CB450 for a first bike?

[SMOKEU]

@150kph is quick enough to kill someone. Also you might want to check the hp of a gb400.

GB400 = 30hp
CBR250 = 23hp

The 4 cylinder CBR250 is around 40 - 45bhp. As for the dangers, plenty of people get pwned on push bikes.

[ducatilover]

All the old hondas run the cam directly in the head. If the oils not been changed then its expensive to repair

YOu'd want to machine the journals out to run needle bearings, yes? I was considering that for the 250/300, but I got a new head

[Paul in NZ]

YOu'd want to machine the journals out to run needle bearings, yes? I was considering that for the 250/300, but I got a new head

Not always that easy. Needs to be line bored often through the side of the head and cam bearings are below the surface.

[ducatilover]

Not always that easy. Needs to be line bored often through the side of the head and cam bearings are below the surface.

Sand paper and high hopes then?

[chinny]

Thanks for the feedback - appreciate the advice.
i'm leaning towards missing out on the CB450 and looking for a smaller bike. Coolz made a good point and i don't exactly rate my skills highly (for now). Unfortunately old hondas are a bit rare and expensive. So i may be waiting a while.
I know someone with a GB400 - probably comparable in size and weight. Might be able to use it to get a feel for what i'd be in for.

Who are the old school honda guys around here?

[GrayWolf]

Thanks for the feedback - appreciate the advice.
i'm leaning towards missing out on the CB450 and looking for a smaller bike. Coolz made a good point and i don't exactly rate my skills highly (for now). Unfortunately old hondas are a bit rare and expensive. So i may be waiting a while.
I know someone with a GB400 - probably comparable in size and weight. Might be able to use it to get a feel for what i'd be in for.

Who are the old school honda guys around here?

getting dear but the old (early 70's) K series 350 twins are pretty good, apart from the mentioned cam possible issues. The CB360J was ok (ish).. the 350/400 4's are good wee bikes and I've seen the odd 350 pop up on here at a reasonable price. CB400/450? again if well maintained they'll give good service, but so will any of the 400cc twins of that era, so dont look past the GSX400/450 or kwacka KZ400/2 or the J400/4.. as said even either version of the XS 400... just dont expect them to out flog a 'modern' sprot 240/4...

[gammaguy]

Not always that easy. Needs to be line bored often through the side of the head and cam bearings are below the surface.

used to do those all the time in my workshop

we machined them out and fitted brass bushes

oil holes in the bushes and presto a replaceable plain bearing.

[dangerous]

Thanks for the feedback - appreciate the advice.
i'm leaning towards missing out on the CB450 and looking for a smaller bike. Coolz made a good point and i don't exactly rate my skills highly (for now). Unfortunately old hondas are a bit rare and expensive. So i may be waiting a while.
I know someone with a GB400 - probably comparable in size and weight. Might be able to use it to get a feel for what i'd be in for.

Who are the old school honda guys around here?

hehe... bloody hell people...
Ok chinny, you like the old CB then I expect you will have the resepct for it, go for it how cool is that? learn on a CB450 or GB dont mater in my book its a beter choice than a GN.

I wasnt riding in the 70's so cant claim to know a hole lot on the 450 twin othere than it was the odd ball being the only engine with DOHC correct me if I am wrong.
He who said they powered whellie Id like to see that done by accedent a learner will have to be rather dumb to atempt that, same as if a GB was to put ya on your arse, the rider again would have to do something dumb, these bikes would be a lot more forgiving than the GN or cbr.

[Coolz]

A quick calculation shows they wouldn't make the lams list anyway.

[chinny]

getting dear but the old (early 70's) K series 350 twins are pretty good, apart from the mentioned cam possible issues. The CB360J was ok (ish).. the 350/400 4's are good wee bikes and I've seen the odd 350 pop up on here at a reasonable price. CB400/450? again if well maintained they'll give good service, but so will any of the 400cc twins of that era, so dont look past the GSX400/450 or kwacka KZ400/2 or the J400/4.. as said even either version of the XS 400... just dont expect them to out flog a 'modern' sprot 240/4...

I heard the 4's were a bit less reliable/figitty as you essentially have another set of carbs etc to tune?
Yea theres a couple of 350 2's on TM at the mo, but still asking more than i think is reasonable.
Thanks for the info, but i think i'll look at smaller bikes as i expect the CB450 would catch me out. I've had a couple shaky moments on the S90, and i would expect a 450 to do be less forgiving.

Appreciate the encouragement to give it a shot, but safety should always be top of the list.

Coolz - the CB450 is listed on the LAMS list. Even the 550 is LAMS approved.

btw - on the S90 i accidentally managed to get the front wheel off the ground...Was having trouble with the idle speed and stalled it a couple of times prior. So on that occasion gave it heaps of revs and let the clutch out too quick..
I dread to think what a 450 would do.

