How good is a FT400?

[scumdog]

A mate of mine is looking at a Honda FT400 as his first road bike, can't remember what year it is but it's in the 80's.

Anybody had any experience with them? Are they lemons? Any quircks/weakness's?

Any advice accepted.

(And no, it's NOT for me!)

[dogsnbikes]

Is it this one?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=319479816

heavy,sluggish and just keep ticking over basically a converted XL400 motor,



you will enjoy itI mean your mate will enjoy it

[scumdog]

Dunno if that's the bike, mate just said to me "you're into motorbikes, how good's a Honda FT400?"

Told him buggered if I know but I'd try and find out.

[tigertim20]

scmmy, ask him what his budget is, and what his preferences are, i.e. style, cruise? sports? tourer? and what sorta riding hes going to do, maybe we can suggest other bikes he might like to look at as well, sonds like he doesnt know a whole lot himself?

[Motu]

It's a factory streettracker! Called the Ascot in the US,after the famous Mile race.The 500 is better,the 400 is a Jap import.

[dangerous]

as above the 500 was NZ new the 400's a version ment for other countrys. Nothing wrong withe em shit its a honda, dont think they are the radial valve head so they be bullet proof... I asume ya 'mate' is a 100, stiff as a board and the single vibs wont bother his piles... cos the FT is one upright ugley bike.

[BuzzardNZ]

It was reviewed in an issue of classic motorcycle under the biggest lemon section.

[Quasievil]

Id rather lick my grannies panties than ride one of those

[ellipsis]

......beauty is in the eye of the beholder....the 400 is sluggish compared to the 500 and valves are a little weak ...or have proven to be in the couple i know of....in saying that ....one of those is hammered around as a pre 82 in an RS frame......everyone knows Hondas dont die...but yer can kill'em...

[HenryDorsetCase]

It's a factory streettracker! Called the Ascot in the US,after the famous Mile race.The 500 is better,the 400 is a Jap import.

I read a really good article about that bike. Basically the guy who designed it was a dirt track nutter, and wanted a real street tracker, which he built and presented to American Honda. Who said "We love it, and we're going to produce it" Then it got to a committee and they softened the original vision to that almost unrecognisable mishmash. He was very sad about it.

[wysper]

I read a really good article about that bike. Basically the guy who designed it was a dirt track nutter, and wanted a real street tracker, which he built and presented to American Honda. Who said "We love it, and we're going to produce it" Then it got to a committee and they softened the original vision to that almost unrecognisable mishmash. He was very sad about it.

Do you know if there are any images of his original design?

[dangerous]

It was reviewed in an issue of classic motorcycle under the biggest lemon section.

Why?
what makes a lemon?

[davereid]

Takes me back in time... my flatmate had one in the 80's.. a 500 though.

It had no flaws, just a typical bike of the era. Adequate suspension, Adequate brakes, good fuel economy, underpowered but fine for commuting or the odd weekend away.

I wouldn't buy one, but for each of the motorcycles I have bought, there is a long list of those who tell me I am an idiot. (Some of them even include the bike in the list of reasons)

That's what's great about bikes. Everyone has an opinion about what is the perfect bike.

And everyone is equally wrong.

(Especially Honda Riders)

[BuzzardNZ]

Why?
what makes a lemon?

can't remember the exact reasons. Think it was something mechanical that tended to shit its self pretty bad. You could check out old copies of Classic Biker in your local library. I know wgtn library has them there. The lemon section is on the last page of the mag, which is where I read about the POS FT400

[Dadpole]

Dredging around in the murky recesses of my mind, I think they had a few problems with the starter motor.

A quick Google came up with this... http://www.thumperpage.com/articles/ft-500faq.html
I imagine all of this would apply to the 400 too.