Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1531664
"I know it when I see it," said the late United States Su- preme Court Justice Potter Stewart. Never mind that the Honorable Justice Stewart was attempting to define hard-core pornography in a case involving the showing of a controversial film. We, the discerning motorcy - clists of the world, can relate. We know that while certain motor- cycles get a nod and a smile, oth- ers seem to be able to pull our eyeballs right out of our sock- ets. The first Ducati Monster. A Norton Commando. A Husqvarna 250 Magnum. It may be hard to explain, but they've got "it." We know it when we see it. Such a motorcycle was the 1975 Honda CB400F. Some - where in Honda's design lab, somebody went rogue with this one. They took the disappointing Honda CB 350F and threw out its conventional styling. The little 350F was shaped in the mold of its big brother, the popular CB750F and the CB550F. Its replacement, the CB400F, with its squared-off tank, clubman bars and luscious four-into-one exhaust, didn't fit in. In Honda's 1975 model lineup, it stood out like Iggy Pop in a family photo with The Osmonds. "Son of Superhawk" was the title of Cycle News' May 6, 1975, road test of the Honda CB400F. The Superhawk reference re - called Honda's CB77, a mid-'60s twin that looked a whole lot fast- er than its 305cc. Low bars and a thin saddle positioned the rider more like a racer, a racer who looked European fast, thanks in part to the use of the engine as a part of the frame, which meant there was no front downtube to distract one from lusting after all 28 of those horses that were hidden inside the air-cooled powerplant. But the Superhawk had been binned to make room for the more docile CB350 twin, a motor - cycle that was loved by everyone who rode one and thus hated by those who wrote about them. In the 1970s, motorcycle journal - ists were aspiring curmudgeons, irascible beings who used most of their ink telling enthusiasts everything that was wrong with their rides of choice. Honda added the CB350 Four in 1973, which became the 400F in 1975—a major revamp. Think of Sandy from the movie Grease. The 350F wore a poodle skirt and saddle shoes. The 400F swapped those out for leather pants and to-the-knee boots that weren't made for walking. Never mind that the engine had barely been breathed on; the 400F was the one that you want. "You can't really say it vi - brates," CN wrote, almost re- fusing to be critical of the new Honda. "Instead, the engine makes a vaguely erotic tingle that comes and goes. It will idle down to 2500 rpm in top gear… the CB400 can poke along in that mode on level ground, barely sip - ping fuel/air mix." The 400F was meant to be rid- den hard. Plod along at anything below 6000 rpm, and you were CNIIARCHIVES P116 BY KENT TAYLOR THE HONDA The unmistakable exhaust system of the 1975-1977 Honda CB400F. Eye-Cdy