered it today.... 1 6yard skip filled... Approx 10 trips to the tip as well.... My old man was a horder.... And then some... 6.7k in miles... I stand corrected... It has a motad exhaust on there but he does have the original...
You lucky man. In terms of numbers of bikes, the 400/4 is probably the scarcest of the Honda inline 4s. They were only produced for 3 years (75-77). That engine should have a lot of life in it. I love my HyperSP but can't part with my 400/4. There is an owner's/restorer's forum in the UK and US that is a good source of info (SOHC/4). Someone on those forums may want a crack at it if you have to sell it.
They were the essential bike at the uni bike club. So to be different I got a 400N. Fool. I did ride a fair few friends' 400/Fours. First bike I ever fell off.
Im quite sure we wont keep it. I did find a bit more history on it....my dad was the third owner. The first owner was my step sisters and brothers father. Then his friend owned it (this I thought was the first owner) then my dad after that. I think he restored as a more of a "ill see if I can" type project as when he started the restoration he didn't have a bike licence. He was talking of selling it while he was alive so I don't think it held that much sentimental value. If anything the MG did more, but he always wished he kept the MGB he had before that which he sold to his mate... As I say I do have the original pipe - he did tell me he did have it rechromed as I said but I found it yesterday up in the loft space - the bottom of the tail section was a little rusted so IMO I would say it needs doing again to get it back to original condition. I think the bike I found for sale with the lowest mileage had something like 40k on it... Couple more photos....
Hi Mr Comfy, PM sent/conversation thingy started (I hope :smile. I assume like all soft furnishers you have a sale on that must end Monday
Thanks for all the "likes" While its not my cup of tea I can appreciate why there are liked a lot....plus it also shows everyone approves of my old man's restoring abilities - its the first and last bike he ever did or owned for that matter. He did say to me one day when I went over on the hyper....."if I get through this illness and treatment son, can I have a go on this?" while sitting on the hyper....he never got to have a go on it but I really wish that he did, would have been nice to see his face after.
Sorry to hear about your dad - been in a similar situ with a 1969 350 desmo Regarding the 400 four - speak to David silver (From david silver spares) he is a keen 400 four fan and will have someone keen to take over the reigns if thats the path you wish to tread.
JESUS MAN.....KEEP IT!!!!!!!!!!!! At least for a year or two anyway. Just make the space! You are going to feel shite if you say to yourself in a few years time, 'I wish I'd kept my dads old bike' Yes it may not be practical, or a pita to store, but fuck man, these are the things life is made of. You cant get rid of it because its inconvenient. Its not going to loose money unless you leave it outside under a tarp Oh and kept the MG as well. Very tasty.
That is indeed a beautiful example, and a credit to your Dad. It was strange how Honda managed to produce that gem (in decent colours at the time, either red or dark blue) at the same time as the CB550F (odd colour scheme, huge ugly silencer), the CB750F1 (same criticism as CB550) and the CB500 (strange reworking of the old CB450 twin), which looked a bit more "classic" but was generally reviled. It really needs the original pipes to complete the look though - Honda did a superb job there, and the Motad just doesn't look right. Honda CB400/4 road test One thing to consider if you are looking at valuation is that you should perhaps check with whoever is executing your late father's Will (if it's not you) as to whether they need to have a documented value for probate/HMRC purposes.
Firstly, very sorry about your dad, I have lost both my parents recently and know first hand how painful it is and how difficult it is to decide which of their things to keep and which should go. I used to have a 400f2, nice bike at the time and I must say your dads is a nice example, you will have no trouble selling it at premium prices due to its low milage. Must conclude with my decision, and that was to sell virtually everything because it was too painful to keep. No regrets at all, my mum and dad are with me in my head and can see them smiling even now. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Have seen this one at my local dealer and it is very genuine, they have had it while so maybe too dear or just not had the right customer come up 1979 HONDA CB400-4 408cc £3995 for sale in Northants, Northamptonshire#
Thanks - ive got some stuff of his - ive got a 40 year old Tissot diving watch that he let me have years ago plus some other stuff. As I said - he wasn't too attached to the bike as he talked about getting rid of it. As matt has said - it'd be nice to keep but its a case of storage - my step mum want's her garage back! and to be honest I totally agree with her. My old man used to hoard everything....as of Saturday morning I could open up on of the garage door's and just about stand inside the garage - it was full to the roof of stuff! There was a storage room above and an office above which were full to the eve's of the roof with stuff. The MG he did like but there's just no where to keep it. I would like to get the garage back to a state where if I need to go over to do any work (of any kind) then theres a range of tools there for me to do that. One of the strangest things about all of this: This is going off a little on a tangent but for starters im about as religious as the mug of tea im drinking out of right now. My wife is religious - I have a running joke with the vicar about my foot catching fire as I step into the church.! 4 months or so back the night before the funeral I drempt about him - I wont say what the dream was about but the one main thing I noticed was that he was wearing a red baseball cap. I told my wife the next morning. That was a sunday night. On the following Friday me and my brothers were at his house, we were there to meet the trustee of the will. I was chatting with my step mum and asked the question.... "Did dad ever have a red baseball cap, cos I never saw him wearing one ever..." "Yes, it was in his coffin, we bought a red and a green one 30 odd years ago when we were on holiday in france. Your father's was the green one but he always wore the red one which was mine while he was in the garden working..." My wife told the vicar....he was impressed with me!
I have been scouring the net for examples....the minimum mileage Ive found is just over 40k so that puts mine at 6.3k in a pretty good position...
