[narayan]

Originally Posted by Black_Star

Congrats on your new ride!!

CB400 is my dream bike and I am happy to see one in the forum. Truly a one of a kind bike and I hope get to own one some day.

Once I wrote to Bike India asking Honda to bring the bike to India .




Actually the smallest inline 4 today is the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-25R

Thanks BLACKSTAR.

Cost will be a big issue for Honda since its only made in Japan and import into India would be heavily taxed. There just isn't volume or the supplier base to locally manufacture in India. Its an expensive bike even by Singapore standards. The new machine price alone is close to $17.5-18k ~ INR10lakhs

[Black_Star]

Originally Posted by narayan

Thanks BLACKSTAR.

Cost will be a big issue for Honda since its only made in Japan and import into India would be heavily taxed. There just isn't volume or the supplier base to locally manufacture in India. Its an expensive bike even by Singapore standards. The new machine price alone is close to $17.5-18k ~ INR10lakhs

Yeah I wrote to them years ago, and now it makes more more sense to get the CB 350RS in India.

TBH there are a couple of Super Four in India but again investment into them is quite risky, they are already a decade old and parts availability is a problem. Sure if I can get a brand new one then I would jump the gun.

[dinu2506]

What a lovely bike the CB400. Always wondered why the Japanese biggies never thought about launching these beauties in India. I guess all of them have these middleweight multi-cylinder retro machines in their global portfolio

[sandeepmohan]

That is nice Honda you got there. Very nice proportions. Should last a life time with just routine maintenance.

That radiator protector is an eye sore. Do you really need that in your part of the world? I doubt if you have stones flying into it.

The CB400 has been in Honda's portfolio for a long time. Here's (The 2021 Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride, Wellington, New Zealand) an "F" variant from the mid 1970's I saw at the DGR earlier this year. You need to scroll down bit.

The nice thing about these Honda engines is that they are tuned in such a way not to tire you. You won't be a missile off the line and that ain't the point with one of these motorcycles. Its comfort and easy riding.

[aneesh2M]

Congratulations on a lovely machine. What a beautiful bike. wish we could lay our hands son such a bikes in India. anyways HMSI has very sad plans for INDIA and they are happy and busy milking the Activa.

[Nair.V8]

Congratulations @naryan on your upgraded license & for acquiring this pocket rocket! These CB400s were extremely popular when i was in Singapore back in 2014-2015, glad to see they still are! Absolutely sweet sounding motor! Wish Honda Big-Wing sold a modern iteration of this little beast in India.

[narayan]

Some updates:
1. fuel efficiency is around 22-23kmpl. I drive sedately most of the time and hence these figures. Most people out here report 18-20kmpl.

2. On the expressways, there is strong wind blast as soon as you near 100kmph. Was looking for decent wind protection options and there weren’t many. Found only a smallish screen. Thought of purchasing and installing since it wasn’t too expensive to give it a try. As expected, it did nothing to keep the wind off ! But looks kind of nice. Definitely not purist naked bike look.
3. Whereas the previous owner supposedly changed engine oil about 3000kms back (and official interval is 12000kms ), I just thought of erring on the side of caution and went for an oil change + oil filter. Went for Motul 7100 synthetic - 10W-40 grade. No difference after oil change.

[narayan]

Gradually getting used to the weight of the bike. This one weighs 202 kgs wet and hence a handful at Low speeds. Just noticed it’s even heavier than a Classic 350. But now I’m able to handle this weight at Low speeds and meandering between lanes of cars.

Another progress is my mental speed limits slowly improving. I’ve now managed to hit higher top speeds in controlled traffic situations. Also managed to test the VTEC kicking in. That happens around 6500rpm (actually there is a gear wise logic as to when VTEC kicks in). But when that happens, you notice a moderate bump up in the acceleration and then it gradually keeps pulling forward. The sound track completely changes with a grunty wail coming in. I would love to hear that from outside the bike but haven’t had that opportunity except from YouTube videos. So far, I’ve had the guts to hold 2, 3, 4 gears till about 8k rpm. I’m probably enjoying the bike to it’s 30-40% capabilities.

Some pictures taken today after a wash and wax.

[narayan]

After an ownership period of about 14 months and a little over 10k kms, it was time to move on to the next adventure. Sold this gem of a motorcycle 2 weeks back and the hunt began for the next ride. More on that on another thread. Here is a summary of the good and the good to have on this bike.

The good -
1. Absolutely classy 80s-90s classic Japanese naked bike looks with some modern touches
2. Gem of an engine - 400cc inline four smooth as it gets from Honda
3. Glorious Vtec boost at around 6500rpm with a strong pull all the way to 13000rpm
4. The stock exhaust sound when Vtec kicks in is something every biker has to experience- a gnarl that turns into a wail by the time you hit 10,000 rpm
5. Compact dimensions for city use
6. Absolutely no expense other than periodical oil changes

Good to have
1. Instrument pod has only basic info to keep up with the period look
2. Important to keep the engine in the 5000-6000rpm range to get reasonable pulling power but it does fine even lower down but nothing to be excited about
3. ABS is only an option

[DesertLynx34]

Very informative thread, so I guess the laws are quite different from Malaysia.

And boy, what a bike!

It's a shame the Indian market never got even a sniff of these beauties. Come on, we didn't even get the CD200, right!

[NaderBalooch]

Great thread! Been looking to buy one for years. Found some for 6-7 lacs. Not sure why the price is so inflated. Anybody know where I can get one for a decent enough price in India?

[Adv_moto-Life]

Hi Narayanan, Your thread as a fellow Singapore Resident has been pure Gold.
I followed your post word by word to get my Cat 2B/ Cat 3 Drivers license and now am a happy Motorcyclist in Singapore. I ride a Svartpilen 200.

I too await the passing of the 1 year mark to be able to upgrade to the Cat 2 A license after which I think I should be done. Thank you again for your detailed post, which has truly been helpful.

[Adv_moto-Life]

Completed 1 year on Class 2 B drivers license in Singapore (Presently ride a Svartpilen 200)& have now enrolled for Class 2 A certification. Hopefully should pass the driving test in the first try, and get to upgrade to a 400CC class. For someone who has been riding motorcycles from various classes (98cc 2 strokes in the 90ies to 650cc Twins) for over 30 years, this can be a very humbling process.

However after my first Theory and Practical orientation I realize how valuable a structured learning process is and why ensuring the mandated 12 month Class 2B (<200 cc), and another 12 month Class 2A (<400cc) is worth its weight in Gold in making sure we are safe and responsible riders of Class 2 (>400 cc) Bigger motorcycles.

Its amazing how in India we can still get motorcycle licenses in one shot to cover motorcycle with gear from 100 to 1300 cc.

[Adv_moto-Life]

Originally Posted by narayan

How was my experience through this process ?
---------
13. I finished the course, parked the bike carefully as per the rules. Later i moved to the waiting area, removed all protective gear and the wait continued

I have thanked OP once before and am doing so again. My Class 2 A test is on 25th of NOV.

I have been riding motorcycles of various Cubic capacities in India & Indonesia for over 30 years based on pure instincts ....makes me feel very humble having gone through the same paces as OP.

I am still full of nerves and am going to the course for self-practice every week till THE Big Day. Will surely report in with outcomes.

[Adv_moto-Life]

Hoooray ! I am thrilled beyond belief. Thanks to OP and his step by step advice and guidance, I passed my Class 2 A license practical examination to be able to upgrade from 200cc Class to 400cc Class.

I have booked & paid in full my next (Class 2 A) Bike Svartpilen 401 on the same day.
I would not have been inspired to do this without OP's post.