Classic test 1975 Honda CB400F MASTERPIECE OF FUNCTIONAL DESIGN

The magazine headline ‘Poor Boy’s Musclebike’ summed up the appeal of Honda’s multi-cylinder middleweight on its launch in 1975. Most motorcyclists might have dreamt of owning a CB750 or Kawasaki Z1 back in the days when many were relatively young and didn’t own a car, but the stylish and sweet-handling ‘400-four’ was a more realistic proposition – and sufficiently quick, fun and inexpensive to become a big hit. British bikers, in particular, took the CB400F to their hearts, partly because it seemed to have been created especially for us, or at least for Europeans, at a time when many Japanese bikes were designed primarily for the dominant American market. The 400F’s size, looks and sporting intent provided a welcome antidote to bigger, softer, more garish models epitomised by Honda’s giant GL1000 Gold Wing, which was introduced in the same year. Soichiro Honda had described his company’s earlier, four-cylinder CB350 four as the “finest, smoothest Honda ever built”, and the CB400F’s engine was heavily based on the 350’s air-cooled, eight-valve unit. Bore was increased by 4mm to give 408cc, and