1981 Honda CM400E
I don’t think I’ve ever blogged about this.
Last September I bought a 1981 Honda CM400E to act as my beginner street motorcycle. I bought the bike on the cheap(which means it’s not in the best running condition) and quickly sent it off to a shop to rebuild the carbs. Since I got the bike back in October it has been an awesome ride. The only problems I have with it are that it’s ugly and I’ve outgrown the power. In January I started thinking about restoring or doing some custom stuff tot he bike. I was looking around on YouTube to see what other CM400 owners might be doing. In my search I came across this sweet looking thing.
I immediately messaged the guy and asked him a ton of questions. After a few back and forths he sent me a breakdown of his build and some more pictures.
Rob,
Basically i started off with a $250 dollar 81 CM400 and started goofing around with it as a joke. It obviously turned alittle more serious as parts started to actually look cool. What you see is still pretty close to a stock frame, tank, tires, and engine. The tank is the stock tank, i just molded the outside with bondo to make it look custom, then painted it with high gloss rust oleum (waxed it like 30 times, it looks like real automotive paint now). The frame was cut right behind the shocks, then the shocks were removed and replaced with 10 inch peices of steal makeing it a hard tail. I cut the stock rear fender and tucked it farther in the frame, and removed the front all together. Got the solo seat off ebay for 25 bucks, its got 3 inch springs that level it pretty well. The bars are Z-bars off a triumph, but can be purchased at www.jcwhitney.com for cheap and look great on these bikes. All the stock cabes matched right up with the higher bars. The exhaust is just 2 shorty pipes from jcwhitney and i have them wraped with black header tape for a v-8 muscle car (nice old school look). As for the electrical, i took the iginition and rewired it to be down by the carbs where modern bikes have it, and took the whole spedo and tack assembly off. I replaced the spedo with a small one from jcwhitney for about 40 bucks. The headlight is stock, but i got new brackets again from jcwhitney for 10 bucks that look much better. I made the rear plate holder with 2 pieces of steal and a license plate frame, then hooked up the maltese light. Also replaced the signals with vintage looking marker lights, not bad looking for 7 dollars a piece. I tried to keep it cheap, but looking good. It gets lots of looks and total price in parts is about $250 making it a $500 dollar bike! Anyway, these 400s are great bikes and they run forever if they are well taken care of. I have 18,000 miles and it runs strong. Here is the list again in short of what i did.
* Chopped rear frame
* Cut rear fender
* Solo Seat w/3 inch Springs
* Hard-tail Struts
* Smaller Speedometer (no tach)
* Re-routed ignition from handle-bars to the side (more modern)
* 12’ shorty exhaust pipes
* Wrapped Header pipes
* Side Mount License plate with Maltese cross taillight
* 4 vintage style turn signals
* 10” Z-style handle bars
* Maltese Side Mirror
* Stock gas tank, molded to look more custom
* Red Under-body lights
* New Grips
* New pegs
* New rear tireGood luck with your build, and again if you have any ?s i can try to help. Ive attached some pictures, hopefully they can help give you some ideas. Also Id like to see pics when you are done, its always cool to see what other people do with vintage bikes.
The thing looks so sweet. I will be definitely using it for inspiration.
I plan on doing something with my CM400 but not entirely sure. I’m going to start putting more thought into it and should have some ideas soon.
37 Responses to “1981 Honda CM400E”
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Eric on June 14th, 2008
I have also been working on a cm400t. These things are great little bikes. Not hard to modify
Randal on June 20th, 2008
Thanks for the inspiration. I have a 1985 CB450 Honda Nighthawk. I bought it for $170 bucks at a yard sale. It’s a beater(didn’t even have a title, I took a chance & now it does). I now know what I am going to build…a bobber! I didn’t know how cool an old Honda could look & sound for that matter. I’ve always liked the bobber look. Now I think I will try one, hey the worst that could happen is I blow a few bucks. Hopefully minimal. I’ll check back. Thanks, Randal
analog on July 18th, 2008
mike on August 6th, 2008
what kind of tank is that and where is the best place to make my honda cm 400a look like this
SirRobbieRob on August 6th, 2008
It’s a stock tank. A ton of bondo was used to make it look a lot like a custom tank.
The best place is your garage. Doing it yourself is extremely rewarding.
If you do want to pay some, it won’t be cheap, I’m sure any custom bike shop in your area will do what you want.
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SeraphX24 on May 4th, 2010
I just bought an ’81 cm400E. I love the bike, but it’s missing sidecovers and i can’t find any anywhere. i am looking for someone who owns one who might be willing to help a guy out. i have an idea, which i think its pretty creative. Email me@seraphX24@yahoo.com if you want to make some money doing me a kindness. Thanx!
