GB400TT

[Bonez]

What would be the approx price for one in average condition with 52,000kms on the clock. Just saw one today up for sale on my travels and I'm thinking seriously about adding it to the stable. Will mainly be used for commuting. Hopefully I'll be able to take the thing for a test ride tomorrow all going well. It's road legal with current rego and wof. Haven't told the wife yet ;).

[bear]

I know phantom bought one recently, check with him.

[phantom]

paid $1800 for mine , roughly same mileage . Mine's a bit rough around the edges but in reasonable condition. There's one on Trade Me with a starting bid of $1500 but its been on for months and never sold ( its a horrible powder blue colour ) . Someone in Palmerston was selling one for $3000 but it was close to showroom condition

[Bonez]

Thanks for the feedback Phantom. Went for a ride on today. It's an '88 model. Runs sweet as a nut. Will be delivered to my house for the princely sum of $1400, the asking price was $1500. Comes with pack frame and some other goodies and has a solo seat-no pillions allowed :niceone: I'm 6ft and found that it "fitted" me quite well :ride:. Would be interested in hearing of others GB exploits.

[Bonez]

Found this an interesting read after I had it translated-http://www.amy.hi-ho.ne.jp/tachi/english/gb400/tune_eng.html

[Bonez]

Pick of my new toy.

[Eurodave]

Found this an interesting read after I had it translated-http://www.amy.hi-ho.ne.jp/tachi/english/gb400/tune_eng.html

For god's sake dont put a bloody bean can muffler or any carbon fibre on it ,totally out of place on a 60's cafe race replica, try a Taiwanese Dunstall copy or some other megaphone style muffler

[Bonez]

For god's sake dont put a bloody bean can muffler or any carbon fibre on it ,totally out of place on a 60's cafe race replica, try a Taiwanese Dunstall copy or some other megaphone style muffler
You mean like this one on the CB550FA? WFO item no. 448-0011 [27-1/2" Dunstall Style Muffler] for those interested. First on the list of improvements is to replace the standard teflon swing arm bushes with bronze items. Fork oil, break fluid, engine oil/filter to be done over the next month or so. Will also spend a bit of time polishing up all the ali bits in peices as it has the standard corrosion under the clear laquer needs attention. Thought the shocks would be in a lot worse nick than they are. Tyres will need replacing before the next warrent in August. Will also start a servicing log on this one. Will be another long termer. Hopefully I'll to get 130,000km plus out of it without doing any engine work.

[Eurodave]

Yeh, that'll do. Those taiwanese mufflers arnt high quality or very durable chrome, but they are relativley cheap to replace when ya guts off & widely available. The usual case of 'you get what you pay for'. Another way would be to get someone like Custom Chambers to make a nice , quality well chromed & finished megaphone... at rather more cost

[gav]

Isnt bossman Spankme building up a GB500 or something?

[Bonez]

Yeh, that'll do. Those taiwanese mufflers arnt high quality or very durable chrome, but they are relativley cheap to replace when ya guts off & widely available. The usual case of 'you get what you pay for'. Another way would be to get someone like Custom Chambers to make a nice , quality well chromed & finished megaphone... at rather more costThanks for the suggestion. I prep the insides of mine with an inhibiter. And they last quite well indeed if looked after, like anything. The pair on my mates Ducati 500 and the one on the CB have been on a few years now with no rusting. Not bad for around $100.

