Honda CB400n (Superdream) 400 Review

Good Points
Cheap
Reliable
economical
FUN, FUN, FUN

Bad Points
MY GOD it's heavy!!!
No fuel gauge, but this is not a biggie...

General Comments
I bought this Honda CB400n last November (3 months ago at time of writing) from my sister in law, who had bought it for when she passed her test. She passed, and then decided the bike was just too heavy for her, so I bought it after I passed my test.



And I am sooo glad I did. This bike is a perfect machine for the A2 license holder (restricted for two years to less than 33BHP, or under 25Kw/H) as it is reliable (it's a Honda, of course it's reliable), economical (full tank will give me about 120-150 miles), and great fun.



It is not too powerful, which as a first proper bike, is fine with me, but, as other reviewers have said, it does have the oomph to get away from the lights fairly smartly, but it does not have a stupid top end (80ish flat out), so you should not get wrapped around the first piece of street furniture you come across.



The ride of the bike (well, mine anyway) is great. It is a bit bumpy on the country lanes near my home, but as it is almost 24 years old, and it has eighteen stone of fat bloke on it, it does blooming well. In fact, my extra padding helps with the handling. I doubt a seven stone bean pole could pop this bike round the corners without running into the gutter. You need a bit of weight behind this bike to really get it to turn.



Ongoing costs of this bike are not too stupid, either. The insurance for me (32 last birthday) is about £125 a year, and that is as a new rider, after a few years NCD, this will fall to a very low level. Parts ARE getting harder to find, but in today's market, none Honda parts are still being made, and joining The Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club is a great place to buy spares. Tax is £55 per year, and the fuel costs are not too high either. I fill up (about £10) and get to work and back for two weeks (5 days a week, six miles each way), obviously less if I go for a long cruise like I did today. This brings me to my next point. actually riding this bike really has the grin factor. I did about 120 miles today (day off work, nice weather, lets ride...) and by the end of it I was not feeling too drained. My back was not stiff, my arms did not ache and my neck was not strained. And I am six foot six tall. Try and do that on an R1 and see what happens...?



All in all, this is a great bike to have great times on. It's not too daft power wise, but gets you from A to B with a huge grin on your lips. And at the local bike meet I go to every Wednesday evening, people stop drooling over their precious CBR1000's and have a knowing nod towards my great bike.



It's a blast from the past that people WILL stop to look at. And as it is a twin exhaust, it sounds the Poodle's Privates.