Hi all,

Just thought i'd say hello since i WILL be after some help in the near future!! Been a member of the site for YEARS now since i owned an NC30 for 6 years circa 2000 to '06. Since that had a CBR600 (F3 import) for a year, and two Fireblades, a '97 RRV and an '03 RR3. All excellent bikes

Well, i sold the RR3 blade in July last year due to the imminent arrival of our first baby who arrived at the end of October but ever since i became bikeless i have been missing owing a bike.

Today i have been to look at (and ultimately purchased) a 1993 CBR400RR NC29 that is a little worse for wear, although i am assured that the bike runs perfectly well even though it has not been started since summer. It will look 10 times better for a good clean up!! It's on a Q plate but at this moment in time i'm 50/50 whether it will become a road bike or a track bike. I'm picking it up at the weekend

I was never intending to take on a project, but for what i managed to pay for the bike i'm prepared to have a go. There's a few bits and pieces missing and i'm inclined to think it will need a full set of bodywork (bar the tail unit which looks ok). I don't want to turn it into a money pit as that defeats the point of getting it cheap and will be trying to stick to a fairly strict budget.

Now i'm no mechanic but have performed basic maintenance on my previous bikes, probably no more involved than changing a fork leg/alternator on my NC, and changing the rear shock and servicing on my '97 and '03 blades, however i have ordered a Haynes for it and i'm prepared to get stuck in

Initial questions i have are: the bikes been stood a while but i'm keen to check it is a decent runner before i dive in and spend any money/large amounts of time on it. It needs the fuel pump fixing in situ, the downpipes fitting properly and a fuel pipe fitting between the pump and valve on the tank. What should i do prior to tadging a battery on, putting some fresh fuel in and pressing the button bearing in mind it's been stood a while?!

Where is the best place to source part numbers/spares from? I have done a quick google for cbr400 microfische and drawn a blank really.

Bit previous this, but i have found a brand new full set of replacement race bodywork for £145 posted, but if i decide to go the road route, are there any similiarly priced kits out there for road use?

Thanks in advance, sure i'll be back with a ton more Q's soon!!

Cheers,
Rob

Hi Rob and welcome back into the 400 fold. Is this the one off pistonheads?

Chris.

Part numbers would be easiest/best from CMSL , helped me out no end when I started doing mine up they all have diagrams etc .... As for the fairings that is quite cheap I think , but they do pop up on eBay in the form of Chinese copies but check the postage costs as this can double the price !

I'd give it fresh oil and a new filter before starting it, just to be safe. Maybe check the plugs.

As for parts, I mostly use Graeme France, he has pretty much everything - gfracingtw@live.co.uk

chrisja2 wrote:Hi Rob and welcome back into the 400 fold. Is this the one off pistonheads?

Chris.

Yes mate, I think so (the North Yorkshire one?). It was advertised on PH. It looks a daunting job, mainly cause there's quite a few little bits missing here and there so I'll be doing a lot of guessing what goes where?!! But I'll first check she's a good runner and if it is then game on!

Looking forward to the 400 scene again, must say that even after owning the 600/thous, I never had as much fun on those as I did the NC.

Yeh have seen the bodykits on eBay, looked great until I saw the p&p charges!!! Guess it depends what it costs to get mechanically sound and if funds allow then maybe I'll bite the bullet. But been on a Q plate It's never going to fetch top dollar.

Who's good at rebuilding rear shocks BTW? I can service the front forks myself I think (thicker oil help on 29's?), but the rear feels soggy and didn't look like it would wind up much further.

Thanks for the welcome

Rob

Most people replace the shock with an aftermarket one or one from a CBR600, or even one from an R6 has been done. For my NC23 I bought a kit from GF which included a recondition CBR600 shock and linkage with new Ohlins spring, and custom made lower dogbone. For the NC29 I believe there are certain shocks that fit pretty much straight in without needing to change the linkage - have a look through the workshop section, plenty of info in there.

Howdo
As has been said oil n filter also check theres water in the rad, see if you can turn it over by hand first if its been stood/abused for a while (why was it left stood ie did the owner try n kill the bike)

May i just say what an excellent choice of bike you've picked

i agree with above post. Turn over my hand first. checked the plugs, etc.

Fresh oil and filter from H gericke for £20, so makes sense.

Personally if it was me.....

- Source and new "clean" frame and re frame it. Insurance HATES Q plates if you do put it on road
- Get a new sump and cam cover in standard colours
- While its not together (dont say in bits, mental barrier lol) check valve clearances and carbs

Def consider the Jimmy Chong panels! by the time you factor in the costs of buying panels, prepping them, spraying them. £320 gets you the lot to your door.

But if for track bike then just get the panel(s) that are missing, sand, prime and spray yourself.

Thanks for all the replies and welcomes

The bike is not in that many bits really, it's fairly complete albeit with numerous bits and pieces missing and/or broken. To get it running i'm going to need to reattach the downpipes which are hanging off (a few of the studs and nuts missing here - anyone have spares before i buy new replacements?? lol), the fuel pump needs a new hose (what diameter is the fuel pipe?) to the tap ass. and fixing up, there's no battery but aside from that i can't see what else i would need to have a crack at turning it over.

Quick Q if i may (just to show my complete lack of mechanical knowledge... )... To turn it over by hand which many of you suggest - how would i do this?

I think i'll spend the money on the oil/filter, i'll check the plugs as well as it's not a big job and won't cost owt!

Cheers,
Rob

spin the back wheel with it in gear.