Saturday 28 February 2009

All up about £500 so far

Cleaned up


Did some new pics today and went for a 40 mile run this afternoon. All coming together quite well. Not too happy with the way the Motad downpipes are colouring up but you can see the CB450 DX is cleaning up OK. As always, pictures make bikes look better than they are (so make allowance when buying on the net, especially on eBay). Adjusted the clutch cable today and I'm still not too happy with the reach on the front brake lever. There's more feel than when I bought the bike a month ago though... probably just because it's being used

Friday 27 February 2009

Now there's an idea...

Be warned kids, this is what can happen with a copy of BSH, a couple of drinks inside you and not too much cash. Surely this is a mistake of similar proportion to that made by the designer of the Honda Spacy.

Two more pics of the bargain Brazilian


Yours for £350.... no price quoted for delivery. Click here for original ad

Here's one the Brazilians made later and it's only £350

Ok, ignore the tassles and see this CB450 '94. It was for sale in Brazil found on the net for 1,200 Brazilian Real... that's cheap. It's about £350. Ok the ad was October 2007, but you get the idea.
It's pretty obvious they don't use salt on the roads. It's clean and tidy and the best part is, the Brazilians seem to look after them too. The seat has been cut down, it's a tall 32 ins as standard, the horn has been moved to make way for the tool roll... all in all a nice job

Tuesday 24 February 2009

Fitted: Motad 2 into 1, quieter and tidier

The Motad 2 into 1 tidies up the front and the pipes are turning a lovely coppery gold colour after 40-odd miles. The sound is typical Honda actually and as I get older I appreciate silencers more - see below for the evil racket it made when I bought it. I spent five years with a Harley and there is nothing like the sound of unbaffled pipes on the 45 degree V twin.

New Motad, shocks and rear tyre

The Motad exhaust was easy, (£140 Busters)three pieces, less than an hour to strip the old and fit. The Oxon shocks (£29.99 ebay) which vary in price up to £60 are Chinese made, the chrome's decent enough and they seem to work ok. And of course the 4.60x18 Avon Distanzia tyre (£40 ebay again). More often found on the rear of big dual purpose bikes, it looks nice. The old CB feels stable and quick enough and gave no cause for concern on a 30 -mile ride a A-road at the weekend.

Monday 23 February 2009

REVIEW: Day One, the eBay 'bargain'


I originally wrote this for Reviewcentre.com which can be pretty useful. But the people there can't be bothered to put it up. And the two bits I've written in the past suffered at the hands of their 'editors' so while they continue to worry whether they can be seen to suggest anyone ventures over 70mph on the motorway, here were my intial thoughts on Dog after buying it at the end of January.


So you want to get onto two wheels cheaply. Then the CB450 DX-K built by our Brazillian chums has got to be a winner.
You need this review because there's just not enough stuff on the internet about the last Superdream.

What do you mean you don't want a CB450DX?


I am not the sort of bloke who does web pages for fun, but in this case there is a need to help you with the 20 year old Honda CB450DX.
If you want a cheap, fun, easy to maintain, bike which will carry a passenger and cruise at 80 on the motorway all for under £400, then there ain't a lot out there.
And if you do decide the bastard offspring of the old CB400N (yes the much maligned Superdream) turned out in a Brazilian jungle and imported into Britain between 1989 and 92 is for you, then you are gonna have a difficult job finding out what you need to know.

Ebay, £325 with MoT but home cooked exhaust has to go

Dog as bought end of Jan 09... we have plans