[Eurodave]

Oh,by the way, if youre interested in a GB500 fairing, I do fibreglass replicas & can also supply the windscreen bubble.PM me if your interested, Dave

[phantom]

looks like you got a good deal bonez, have been thinking about replacing the scratched and slightly dented muffler on mine and was just waiting for someone to do the spade work and tell me what to do ( I'm married - I'm used to it ) Would love a Custom Chambers megaphone but suspect the dollars would frighten me and while I'm about spending "make believe money" a GB fairing would be a bit of alright Dave

[Bonez]

looks like you got a good deal bonez, have been thinking about replacing the scratched and slightly dented muffler on mine and was just waiting for someone to do the spade work and tell me what to do It has been dropped with two small dents in the front lhs of the tank, no biggy. When I do decide to replace the muffler-scratched etc- I'l l just use the front end of the muffler that mounts on to the collector box and design a suitable adapter to suit a universal muffler. Then get a engineering shop make it up. Just like I did on the 550. Thanks for the offer on the fairing Dave. May take you up on the offer in a few months or so. I've read the original fairing can bash the knees/legs of us longer legged ridders. I guess a couple of inches can be removed of the bottem edge should sort that out. I can see more than one of these things making its way into the garage-bugger! Not a performance motorcycle by any stretch of the imagination. Hey phantom you don't happen to have a worksop manual at all? Oh and has anyone got a spare servicable NX650 engine just gathering dust in the corner of a workshop/garage ;).

[phantom]

you're not thinking of dropping a 650 motor into the GB are you :niceone: My one needs a repaint - a few scratches and the like - the nextdoor neighbours a spray painter so I may be able to organise a perky and being very limited in the inside leg measurement knocking my knees on a fairing is very unklikely. I do in fact have a service manual for a GB500 that someone fairly high up in this here organisation ( no names sp**nk me ) posted on another web site. Its half a dozen pdfs ( reasonably big ) so if you flip me a pm with your address I could burn it to cd and post it to you

Cheers

[Bonez]

you're not thinking of dropping a 650 motor into the GB are you :niceone: My one needs a repaint - a few scratches and the like - the nextdoor neighbours a spray painter so I may be able to organise a perky and being very limited in the inside leg measurement knocking my knees on a fairing is very unklikely. I do in fact have a service manual for a GB500 that someone fairly high up in this here organisation ( no names sp**nk me ) posted on another web site. Its half a dozen pdfs ( reasonably big ) so if you flip me a pm with your address I could burn it to cd and post it to you

CheersI live in Palmerston North too so no postage needed. Am PMing my phone number as I post this ;).

[Bonez]

Took the thing on a longer ride today. Rounded of the tyres a bit. Very easy to ride. It certainly handles and brakes better than the R65 I use to own. All in all I'm very happy with it. The GasAxe is looking a bit neglected. Hope it doesn't decide to pick on the lil 400 when I'm not looking. :no:

[Bonez]

Interesting how things fall into place. Popped over to Levin today to see the the new grandkid-doing well btw. The stepson had trashed his 955i in the Manuwatu Gorge and broken a collar bone in the process. :doctor: His HD was loosing oil over over the garage floor :puke: -only thought ol brits did that :devil2: I almost fell over when he mentioned he may get a japper. :thud: Well, on the way back popped in the see a guy I get m/c bits'n peices off and he had a new replacement 525 O'ring chain for the GB that's been sitting around unused in it's box for years. :niceone: Also just won an auction for new brake pads for the 550 on Trademe at a third the retail cost.

[Bonez]

Progress report-just started to remove corrosion from the crankcase covers. Stainless steel wool and Ataway to attack the worst of it. Will finish with Solvo Autosol and car wax. Quite an economical bike with 320kms from around 14 ltr main at 110-120kph with around 3ltrs in reserve. Compared to 240kms from the 550 it is great with fuel going up and all. Will order a 14 tooth front sprocket and 36 tooth rear sprocket for around $80 total. This will reduce the revs quite substantually for normal riding. I'll pick up the new o'ring chain next week


Edit-it turns out font sprocket is different on the 500 and is not interchangable.

[Bonez]

Got the chain, ordered new sprockets and purchased oil/filter. Pete Sales's legs
are a lot better now. Have just been told of a low millage example for 2gs. So may have a look at that next week, maybe take some pics even. Apparently it's the standard silver which doesn't float my boat, but hey it's relatively cheap motorcycling. Just keeping an eye out for a nice sticky 90/90 x 18 front tyre at the right price for mine. Also found out that the reg/rect on the cb250t i've just wrecked fits straight into the GBs loom. Yes folks you can have fun on an under powered underated road bike. :love: Oh and thanks Phantom (via spankme) for 500 workshop manual.

