Please note: This bike is not a runner. The past owner installed the cam caps incorrectly, so one cam is definitely bad. Additionally, Adam and Steve performed a compression test and found the bike to have low compression.
Additional photos are available here for your perusal.
Affectionately known as the Babyblade, the Honda CBR400RR was a 400cc sportbike sold only in Japan for approximately 15 years. The nickname came about as it was the smaller brother to the Fireblade.
In the 90s, the American motorcycle market was the epitome of “the bigger, the better.” But in Japan, the 400cc class was where most of the innovation was happening due to licensing/displacement restrictions. Every Japanese OEM invested countless dollars into improving their 400cc offerings, and models wouldn’t go more than a couple of years without significant upgrades.
As Visor Down found in its review, “it might lack top end zap, but what it has is a far wider spread of power that makes it considerably less frantic to ride. Overtakes don’t require a tap dance on the gear lever and pulling away isn’t a clutch-frying experience either. It feels like someone has taken the power characteristics of a 600cc bike, and just shrunk them a little. Because of this friendly delivery, the CBR is a pleasure to ride. The clutch is nice and light for town riding, the seat height low and the power on tap instead of needing a search party. On the open road the CBR delivers the kind of handling and performance you’d expect from a 400, in a refined fashion.”
This example is VIN: NC231030976.
The odometer shows 23,949 kilometers (14,881 miles).
Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, we cleaned and synced the carbs, changed the pilot jets, reset the float height, replaced the fuel screws, and adjusted the valves and cams. Additionally, we re-installed the front tire as it was mounted backwards.
Angel and Steve did the work, they note the following in their condition report:
Tire Years Front/ Rear: 2020
Tire % Front/ Rear: 100%
Brake % Front/ Rear : 95%
Hydraulic Fluid: Ok
Oil – Level Ok; Quality: Ok
Coolant – Level Ok; Quality: Ok
Low Beam: Ok
High Beam: Ok
Turn: Not Flashing, Battery Low
Tail Light: Ok
Brake Light: Ok
Plate Light: Ok
Killswitch: Ok
Horn: Ok
Battery: 12.0V
Steve also found that the cam caps were installed incorrectly from the past owner so one cam is definitely bad as it scoured it. He states that the head has some rounded journals so ideally a new head is found BUT a machine shop could likely fix it (not the cam though).
Modifications:
Aftermarket exhaust.
Aftermarket turn signals.
Aftermarket bar-ends.
Motografix tank pad.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Pirelli Angel GT tires with date codes of 0420 and 3420.
The sale includes two keys.
Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California (please make an appointment for an inspection), this Honda is offered on a clean Oregon title. Have any CBR400RR stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
