Saturday, December 18, 2010

Another Honda Hawk CB400A Sighting!

Hey, That's My Old Bike!
Ever notice that once you buy a new car, suddenly you notice that you see the same cars everywhere? Part of this is perception of your environment. We're more attentive to familiar or significantly novel stimulus. 

That said, I've been seeing the 1978 Honda Hawk CB400 show up everywhere. The latest sighting is in HELL FOR LEATHER! That's like having Johnny call you over on the Tonight Show. (Okay, you youngsters won't get that reference.) It's like making the cover of Rolling Stone. Anyway, it's not featured, but still pretty cool. 

Actually, it's in a photo spread for a Corazzo jacket review. Cool jacket, and something I'd wear. My daughter Grace even says I look like the guy in the picture. Anyway, look at the bike he's standing on -- see that under his right foot -- yup, it is the unmisstakeable profile of the 1978 CB400. Looks just like the Goldfish I had in college.

My guess is it is probably a Hondamatic. After all, it is the only motorcycle in a sea of scoots, so it fits right in! 

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Mint Bikes!

When I bought my CB400, I wrote off the idea of doing a full restoration to stock -- but instead planned a low-budget customization project. I knew there were some mint bikes out there and that I could never match their quality with my dollars available. Besides, I wanted to ride. Today I came across a couple of mind-blowing mint condition CB400s. The first lived on the showroom floor for 24 years of a dealership! The second looks like my bike except it looks brand new. They are both for sale on eBay. Check 'em out!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Black on White? Some Simple, Beautiful Customs

I've been looking for inspiration for the paint job on my HONDA CB400A. The folks over at Death Spray Customs have a great White on Black simple design that I'm tempted to emulate. It's a 1970 Triumph TR25 and it is rugged and clean. I've already got the black frame and will likely end up with a white or black overpaint on my exhaust system.

I also like the white pipes and clean lines on the Much Much Go as profiled at BikeEXIF. This is a cheap but beautiful custom of a similar vintage machine that won the Deus Ex Machina comptetition. What do you think?