[Bonez]

Sprockets puchased from Manawatu M/Cs- a one man band effort with excellent service. Was asked if I wanted to sell the GB yesterday by a gent at my new job. But turned him down at this stage, too much fun. A good indication I will not have a problem flicking it off if needed :Punk: Will pop into Phil Turnbels today and sort out tyres. I have found them very helpfull in the past 15 or so years dealing with them. :yes: Picked up a pair of new points for the CB550 also last week reeel cheap from Tony up at Cycletune. Second item I've gotten off him via Trademe. :clap:

[Hooks]

get a quote from Gary Worsely in Feilding for tyres ... I just got a new rear from them for my old bitch and it only cost $175 fitted ... and it's a Pirrelli !! They do great deals on tyres !!

[Pixie]

Progress report-just started to remove corrosion from the crankcase covers. Stainless steel wool and Ataway to attack the worst of it. Will finish with Solvo Autosol and car wax. Quite an economical bike with 320kms from around 14 ltr main at 110-120kph with around 3ltrs in reserve. Compared to 240kms from the 550 it is great with fuel going up and all. Will order a 14 tooth front sprocket and 36 tooth rear sprocket for around $80 total. This will reduce the revs quite substantually for normal riding. I'll pick up the new o'ring chain next week


Edit-it turns out font sprocket is different on the 500 and is not interchangable.
You may be interested to know of a palmerston nth co. Permanent painted coatings.They are the POR 15 agents in NZ.I have their cattledog and they have some useful products.One you may be interested is a clearcoat that will adhere to polished alloy and even chrome.Glisten PC
checkout www.por15.co.nz
:ride:
Some of the products include a nickel plating kit,the por15 tank sealer kit etc.
The glisten pc is available in tinted form as Colour Chrome, the catalogue has pics of rainbow coloured handle bars. The glisten pc is self levelling and can be applied by brush.

[Bonez]

Had the grand kids over this weekend so not much done. Did manage to convert the old dirty air filter to a foam type. Para Rubber on Main str just done from Mitre 10 have filter foam for those interested. All you need is a the filter foam, hacksaw, craft knife some silocone sealent or brazing equipment access and a dremel type tool with grinders (the Wharehouse one did the trick just dandy btw). Normal story with buying stuff. Got home and discovered hidden away in the garge a perfectly good front tyre. Can't have too many spares ah? Got a new ME33 for the front for the 550 while I was in shopping mode. Oh and an oil filter for GasAxe.

[Bonez]

get a quote from Gary Worsely in Feilding for tyres ... I just got a new rear from them for my old bitch and it only cost $175 fitted ... and it's a Pirrelli !! They do great deals on tyres !!Thanks, I've ran ME33/55 for years, now made in Brazil now I know but had no issues what so ever, and it works out the around 300-340 a pair depending on the exchange rates.

[Bonez]

Fitted the new tyres today and scuffed them in on a scoot to Havelock North and back via some nice back roads. A few bikes were seen on Middle Rd. Most acknowlaged my existance. Some looked dazed as the GB past by at a lively pace. A harley taking up the whole road as usual :mad: may have impacted on a herd of cattle beasts I past a few ks back, oh well no real loss :whocares: . Fitting the smaller back tyre improved handling no end. Playing cat and mouse :ride: with an Mitsi Evo on the way back on Highway 50 though till Woodville just topped the ride off. All in all a great ride.

[GN1NiteStnd]

with little effort xr600 barrels and head drop onto gb motor... great fun! but for buying a stock one i wouldnt pay over 1600

[Jinx3d]

Man,

I used to drool over those GB400/500 TT when they came out.

The guys at Honda in palmy got sick of me coming in sit on them...and dream.

