This is the second 1977 Candy Antares Red CB400F I bought. I had sold the first one several years ago but always thought it was a very pretty bike. I wanted another one but 400 prices have been really going up over the past few years, and Ebay really isn't helping the situation.
I found an ad placed on a motorcycle shopper online. It said "1977 Honda CB400F - $500, email ******". That was the extent of the ad! I emailed the guy and he sent me some photos.
The photos made the bike look excellent, so I made arrangments to pick it up. When we found the place I wasn't too happy, as one side of the bike looked like it flew past the sun. The paint was baked off the right side of the tank while the left side looked great! The right sidecover was also fried. Also making me a little upset was the squashed speedometer, scratched front fender, and bent left footpeg (all 77 specific and unavailable from Honda). The seat was torn and taped up, the cylinder head was painted black and had longer (75-76) studs, and the rear rim had a funky bend in it.
BUT, I hadn't seen the box of extra parts he had yet... It contained an extra head which turned out to be the correct '77 part (short studs). Also included was a Clymer manual (no big deal), new oil filter (nice), an extra set of carbs (woo hoo!), and the holy grail of collectibles, a '77 owner's manual!!
Since I hadn't found any '77s in several years, and the box of goodies almost made me pass out, I shoved $500 in the lady's hand and told her we needed to do the title work. 2 hours later (the wife found a local mall, ew) and we were on the road headed home in what seemed to be a monsoon.
The bike is now apart so I could replace the gaskets and change the head. I also have the airbox/battery box out to do some cleanup. The rear rim/spokes will be replaced, the front fender will be swapped with the other '77 I have (I snagged it's '77 speedometer too), and Mike's '75 had an original Bridgestone Super Speed tire on the front. If this bike winds up a museum (or living room) piece I'll put that tire on the front.
Update 12/13/01:
Last Sunday I removed the engine so it and the frame could be completely cleaned. I still haven't decided what to do about refinishing the engine, but that can always be done. Right now I want to get the frame and crankcase cleaned up and then get the engine back together. Then it will be time to install the engine and start putting the little stuff together and on the bike. I have the carbs apart and they are very clean, both on the inside and outside. They will look great when rebuilt.
Over the past couple of evenings I've been cleaing and working on getting ready to put the head back on. Hopefully I will ride this bike Sunday. That's not an impossible goal at all considering Saturday is wide open now that deer season is over.
After a neat ride with Mike last night on my other '77, I've decided that this bike will be ridden when it's done. I will mount the "Super Speed" tire on an extra rim, and when I find a matching rear I will keep them for when the bike is in the living room or shown at bike meets. Forget the restore and not use thing, I'm going to enjoy my bike!