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Brent on August 13th, 2008
I like this bike, I like you got a good deal(free),so I’m gonna make it into a bobber this winter,the swap meet is in Oct, and should get some kool parts.
Jeff Ramaut on September 3rd, 2008
Great! I was looking for a bike that would be easy to change into a bobber and after visiting this page I bought a CM400t 1981 from a neighbour, I ‘m working on it for the moment and it’s exactly what i was looking for. So thanx a lot for giving me the idea. I think i will be able to send you some pics of my bobber in a few weeks (if you’re interested in it) but I get some questions: isn’t it risky for the frame or the swing arm to harden it by simply replacing the shocks? and what’s the size of your rear tire? thank you , from Belgium , Jeff.
Cwall on September 16th, 2008
What is a reasonable price to pay for an 81 CM400? Is $700 too high for a stock bike if it’s in ok shape?
jake on December 12th, 2009
I just bought a 1981 CM400E with 1200 original miles on it .I gave good money for it $1500 to be exact but this little bike is perfect.It came out of Michagan from the original owner.I need to put up some pictures you would not believe the quality of it .When i was 12 I had a CB125S and loved it,this bike reminded me of it so much I had to have it.If you really like it buy it.
SirRobbieRob on September 16th, 2008
If it is running and the paint looks good, I would say $700 is ok. I wouldn’t pay that much if any work is needed for it to be a running bike.
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Chris Christensen on September 16th, 2008
Hi Rob sweet bike just wondering if you could tell me how and where to cut the frame and bob the rear fender and also how to make the hard tail peices and also where you got all the goodies. I just bout a 1981 cm400 and would like to do the same as you. Thanks alot hope I didn’t ask to many dumb questions.Racine WI.
Pastamyk on March 10th, 2010
Did you ever get your 400 customized? I just picked up an ’82 cm450a and want to see what I can do to it… I’m not too far from racine…
mark k. on September 22nd, 2008
hey bud,awesome job on the honda.i recently just got an 1980 cm400t and would like to know if you had a parts list of what you purchased to make the changes,especially the seat(any pics of how its mounted?).did you lower the rearend if so how much? thanks in advance…mark
Lamont on September 26th, 2008
I am in the prosess of doing the same thing to my bike a 1982 cm450c, the things I need to know I cant seem to find answers for.
(I dont know a thing about bikes)
I want to know how to put a larger tire on the stock swing arm, it looks like I could fit a 180 on there but cant seem to find a rim for any metric custom bikes, or if I can put a larger wheel on the rear ? Also (I have alot of questions sory) How do I know wether apes or a drag bar are for me ? I have never driven with apes but my “79″ yamaha 400 special has drags on it….I have a couple other questions but I will ask later….sory so long, Thanks and I love your bike, that is just what I was going for but have no welder or weling expierance….lol
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big_d_2001 on October 11th, 2008
Hey I just bought a 40 cm from my nephew and was really wondering what to do with it man I know now. You did a great job on yours I’m so glad I found this web site GOOD WORK !!!
jeffrey hamilton on October 26th, 2008
hey dude sweet bike im building a cm 450 an 82 model damn good bikes i think cant wait to get my bobber done this is a first time build for me also hope it turns out as good as urs
WesJ on October 29th, 2008
Hey Rob, I just bought a 81 cm400t and love your bike! It gives me hope.. I was wondering what size tire you used on the back and If you have any ideas on keeping it a 2 seater and still maintaining a cool look.. also, what year and style triumph did you get the bars from?
(1st time bike modifier)
Adam Reese on November 9th, 2008
hi i have a 81 cm400 i paid $600 for it but it looks like it was in a garage most of its life. when i seen the pics of the bobber on this site i new thats i could take my grandpa bike to something that would turn heads and for cheep. thanks for all the great ideas.
Eric Taranto on November 19th, 2008
Anyone ever do this to a 1983 650 nighthawk? I bought one this passed your and would love to make a bobber out of it. Anyone know were to start?
neal on July 12th, 2009
I bobbed a 83 nighthawk 550 just follow the list that he left above. I cut right behind the shocks as rob did and lowered mine with 9 inch pieces of 1/4 inch steel and used a trailer fender from tractor supplyredone the tail light and signals,I took the factory bars and straightened the pullback to look like mini apes and put 2 1/2 pipe on the headers and put exhaust wrap on to look old skool made a seat from 3/4 inch felt saddle pad ( i work as a cowboy at a feedyard in oklahoma)and covered it with brown vinyl
SirRobbieRob on November 19th, 2008
@Eric I would suggest heading over to jockeyjournal.com. There are a lot of guys that could help out with that build and provide some inspiration.