Thats the trouble with motorcycles, you want them when you cant afford em, when you can afford them you want to the one that was brand new when you were 16!!

:-)

[Bonez]

With me it's the other way around. Yes I tend to do things backwards :weird: Wasn't too fussed on them when they came out. Had the CB750FC2 a couple of years at that stage and saw no need to trade down. Also I thought they where a bit pricey newand a bit small. Boy was I wrong on the small department, they fit like a glove. Bought a tidy second hand example a month or so ago and wished I'd bought one years ago. Been offered a high millage example for around the same price I got my one for. The low milage one spoken about in earlier in the thread looks like it has been sitting outside for last 10 years so that's kicked into touch unless the guy comes back with a realistic price, like under a grand. Time is on my side.

[Bonez]

Looks like the second GB is going to be in the family quicker than expected and less than half the cost of my current one with about 10,000 more ks. I just love old depreciated/devalued/underated motorcycles..... :hug:

[froggyfrenchman]

$1800 it would have to be very tidy. Average cond, bout $1200 to $1500. Have owned 3 of them, good commuter

[Bonez]

The GB decided it was going to lay down today. Push the thing out, down with the side stand-or so I thought- walked into the garge and "CRASH!!"- bugger. A broken clutch lever, at the pivot point-Manawatu M/Cs to the rescue again and the tansfer of a measly $15 the bikes usable again. As well as another small piece of paint off the tank to match the rest, a graze on the lh mirror and handgrip [plenty of the spares]. Culprut appears to be the rubber thingimybob Honda put on the sidestand, used to flick the stand up when one forgets to retract it as one does sometimes. It seems it's a bit too long and tucked under the side stand slightly and the bike rolled fwd and you can imagine the rest. I'll trim it a bit or remove it. I'll also grind the inner portion of the stand that butts up against the stand mounting bracket to give it a more of an over centre position. All I can say is thank goodness it's light and has no fairing to damage and I wasn't in the back and beyond when it happened. I bought a spare lever at that price, it's the same pattern as on the CB750FC2 which is a bonus.

Edit- turns out the slight camper on the concrete pad into the shed didn't help. Must remember to have the bikes facing "upwards" as it were.

[Bonez]

Got an oil and oil filter change today. Being a so called "dry sump" it had two plugs to undo as well as another to check the oil level once the engine was run. Being a cheap bastard I'm using Duckums 20/40 from Mitre 10 at a grand total of $10 per 4 litre cantainer. Bike sounds quieter as it should with fresh oil. Oh and the old oil was used as weedkiller in the back yard. Will do oil changes at 3000k intervals from now on. Role on the ColdKiwi.

[avgas]

Keep an eye out for anyone selling the tune up kit for the 400's.......they still exist i have been told. mine had it when it came from japan and man it used to honk. I think they bore it out a little, change the compression, the cam becomes a nice mild one and the ignition kit is all changed. Ends up with a rev happy motor that wacks out some good power (frequently 160 2 up all day)
Also go wack some good shocks like Konis (ie IKONs) and they change it from acting like a crappy commuter to a full stonk cafe racer. Also this is one of the cheapest/easiest mods, that give you the best performance increase.
I actually had the standard exhaust, complete pulled to bits and rebuit to a better shape - have a good kick, good sound and it cost me stuff all.
anyone seen my old bike 50UEX? i wonder what happened to her after the crash?

[Silage]

Can someone enlighten me as to why there seems to be so much interest in GB400s and 500s. As the owner of one from new (1988 $3,200) I have gotten a lot out of mine and it is still capable of $1.30+ (well it was this morning :msn-wink: :whistle:) after over 82,000km. But I have not seen it as that different to other bikes - or has the resale price just gone up

[Bonez]

Can someone enlighten me as to why there seems to be so much interest in GB400s and 500s. Cheap, light, fun to ride, economical (300k plus fuel range), look good, etc etc. As a Hawkes Bay rider said at the cold Kiwi- "Bucket racer for the road". Seems everyone I met that had owned one at some stage at the ColdKiwi had nothing but good things to say about them. Appeared only to be mine and Phantoms one ridden there though.

