Howdy from japan! This is such an iconic and nostalgic bike for the Japanese riders. This is the bike they use to train new riders when we first get our licenses
I was also lucky enough to travel around Honshu a few years ago on a CB400SB. I love the classic Japanese style and the addition of the fairing makes a nice sport-touring bike!
n40798 they aren’t any more expensive than other 400cc naked sports bikes here. They carry lots of benefits like excellent low speed balance and ease of control. And while they’re not exactly cheap like you mentioned, they last forever, justifying their initial purchase price. I first learned on a 25 year old CB400
i have a 2013 model cb 400A here in Australia. great bike, just a bit small for me, definately for the shorter guy or girl. i bought mine for 6k registered from a dealer
I had a VTR250 as my first bike on lams, which was a nice easy to ride bike but just didn't have enough top end, then I bought one of these. My plans to get a street triple have now been on hold for three years because of how satisfied I am with the bike. Fast enough to make you smile without getting you in to too much trouble, handles well, reliable and is reasonably good looking.
CB400SF was a legend in Russia of 90's and 00's. After the end of USSR we've got a wave of used Japanese bikes from auctions. Most common road bikes were 400 cc's, namely Bandits and Super Fours. SF's proved to be more long-lasting and some of them are still around. The sound both at high RPM and at idle is something you remember forever
Aaah ha ha....Like I didn't know this was going to happen when I was watching your LAMS shootout. I made the same choice! Sick bike! The post 2014 model upgrades are icing on the already delicious cake.
Funny you mentioned the CB125e as I've got one I'm currently learning on and already bought myself a CB400sf as it felt like the perfect step up and every review I read was amazing. I bought her a month ago but she's been stored at family's and I pick her up this weekend.
I've been considering a dual sport for the last few weeks (I want to get into adventure riding) but nothing I've ridden or seen can make me give up my CB400! Best lams bike for sure. Good decision!
@@JimmyJohnson7077 I believe there are no differences. This bike happens to sit right at the limit of LAMS legal limit on power. I've also ridden the bike in Japan and there was no noticeable difference between mine and that one.
Great review. My daily ride is a 650 Suzuki V-Strom and I have owned a couple of 600cc super bikes. I bought a CB400SF for my wife and its an amazing little machine. I ride it once a fortnight to keep the battery charged and honesty I enjoy it more than my V-Strom. Best LAMS bike around!
Awesome with a Staintune. Sound so much better and more power. My only negative was the standard seat for touring. Not great for pillion. Beautifully made. Far far better bike than a cb500.
For all of you under age 40....if you like this and like to wrench....look at 1975-77 honda 400 super sport. Perhaps the most beatuful pipes ever, but more importantly....they sound like a ferrarti (well, kind of) as they red line at 12k i think. My mom prob cried everytime I left the house.
Yeah got that screaming high rpm with that low end rumble. Once I put an aftermarket exhaust system on this bike (Moriwaki road compliant) it sounded much much better!
P.S. I wish the lams scheme was around when I was learning to ride. What you had to ride before was rubbish compared to some of the things on the lams list now.
haha yeah, 2 different bikes for sure. Purely coming at it from a learner perspective. The power the cb400 provides and the vtec bump is still provides a small climb in power and changes the exhaust note to sound more "beefy"
I had a cb400 and a Striple675. Comparing the power to one and the other is only, sort of, comparable the way the power comes 'on.' The actually power is not really comparable. 50ish hp to 115hp. That being said, the CB400 is way more fun for around town riding. You can't go wrong with either!!!! You said it, 'perfect all-rounder.'
The comparison was between mid-premium end lams bikes which both of these are. The triumph is restricted for lams and has about 40kw. I understand what you are saying but considering they are similar output, weigh, price and class (naked sports) I think you still can compare a lot of elements. Here.
@@jesselee4405 I'm only referring to the Australian lams approved version with this comparison. Of course, the unrestricted version is nowhere near the same power as the cb400.
Thanks! Did it many years ago now so glad you still got some value out of it. I ended up keeping it for about 2.5 years before moving into more of the ADV and dirtbike segment of the market but I jumped at the chance to rent one when I took a trip to japan a few years back. Definitely capable of handling any kind of riding you throw at it (except maybe offroad) and the reliability is godly in these engines. I'm now based in South East Asia there are many CB400s here with over 100k kms on them that still run like they are brand new!
@@dalediese Wow thats friggin awesome! Sth East Asia must be amazing for ADV riding 🤘 Mines got 18K on the clock, so shes got a way to go then! Everyone who's had one seems to love em and have big regrets and fond memories if they sold them. I'm heading to Bali or Thailand soon and hoping to come across some there!
They were discontinued in Australia after 2015 so my model is the last available. Yeah they aren't cheap but you can feel a world of difference in quality compared to the competition (lams bikes).
the above answer to tdunster2011 post , he says cb400, 2017 honda is over 11ooo now in australia,, then you reply ,, they discontinued after 2015,, !!! which is it ,, available or not, im an Aussie living in the philippines and im having trouble getting one here ,,
Hey have you tried two upping on the cb400? I am wondering if they bike will still have good power with and extra passenger and a trunk slapped on it. I estimate my weight plus the passenger will be around 270 or so plus a trunk. Thanks
+flyh4x0r two up is alright. It has a pretty roomy pillion seat. Not sure how it does with luggage but 270 pounds will be fine. Nice commuter so It's perfect for two up.
