“My Beloved Moto” CBR400F with Air-Cooled 4-valve, Square Single Headlight, and Rev Mechanism

Motorcycle Reviews

CBR400F

Owner: Yoshio Yoshiyama, Yoshi!

We would like to introduce the "CBR400F" that has been ridden by Yoshio Yoshiyama from among the MY Bike that has been posted to the Webike community.

The CBR400F is one of the legends 400cc inline-4 motorcycle that has been out of production for over 30 years. During the fierce motorcycle boom period in the '80s, the development competition of each company kept on intensifying, and even its predecessor's famous model, CBX400F, was fully remodeled in just 2 years.

Its successor, the CBR400F, made its debut and pulling off incredible changes in modern times compared to the CBX400F.

What makes this motorcycle unique is that the air-cooled 4-valve engine, inherited from the forward-facing CBX400F, has a new "REV" mechanism that changes the number of valves from 2 to 4 in the high rev range. This is the originator of HYPER VTEC, one of the leading technologies of the modern HONDA engine, and was first used in a production model with this CBR400F.

In addition, the "square single headlight" style is visually striking. Other companies also have a square single headlight style, but this CBR400F has an oil cooler right below the headlights as standard equipment. I can see how the endurance racer styling, combined with the REV mechanism, would excite the riders of those days.

Minor changes were made to the motorcycle depending on the year of its release and optional equipment is strangely extravagant from a modern perspective, and an Endurance version featuring dual headlights and a half fairing is also available, as well as a full cowl version. Finally, a spectacular difference in specifications such as the F3 version, with its single-seat and forged duralumin backsteps, and a model equipped with a set of tubes from the start, was sent out as limited edition models almost every year.

Yoshi simply customizes his beloved motorcycle with STD square single headlight by attaching the YOSHIMURA assembly pipe. It seems to have been loaded with touring bags and camping sets and gone camping touring, etc. It's very rare to see someone go camping with such a racy machine nowadays, but it must have been common in the motorcycle industry of those days. The good old-fashioned funkiness that I can't even begin to describe is evident in the photos of those days, with the helmet on a camera tripod (a film camera in those days).

I was dissatisfied with the performance in terms of speed, but the operation timing of the rev mechanism, the coolness around the gauge, the riding position without fatigue contrary to its appearance, and the high quality of fun and sensibility that modern motorcycle does not have, are unforgettable.

From MY Bike Comment
Motive for purchase / purpose
It was not the catchphrase saying, would you like the life of ruining T-shirts over with the scattered oil of KH? But I fell in love with the innovative styling of this motorcycle and bought it at a time when complaints about the following motorcycle were reached at its peak. The sound when switching from 2-valve to 4-valve was pleasant! Currently, the camshaft profile changes with VTEC, right?
Advantage
The meter around was very stylish and comfortable to ride in. A position where you can run long distances without surprisingly getting tired, etc. It was an interesting motorcycle other than riding...
Disadvantage
It is too slow. Sometimes I wonder, is it really 260cc? A friend of mine bought a GSX-R400 and FZ400R the same model year, and he got buzzed around a lot. I have been told after all, "Isn't that a dead one cylinder?" Really, I was so blown up that it wasn't surprising that the two cylinders were dead. It was a good memory.
Advice
The price of used motorycle has been soaring. Well, it was a superbike boom where you could sell anything you built at that time, so the manufacturers were doing everything they could to make it happen. Motorcycle in those days were very valuable. I heard that KAWASAKI is going to release a 250cc with 4-valve. Well, I wonder how many people will be interested in it.

See HONDA Moto Index Page
See SUZUKI Moto Index Page
See YAMAHA Moto Index Page
See Accessories for HONDA CBR400F
See Accessories for HONDA CBX400F
See Accessories for SUZUKI GSX-R400
See Accessories for YAMAHA FZ400R