[Bonez]

Well the rear shocks are a bit tired so I spashed out for some replacement ones.
I think after 59,000 odd kms they're due for retirement. Nothing flash, just MDIs.
I'll keep this thread updated on how they work out.

[HenryDorsetCase]

I'm looking for a cheap one at present for a project.

the best deal on tardme at present is a maroon GB600 (yeah man!) in that all the hard work is done, and it would go like hell.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=47335375

I paid $4299 brand new for the mark 2 version in 1988 (faired, single seat). They immediately dropped the price to $3899, and I wrote to Blue Wing and told them I would never buy another bike from them. And I never will. treat their customers with contempt, mutter, mutter.

lots of people want over $3k for them which is stupid money IMO.

you got a decent deal. $1500 -1600 is all I am prepared to pay. Ideally I would like to swap my VF750 for one.

[froggyfrenchman]

Cheap, light, fun to ride, economical (300k plus fuel range), look good, etc etc. As a Hawkes Bay rider said at the cold Kiwi- "Bucket racer for the road". Seems everyone I met that had owned one at some stage at the ColdKiwi had nothing but good things to say about them. Appeared only to be mine and Phantoms one ridden there though.

"bucket racer for the road" those are my most common words for explaining my attraction to the honda GBs, and im a Hawkes Bay rider, and i spoke about the GBs quite alot at last years kiwi, wonder if its me you were speaking with...

[Badcat]

I'm looking for a cheap one at present for a project.

the best deal on tardme at present is a maroon GB600 (yeah man!) in that all the hard work is done, and it would go like hell.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=47335375

I paid $4299 brand new for the mark 2 version in 1988 (faired, single seat). They immediately dropped the price to $3899, and I wrote to Blue Wing and told them I would never buy another bike from them. And I never will. treat their customers with contempt, mutter, mutter.

lots of people want over $3k for them which is stupid money IMO.

you got a decent deal. $1500 -1600 is all I am prepared to pay. Ideally I would like to swap my VF750 for one.

buy that one.
you'd spend that easy making a cheap one something you'd want to ride.

ken

[Bonez]

"bucket racer for the road" those are my most common words for explaining my attraction to the honda GBs, and im a Hawkes Bay rider, and i spoke about the GBs quite alot at last years kiwi, wonder if its me you were speaking with...Own a BMW single? One guy took his GB a rather large organised run. Turns out the poor thing was low on oil. It managed to get him home making some rather terminal noises. He manage to get hold of a good second hand motor IIRC.

[Bonez]

buy that one.
you'd spend that easy making a cheap one something you'd want to ride.

kenI'm sure Spankme would back you up on that comment.

[Badcat]

I'm sure Spankme would back you up on that comment.

man - i'm too embarrassed to say what my sr500 street tracker has cost so far - it's more than spanks by a shitload.

[Bonez]

man - i'm too embarrassed to say what my sr500 street tracker has cost so far - it's more than spanks by a shitload.I think his was around 5gs plus the initial cost of the GB500.

[Badcat]

I think his was around 5gs plus the initial cost of the GB500.

yep - more.

[Bonez]

yep - more.Now that's what I call dedicated or is that .........................(p/t)

Edit- Oh forgot to mention I saw a rather immaculate SR500 the other day.

[Bonez]

Update.

The beast is making that "rattly" cam chain noise these things are prone for. Noticed it on last weeks valley run with Bobsmith and co. Not as bad as some, but I'll have it attended to in a fortnights time. Should have enough spare pennies, without diving into the savings, by then to have the job done. Costs less than some spend on a rear tyre :innocent:

Still a joy to ride. :yes: For those interested I'm running an Me33 up front 90/90 and Barracuda 100/90 (down one size) rear. This setup suits the bike real well.