A quick comparison of weights :
S90 ~ 90kg
CB450 ~ 180kg i.e. 2x the weight.

People have dropped lighter bikes, so chances of dropping the CB450 appear high considering my size.
Looks like i'll be searching TM for a while to come...

[Akzle]

Hi all,

Wondering if an old '70s honda cb450 would be suitable to learn on?

yes.
do enjoy.

[ducatilover]

I've had heavier bikes and I'm a sub-60kg wimp.

If I was starting out on a wicked looking classic like that, I'd be hunting for a CB400/4.
Absolutely beautiful bikes.

Don't worry so much about the weight, 180kg isn't heavy and with a low seat height it's not an issue.
Power most certainly isn't an issue either, they're all pretty...beige in terms of top end power. Infact, most things that are LAMS legal are a bit beige

Find one, buy one.
Hell, I started out on a GPZ400R and didn't die

[GrayWolf]

I heard the 4's were a bit less reliable/figitty as you essentially have another set of carbs etc to tune?
Yea theres a couple of 350 2's on TM at the mo, but still asking more than i think is reasonable.
Thanks for the info, but i think i'll look at smaller bikes as i expect the CB450 would catch me out. I've had a couple shaky moments on the S90, and i would expect a 450 to do be less forgiving.

Appreciate the encouragement to give it a shot, but safety should always be top of the list.

Coolz - the CB450 is listed on the LAMS list. Even the 550 is LAMS approved.

btw - on the S90 i accidentally managed to get the front wheel off the ground...Was having trouble with the idle speed and stalled it a couple of times prior. So on that occasion gave it heaps of revs and let the clutch out too quick..
I dread to think what a 450 would do.

A quick comparison of weights :
S90 ~ 90kg
CB450 ~ 180kg i.e. 2x the weight.

People have dropped lighter bikes, so chances of dropping the CB450 appear high considering my size.
Looks like i'll be searching TM for a while to come...

Dont confuse the two CB450's around.
There was the early 70's one and the later CB400/CB450 based on the 250/400N (superdream) bikes of the mid/late 70's. They are a different kettle of fish to the early 70's twin cam CB450/500 twins.
I understand your careful approach, and laud you for it. As a dumbass Loony Plater from the 70's, the RD,s S1's, GT's etc were the weapon of choice for the discerning hooligan. The CB400 etc were only very slightly quicker on top end or acceleration, just had better 'grunt' due to the extra 150cc. With the modern basic handling course and I believe a lot of tutors also run a 'now get on the road and ride' basic course.. you'll have more knowledge than we ever did when riding on the road...

We didnt see the 350/4 in England, but the 400/4 'supersports' were abundant. As long as oil changes are/were done regular, (and most that were'nt are long dead) Honda had a reputation of building 'strong' engines.. you can read that as low tuned, or take your preference... but I can assure you I saw many a 400/4 thrashed without mercy day in and out.. passed from hoon to hoon, and they survived the abuse quite outstandingly. Probably the XS400 twin would be the 'least thrashable resistant' of the era, GSX 400/450 are pretty solid.
The 250/350/400 2T's of the day are getting quite pricey, so the 4T 2/4's are a good bargain... I saw Coleman's very recently on tardme out a very nice gsx400 trade in, very cheaply.

[Coolz]

The 450 does make the lams list. My maths are as bad as my memory. It's been 40 years since I rode a CB450, I guess I was more easily impressed back then. It was certainly friskier than the British single I had been riding. Memory is a funny thing... now where did I put that transistor radio?.it must nearly be time for The Goon Show.

[cheshirecat]

Who are the old school honda guys around here?

There's one here. Always wanted a CB450, unique bike in its day. Believe it had a twin leading shoe front brake which were pretty good providing one detuned them in the wet as they grabed a bit. I've had a CB400f which was a bit under whelming until a Yoshi cam was installed and transformed it in to CB500 killer (until the rider also Yoshed it). I think with all classics be prepared to spend some time on them and lumps of unpredictable fustration. Every ride will be an adventure, you'll stand out from the crowd and gain lots of new friends including your local bike mechanic. I helped a friend get a CB500 4 on the road and we never had a dull moment, including Boyles Kawasaki, who figured in much of its ongoing sagas. At one point 24 people (Bikers) were involved getting it back from Carterton after a prang including two policemen (who ensured the bike shop stayed open), and a group of dedicated bikers who insisted in bump starting it UP the Rimutukas. Honda classics won't be expensive to maintain/fix by current Ducati standards, parts will be cheap (detective work will be necessary) and working on them is easy compared to todays watchlike complexity.
Older classics make great restored cafe racers and seem to be a new trend. You'll gain enough adventures to write a book and I still think owning a 70/80's classic is a sort of rite of passage.
Follow your dreams

Good luck