Thanks
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Sean on December 4th, 2008
Hello,
I have a Honda CM450c that I have done similar to but have noticed that the stock rear mag/sprocket arrangement has become a pain. The whole rubber damper, free floating rear sprocket, all held on with just a circlip and lip on the rim is becoming scary. I have had my bike for two years now, enjoying every minute but I have burnt up two rear sprocket sleeves (no one eseems to know what this part is, even though the rear srocket is sloppy loose without it and sold without the sleeve) and there is no real remedy to fix this without changing the entire wheel arrangement. I was wondering if you have run into this since the cm400 and cm450 rear sprocket/mag arrangement is the same. Especially after putting all the work into yours. By the way, looks great, have seen it all over the internet now. Great job. Any help with this issue would be greatly appreciated. Hope to see your next build.
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andre on February 7th, 2009
972 984 9429 is my cell . im rebuilding the same bike , honda cm 400t. i have some questions about the parts and the gas tank. please give me a call or email me at abooker30@yahoo.com
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david on February 23rd, 2009
I am doing a rebuild on an 82 cm450e, and I was hoping someone could help me with going to bigger rear wheel. I am having trouble figuring out what would work. I am chopping the frame behind the shocks and am going to replace/raise the rear fender so I can try to have room for a pee-pad. For this to look worth a damn that rear wheel is going to have to be BIGGER. And I’d like to avoid having to stretch the swing-arm. Help.Please…
Herman on June 22nd, 2009
Hey Man: Glad to hear you are having fun with that 81 Honda, I love my 82 450CM: My Buddy just got back from Afghanistan & needs some reliable transpo. I am looking for the Rear Rubber Dampners for the Bike. Do you have any or where can I get some new ones. Here in Abq. Honda told me they don’t carry em any more! Help!!
Herman
neal on July 12th, 2009
I own a 83 nighthawk and lowered and bobbed it. I cut right behind the shocks and added 9 inch pieces of 1/4 inch steel(it lowered the bike approx. 8 inches)and welded to the frame bought a fender from tractor supply a new taillight and repaired the blinkers i painted the tank with black and white paint from the hardware store and staightened the stock bars to give it that old skool look and made a seat and covered it vinyl. ALL this was done in my backyard with the help of my eight yr.old son he is a bad ass helper and I’m proud of what we accoplished together!!
RemiRock on April 16th, 2010
hey im doing a bobbers with mine its a cb450 i don’t know really if its worth it to cut the frame… i dont know if it will end like a puzzle … you know what i mean… but from your experience do you recommend it? The Frame Still be good after yrs? thx alot for your time
Tice 215 on September 20th, 2009
I just bought a POS 82 cm450 and I still dont know if i want to make it into a bobber or a bad little cafe/streetfighter. I could probably do the bobber for cheap and if i go the streetfighter route I want to do an old school meets new school kinda thing. Which brings me to my questions. How hard would it be to put on newer sportbike parts like a newer cbr front end and rear assembly (swingarm, wheel etc,) Also if anybody has the service manual for the bike in .pdf form or whatever it would be awesome if you could email me a copy. tightpockt01@aol.com
Thanks!
jmassic on March 9th, 2010
So I just aquired a cm400a, but the inside of the tank is rusty, is there a way of fixing this w/o cutting the tank apart to sand it?
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flippy2 on March 17th, 2010
iam working on a 85 nighthawk sc . i need a carb for it or parts anyplace to find one? or parts. i hope someone cna help. thats all i reall yneed.
RemiRock on April 16th, 2010
hey im doing a bobbers with mine its a cb450 i don’t know really if its worth it to cut the frame… i dont know if it will end like a puzzle … you know what i mean… but from your experience do you recommend it? The Frame Still be good after yrs? thx alot for your time and its a really nice bike dude Thumbs up.
bonexsam on May 19th, 2010
I’m actually trying to recreate a bike like this also with my cm400E and T, Any information is helpful so thanks.
DvlDog05 on May 24th, 2010
What size tires are on the back and front?
Todd on June 3rd, 2010
I just came across your page after searching for 1981 Honda 400 pipes. I started riding in 2007 on a honda 750 aero and love it. I went to look at an old 1981 Honda 400 sitting in a friends corn crib. Trying to track down the actual owner but it’s pretty much in my name now…only $100. It’s going to need a ton of work, but I wanted a fun project. It’ll be my first build/modify. Looking forward to it. Thanks for the inspiration.
You can see the pic on my blog of what I bought. rowleywriter.blogspot.com
Thanks again,
Todd
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adam reese on July 27th, 2010
so i took some ideas from your bike and this is what i came up with. its a 81 honda cm 400
masscw on July 27th, 2010
I have a 1981 honda cm 400 Custom that I just put a new rear sprocket, new chain and new rubber seats in the rear hub. After reassembly there is a little bit of side to side wobble in the sprocket, (no wobble at all backwards and forwards. I have tried tightening, adding spacers etc. Does these bikes’ rear sprockets have a slight wobble normally?