Located some spare wheels for the Gasaxe today also. Hell, a good day alround really even managed to bring an old industrial B & D angle grinder to life. The things folk throw away. Will come in handy for those wee projects I will be carrying out.

[HenryDorsetCase]

I paid $4299 brand new for the mark 2 version in 1988 (faired, single seat). They immediately dropped the price to $3899, and I wrote to Blue Wing and told them I would never buy another bike from them. And I never will. treat their customers with contempt, mutter, mutter.

.


:D funny how old posts come bite you in the arse. I did buy a brand new Honda this year.... (go the Hornet!).

Just shows I am a whore for the best deal!

I would still like another GB, and still ahve a VF750 taking up space in the garage.... so not everything has changed.

[froggyfrenchman]

I have the worlds best gb!

[Silage]

Hey Bonez

The GBs do tend to chew out their cam chains although it is a mystery to me as to why. They are a 4/5 bar link (ie quite meaty) and must be under small strain. Mine last about 20,000ks. Hope your tensioner is not shot also as that will be extra dosh. It is an auto tensioner that takes up any slack but doesn't release it so if the chain gets a bit lumpy it tends to get tighter and tighter till the tensioner starts to slip - all not good.

[Shadows]

Dude I sold mine with 35,000km on the clock for $700 in 1992.
I'd bought it 2½ years earlier with 15,000k on the clock for $1100.
Mint apart from a dent in the top of the tank.
Everybody is too fucking greedy I reckon.

[Bonez]

Hey Bonez

The GBs do tend to chew out their cam chains although it is a mystery to me as to why. They are a 4/5 bar link (ie quite meaty) and must be under small strain. Mine last about 20,000ks. Hope your tensioner is not shot also as that will be extra dosh. It is an auto tensioner that takes up any slack but doesn't release it so if the chain gets a bit lumpy it tends to get tighter and tighter till the tensioner starts to slip - all not good.Already toying with the idea of fashioning a manual one similar to those on the old yammy triples. Shouldn't be too hard.

[Bonez]

Nearly 2 years later the cam chain is still rattling away no louder than the last post about it.

Just checked the tappets, both inlets and one exhaust needed seeing to. Oil consumptions about 250mls every 2000kms as apposed to a 500mls or more every 500kms for La Trog. Two new tyres fitted in the last 1000kms. A Cheng Shin Barracuda front and Hi Max on the rear(both from AFC M/Cs). The tires managed the extended ride to and from the Cold Duck in inclement weather on sealed and unsealed road without issue. Mind you this bike isn't a powerhouse but fun all the same.:niceone:

Final drive chain is due for replacement. Got three options-Chain/Sprocket kit, HD chain only or X'ring only. Probably go the HD only. The last one seems to have lasted well. Sprockets are ok. I tend the adjust/check/oil chains regularly and still haven't gone through that 4 litre pack of 90 weight gear oil I bought years ago. But next change will definately be a combo change. Will go to a 38 toothed rear spocket if one is available as the 36 is too high geared I've found.

Also will get an EMGO shorty reverse cone muffler within a month or so.

Completely drained the tank today to remove any water and loose scale.
Will change the fork oil and shout Gerble to a new spark plug in the near future. Hasn't been inspected since I bought it- if it aint broke and all that.....

All in all Gerbles given good service and hopefully will do so for a few years more.

[Bonez]

My time flies when your having fun. 80,000kms up and Gerbles due for another oil/filter change etc. Shell Helix 15/40 dino at $25 for 4ltrs seemed a good deal. LH fork seal needs replacing. Back country unsealed corrigations and dust the cause I should imagine, no scouring at all. Got a spare seal that should do the job. Obviously I'm going to replace the fork oil in each leg. Good ol ATF. Will check/repack the stearing head bearings while I'm at it.

Shes looking a bit worse for wear at the moment as she's out in all weather during the week. Still fires up first pop and rattlier than grandmas dentures in a tumble dryer-don't ask.