My pipe dream, which I dream about very often... Everything about this bike is beautiful and perfect. What a pity that I have already lived most of my life and my dream will never come true. Here in Ukraine, I didn’t even see my dream... I looked and imagined myself on this bike... This sound... The wind... These most beautiful shapes of this bike, all this is simply mesmerizing... It really hurts me that it's not me...
BUT YOU DON'T NEED ANY MORE POWER IF YOU ARE NOT PROFESSIONAL ON A TRACK OR CLOSED ROADS YOU DON'T REALLY NEED ANY HIGHER CC ENGINE . WELL ONLY UNLESS YOUR INTENTION IS TO SEEK END OF LIFE SOONER THAN A LOT LATER. BUILT UP TRAFFIC IS NOT A PLACE TO MESS AROUND WITH AN OVER POWERED MACHINE
You could argue you dont need more than 125cc or about, 10hp. There are so many factors that go into speed, acceleration and safety. Engine displacement isn't the only factor. Can I cruise at 110km/h (the speed limit) on this bike? Yep. Can I do that on a 125cc bike? Yep. Is it more comfortable on a 1000cc bike? Maybe. Having owned dozens of bikes from 100cc to 1000cc, they all have their advantages and disadvantages. At the end of the day it is the riders choice how they use the power. Single-minded statements in all caps like this don't really contribute anything to the conversation. This bike definitely sits between the sweet spot of "not enough power" and "too much power" which I think is what you were trying to say.. but it ultimately, even that statement is subjective and depends on the application.
ALL I'M SAYING IT'S A GREAT ALL ROUND BIKE PLENTY OF POWER IT'S FUN WELL BALANCED GREAT SOUND FEELS BIGGER IF YOU HAVE DRIVEN A 1000cc THAT WON'T MATTER TO MY OPINION I AM SAYING THAT BIKE WILL BRING A SMILE TO ANY PRO BIKER OR NON PRO BIKER YOU REALLY DON'T NEED A BIG BIKE HOWEVER YOU FEEL YOU DO YOU COULD SAY THE 1000cc YOU HAVE YOU DON'T NEED A BIGGER BIKE AND ANOTHER COULD WRITE YOU STATING WHAT YOU WROTE ME STATING I HAVE A 1800 cc HOW VERY DARE YOU TELL ME I CAN'T RIDE MY 1800cc WHICH YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS YOU ARE HAVING GREAT FUN ON YOUR 1000cc THEIRS ALWAYS A WINGER ISN'T THERE
Is it normal for a Honda gearbox to be this noisy when changing gears? I haven't noticed this much noise on other brands, except on Honda's models. Well, I'm not sure if that's normal. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-4bWl2qGrpuM.html
I suppose it really depends on the model of bike. I would say from my personal experience with honda is they *may* have more "clunky" gearboxes in some of their bikes.. but they definitely soften up a bit over time. I personally think that clunk sound is very satisfying, better than some gearboxes where you feel like you are hunting for gears or occasionally find false neutrals between random gears. I'd say it's more of an engineering feature, rather than a flaw in the design haha.
I just bought one as my first bike and I think I made a fantastic choice! It’s a stack of fun, looks amazing, sounds awesome. It’s a 2012 ABS model and it is clean enough that it looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor. I absolutely love it and I thank my workmate every day for talking me into one!
lol @ the no gear What helmet cam do you use out of interest? Can you just use a go pro on a mount? I know there's been some confusion over legalities in Aus recently
MykMallett I know shame on me. 35°c days get me making stupid decisions. It's a gopro hero3+. I was going to make a separate video on the current state of helmet cams in nsw/aus but never got around to it.. partially because I've been stopped by police several times with it and warned not to do it (although never booked for anything). There is a new push by the biking community for them to set clearer guidelines on what is and isn't legal. Hopefully it will get resolved over the next 12 months.
Dude if you want a loud one then put some slip on or full exhaust pipe. Cb400 is about 50hp only. Its more of a starter bike. Can't compare it with the 600 sportsbike when it comes to power.
Very interesting video of very excellent bike. Unfortunately here in Europe you can find ionly a second hand model. My father has the CB900F2 Bold'or 1983 model. Greetings from Greece!!!!
In singapore the brand new 2020 costs abt 17-18k sgd + COE （certificate for 10 year usage tax) 4K sgd + insurance , road tax = 23k sgd for 10 years only. Insane! But it holds value pretty well. It’s more expensive than a royal enfield 650 interceptor. Where triumph street twins (900cc) and Moto guzzi v7 only costs 2k more than this. Annual depreciation is abt 1k. Would rather go for a 5 year 2nd hand bike .
