Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

Thinking of graduating to a big boy bike. http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/mcy/1925079074.html

Thoughts anyone?

Changed my mind going to pick this one up tomorrow morning. Anyone know anything about it?

http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/mcy/1936890792.html

that is a honda CM450.


...but you probably already knew that.

not really. I have always had 3 wheelers and quads. Never really rode a street bike. This is why I have a scooter teaching myself.

Riding a bike is similar to a scooter but different. The bike will have a lot more weight and not be as responsive to shifts in your weight or flicking. I don't know if I've rode that bike or not but a smaller old bike like that is a good place to start. You won't be out much if you drop it and add a few dings. I say go for it but be sure the bike fits you well enough before buying. You are keeping a scoot, right?

Yeah thats what I figure a small bike capable of highway speeds is a good start. Still keeping the scoots just want to be able to ride to work easier than the scoot. 28 miles 1 way.

Check this forum, http://www.hondatwins.net/forum/index.php they only do twins like that and they'll help with what to look for.

Greetings:

There were actually two 400-class Hondas in the 60s to the 80s. The grainy CL pic makes it hard to tell which this is.

The CL72 (later CB 450) debuted in the mid-60s as a Triumph-killer. It had prominent "ears" on its cam cover telegraphing its DOHC design. The CB could crack the Ton in top speed and keep up with the pushrod Triumphs and BSA 650s of its day. Honda kept producing them into the mid-70s. I rode a chopper version of this engine with long flexy-flyer forks. It was downright scary at close to 100 with power to spare.

The CM400 appeared as a replacement for the venerable but by now somewhat unrefined CB. A friend owned one and lent it to me for a long weekend. 96 MPH at 9600 RPM was all she wrote. It was a cleaner, quieter engine with 360-degree crank and a smaller, flatter cam cover. The pic is from Google Search, and looks more like the pic in the CL ad. A friend owned one and lent it to me for a long weekend. 96 MPH at 9600 RPM was all she wrote in stock form.

That Honda Twin forum almost certainly can enlighten you. Maybe there are mods for the CM. For sure the parts will be easier to procure than the bikes from the 60s.

Wheelman-111 wrote:Greetings:

There were actually two 400-class Hondas in the 60s to the 80s. The grainy CL pic makes it hard to tell which this is.

The CL72 (later CB 450) debuted in the mid-60s as a Triumph-killer. It had prominent "ears" on its cam cover telegraphing its DOHC design. The CB could crack the Ton in top speed and keep up with the pushrod Triumphs and BSA 650s of its day. Honda kept producing them into the mid-70s. I rode a chopper version of this engine with long flexy-flyer forks. It was downright scary at close to 100 with power to spare.

The CM400 appeared as a replacement for the venerable but by now somewhat unrefined CB. A friend owned one and lent it to me for a long weekend. 96 MPH at 9600 RPM was all she wrote. It was a cleaner, quieter engine with 360-degree crank and a smaller, flatter cam cover. The pic is from Google Search, and looks more like the pic in the CL ad. A friend owned one and lent it to me for a long weekend. 96 MPH at 9600 RPM was all she wrote in stock form.

That Honda Twin forum almost certainly can enlighten you. Maybe there are mods for the CM. For sure the parts will be easier to procure than the bikes from the 60s.

Thanks for the FYI looks as though the wife has set a veto on my purchase. Cant get the seller under $400 but, I will keep trying. I know Its cheap already but I have a $300 spending limit

Think I will go get this one instead... http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/mcy/1936890792.html

thats the same one as the second link in your first post. anyway great starter bike, go for it

odinxxix wrote:thats the same one as the second link in your first post. anyway great starter bike, go for it

Yeah, I edited the post to show the new one Im looking at. It's a 750 little

750 is a lg bike, little would be like 250-400 but if it fits you well and your ready for that jump then by all means go for it and grab life by the balls, be safe and have fun.!!

odinxxix wrote:750 is a lg bike, little would be like 250-400 but if it fits you well and your ready for that jump then by all means go for it and grab life by the balls, be safe and have fun.!!

It is little compared to the 2000 or even the 5700 though

Well if She fits me well I will buy it tomorrow morning.
Owned by a local cop that works Swing, and I caught him at the beginning of his shift.
Too bad I told him I dont have an endorsement before I found out he was a cop.
Guess I will have to be careful during his shift until I get the endorsement.
As long as I can handle it I suppose I will buy as it sounds like a well kept bike with good documentation and low miles. (5,000)
I have never even rode anything with a clutch and a twist throttle or bigger than 350cc's.

I Dont know what that is like. I mean I have a 85 200x and a 86 350x all the usual thumb throttle IDK what thats gonna be like. Little

Not to mention 750ccs!

BTW the wife has extended my spending limit as She says to sell her Aero. Hard to part with it but it only was collecting dust as I never really enjoyed riding it in comparission to my Elite. http://claspics.com/994/492863/12836376 ... php#browse

Man, I want that Aero so bad. I have not enough cash tho.

That's a sweet find on the Virago. My wife wants a M/C so she can ride again. We can't find deals like that here so much.