Almost forgot. Bought a small oil can($5 at Super Cheap), while getting the engine oil, to dispense the 90 weight gear box oil on the chain. Much tidier than the ATF top up dispencer I've been using for the last couple of decades. Small enough to pack away on tour too.

See ya out on the road.

Edit-The oil tank drain plug was a bit worse for wear. The 12mm hex head was rounded off a bit, a good sign its obviously had regular oil changes in the last 20 years, so replaced it with a 17mm sump plug off the 250T I wrecked a while back. The MDI shocks is still doing the trick. Still on the eye out for a good secondhand set of Konis/Ikons. Chain replaced with HD RK offering.

[piston broke]

lazy as,
gotta link too the 500 manual?
my old man has one,tho he uses it to comute maybe 60k;s/week.
shite i remember as a 20yr old droolin over them when they came out.
tho the old 74 cb400f ss i was riding was still waaay better.anyone know where i can find a 400f ss?

[Bonez]

PM me your address details and I'll post you a cd.

[Bonez]

Finally got around to pulling the forks to do the seals. Not a hard job but it helps to be in the right mood or else damage can be done to components. Left cap and the spring in to undo the lower allen bolt. A couple of bits of wood acted as soft jaws to hold the fork in the vice. Clean all bits with a water flush, rag, deisel and left to dry complete prior to reassembly. Will pop in to SKF to get suitable seals if they have them, taking the one of the items I pulled out as a sample. Doing this generally a lot cheaper than getting seals through a bike shop I've found in the past.

Be carefull out there.

[Bonez]

In the end I popped in to City Honda to cost out fork seals as SKF didn't have double lipped offering. To be honest the price wasn't too bad and came with a new dust so that's the way I went. Certain a lot less than a sole single lipped seal I ordered from ANZA a few years ago. Made a brass punch from some brass rod (removed burrs obvious) at work to gently tap the new seal in place. The manual says use special tool blah blah but you certainly don't need it. Also made a hook out of steel coat hanger to remove the washer at the top of the spring and spring itself. Used a CB500/4 dipstick to determin the correct fluid level.

Gerbles front end is all back together less the brass spacers the previous owner had fitted at the moment.

Damn hot and I should've been out riding but it's nice to tinker ah?

[Bonez]

My time flys when your having fun doesn't it? WOF for Gerble next month and the back tire will not make it through. Decided yesterday to pop into Manawatu M/C to see it they had suitable hoop to slap on and sure enough ther was a Shinko 110/90 SR 712R that would do the job just nicely. Had it fitted and bought an oil filter while I was there.

Hmmm, what do I do now? Scrub it in obviously. Off home we twaddled, get all my riding gear on and off we go. Destination-Havelock North via alternate route of course. Cracker day for it. Only other bike I saw on the toodle was Yammie Virago around Elstorpe way. Caught up with the whole famdamily and stayed the night with the olds. Up at 6 this morning rearing to go. Gas up and was intending to get home the quickest way as those clouds over Dannivagas were looking pretty ominous.

Gerble had plans and decided to head right off SH2 and on to Burma Rd(?). Seal to start off with then on the some really tight packed unsealed stuff. Awesome veiw towards the east coast. Fairly steep drop and no barriers to stop one being blown over the side, but hey, we try not to let that happen ah? The unsealed bit lasted a couple of miles, then onto a what could only be discribed as narrow country "lane". This connected up to Raukawa Rd which led back to Bridge Pa. This was the oppersate direction I was wanting to go but thought why not? NICE!! Got to the "Pa" then on towards Maraekakaho(sp) and Gerble decides to go left back into the hills up Valley Road. This linked back on to the Raukawa Road.

Going in the correct direction again, oh goody. Twoodled up to a T intersection that had Waipawa left, Argle Rd right. Argle Rd sounded familiar, but had not been on it before. Well not that I could recall anyway. This hooks up to Argle East Rd which loops on to Tiko Kino road so stopped in at Onga Onga. Put on my skivy as the temp had dropped and it was starting to drizzle. Back into 50 then SH2 Norsewood, Ormondville, Te Uri(?) Rd onto Dannivirke. Looked down at the tripometer and 190kms ticked over since gassing up. Hmm, not bad considering Dannivagas is only 95 odd kms from the olds place.