Yeah, I suspect that is one of the reasons it was removed from the Australian market after 2015-16. Singaporean taxes + licensing make it especially expensive.
Still, the build quality on the CB400 is second to none. All of the welds and finishes are perfect. It's a far cry from most of today's small capacity bike options that are cheaper, but also feel cheaper haha.
I know this vid was uploaded 6 years ago, but would love some feedback please...... just for my learners licence here in Australia, and was wondering what anyone's thoughts were regarding a cb400 v cbr650r lams please? both different u know but still cylinders . besides the fact I can a new 650 which is a pro have course, I'm interested in all the other stuff. cheers Vince.
That is a really good question actually. I've only ridden the CB650R for a short while but I can give some insight from my experience. Given that the cb650r is restricted for lams, the engine characters end up being somewhat similar between the two. Both weigh about the same. CB650R to me felt a bit more "sportier" - It _feels_ a little lighter handling-wise. This doesn't mean the CB400 feels dated though, it is still a great option even in 2023 and to me personally, has more "character". To me it honestly comes down to two things: cost to purchase and your preference on the styling. If you find a good deal on either then I think you would be happy. Can't go wrong with a Honda!
@dalediese thanks so much for your response, mate!!!! I'd buy the 650r new. I have come across some great examples of the cb400, which are still holding their value . (crazy right). which did you find more enjoyable? I keep thinking the 650 is a no brainer. modern, reliable, warranty, good looking etc, etc , but at the same time I can't wipe the cb400 . which you choose today man? new 650r or well looked after cb400?
@@cenzofrisina6517 So personally I would choose a cb400 over the 650r BUT that is purely an aesthetics choice. There is a huge piece of mind buying a new motorcycle and the warranty etc that comes along with that, especially if you aren't 100% sure what you are looking at when you are looking in the second-hand market if you are just getting into bikes. Last thing you would want would be a huge bill at the mechanics because something happens to your newly purchased second hand cb400. In saying that, the cb400s are notoriously reliable and especially in south east asia you see examples everywhere with well over 100k kms on them with zero signs of problems. Last thing I would say is that if at all possible, test ride both and see which one feels better. Let me know what you decide!
Honestly, it depends on the climate. At the time of this review I had ridden it in 15-25 degrees Celsius. Only once it got to 35 Celsius in summer and i got stuck in slow moving traffic did I feel it heat up. I could imagine in places like Singapore/SEA that it could be a problem year round.
Wow... just watched that British guys review on a cb400 also do one on a cb500 twin. On that price difference.... buy the twin... no doubt about it. However I'm OS and looking at a used one for $1500 US. Based on reviews like this I'm going to buy it. I wouldn't buy one in Au but the conditions are much slower here (I rode a ZX10 in Au).
+Martin Herald I took a test ride of the cb500 too when looking for upgrades. I made a vid thats up on my channel. I liked it but it doesn't have the character and day to day usability of the cb400. Power delivery is almost the same too. Nice grunt and low end torque on that parallel twin though, definitely still a nice bike.. The difference in price isnt too much either, especially after you factor in resale value. The LAMS scheme is still only relatively new here. I remember a time where 250cc was the limit. That would have been upsetting haha
+dalediese Back in the day I had just found out how much fun two stroke 250's were... and then they banned them from learners. The others didn't have enough on the highways or the traffic light take off. Then the wowsers banned them all together because of more stringent emission controls. An NSX 250 would do 240k and was a lot of fun.
Hey buddy, I have a Suzuki GS500, great bike, only I would like a more relaxed ride down the Hwy, What RPM are you doing sitting on 110 or 100 please? Great Vid.
Yes, 6 months on I'm still loving it! Not a single issue. Can definitely recommend. From what I have heard, they have stopped shipping new to Aus. I don't know if they will start selling but for now, I would check your dealers quickly and they may still have stock. If not, they are so reliable I wouldn't be concerned picking up one second hand.
Triumph was good but I would be too uncomfortable using it for a daily commuter to be honest.. If I was going to get something like that I would go for something with full fairings. That's just my personal opinion though! Both bikes are great.
Atgatt is fine if your out on the motorways or getting a decent ride in. But when you pull up at a set of lights and within a few seconds you feel like your gonna pass out with the heat I can understand being a bit slack on the gear.
The vtec doesnt open up all the 4 valves until the oil pressure rises, which is why it didnt sound super angry when you hit vtec after turning it on. Ride it a little first, then try again :) Great bike, still ride mine
+POMMEY BIKER it does kick in around 6500-7000rpm right? I was just trying to say it is a very sensible bike while sub 7k rpm (read: good for commuting and keeping your license) and has the power you want once all the valves open (good for overtaking/technical rides). How are your flat bars going on yours? Any idea when you will be retiring the cb?
Awesome bike, a great choice! I had a 2009 model new as one of my LAMS bikes. Since then I've had a 900 and a 650. This is still by far my favorite bike. I miss her. Fantastic motorcycle, I would buy another for sure!
You can wheelie anything.. This bike is heavy with a pretty long wheel base so it isn't the easiest and it comes down pretty hard.. but yes, it will wheelie haha