Wind and rain a lot worse now so I was feelling the cold. I'd removed the liners from the riding gear yesterday thinking they wouldn't be needed. Certainly was looking fwd to a nice hot bath.

Rear tires well and truely scrubbed in and am happy be back home refreshed for the next adventure. Mentle note to self- take the bloody map book next time and pack the liners.

[Bonez]

Ah well, WOF time again so off I toodle to VTNZ. I look down. Opps no speedo needle movement. Last test done on the CuBix the testing bloke rode it, so back home I go thinking the inner cable was broken. Nup, the tang that engages the cable has snapped flush. The reason it snapped is it appears the tag used to screw end of the cable into the drive had sheared and allowed the cable outer to wooble a bit more than it should. Not uncommon it would seem. Oh well, new cable as well then.

Managed to source a replacement drive originally off an FT500 from Pete Sales at Total Motorcycles. Manawatu M/Cs had an after market (Motion Pro) cable -thought I'd hold off till next pay on that. Whilst putting things back together it occured to me that I really don't want this to happen again. Had a shifty in the play pen, which I should have done earlier, and found a much more robust speedo drive of late '70s early 80s vintage where the cable slips in then a screw holds it in position using a V cutout (had a spare cable as one does). Had no problems whatsoever with these drives on my other bikes. Now with Gerble only having 84,000kms up I thought she deserved better. Ensuring the drive gears off each unit meshed ok, using the eyeometere made certain the cast in internal spacers looked the same as well as the axle hole, I fitted that drive instead.

I'll keep the one I got from Pete as a backup. It turns out Pete has a few bits n bobs for CuBix I'll aquire at some stage. Also figured out how to repair the broken one once I'd settled down for a cuppa. Missed the WOF though so Monday for that.

[Bonez]

Oil and fiiter change time again at 84901kms. Using CuBiX is keeping the ks down. $20 pack of Castrol 20/40 and a Hi-Flow H113 oil filter this time. Chain adjusted and oiled for tomorrows wee scoot east. If she runs alright and no clutch slippage I'll pop in on Thursday and get a few more packs at that price. Gotta love budget motorcycling.

Had a wee moment two weeks back when the speedo wasn't working again. Easily sorted using Connies dremel.

[DoubleD]

You mean like this one on the CB550FA? WFO item no. 448-0011 [27-1/2" Dunstall Style Muffler] for those interested.

Hey Bonez do you have one of these on your GB400? Do you get better sound and performance out of them?
I've been weighing up whether to get one off trademe for cheap, or go the whole hog and get a custom one done...

Cheers

[Bonez]

On a wee toodle out the back of Martinborough Gerble finally decided he'd had enough. Motor locked solid on a small straight bit of wet road at a moderate 70 or so kph. A first for in all my years riding. Luckily it wasn't on the earlier windy bits and I was with good company. KiwiKat towed me to a farmhouse (yip someone had rope, organised bunch ah?) and a few of the lads helped me retrieve him yesterday.

Cheers to all who helped out. I'll post progress here on what happens. Worst case senario replacement donk or strip bike and part out. Here's hoping.

To be cont.................

[Murray]

On a wee toodle out the back of Martinborough Gerble finally decided he'd had enough. Motor locked solid on a small straight bit of wet road at a moderate 70 or so kph. A first for in all my years riding. Luckily it wasn't on the earlier windy bits and I was with good company. KiwiKat towed me to a farmhouse (yip someone had rope, organised bunch ah?) and a few of the lads helped me retrieve him yesterday.

Cheers to all who helped out. I'll post progress here on what happens. Worst case senario replacement donk or strip bike and part out. Here's hoping.

To be cont.................

Still Waiting!!!!!