Hi, Just sold off my last project a Yam fzx750, and splashed out on a well used CBR400RR NC23. She was very tatty, vibrated and shuddered when riding and almost shook my teeth out when applying front brakes.
As i had won it on ebay for just £700 I was commited to buying the bike. loaded her in the van and took her back to Liverpool.
new wheel bearings, new front disks, new brake pads. cleaned and serviced the machine (oil, filters, plugs etc.)
fitted all new parts and she looked quiet good actually, but still shuddered a bit. BRAINWAVE...... released all the bolts holding the forks in place and as I loosened the last one, the forks actually sprung back into place. Checked everything was straight re alined the front wheel and tourqued everything back up. NO VIBRATION, accurate and I must say exceptional handling. All in All a sweet little machine . Now to refurb evrything with some tastefull mods of course. My dilema is this the FRAME NO : start Nc23 and is correct for model year 1989 however the engine number is a complete mystery it starts CB400E...........42. I cannot find this prefix in any liteature for CBRs or CB1s. It appears to be factory stamped, the fonts are right no filling or machining around or on the engine casing anybody help ???????

This website would suggest it is a CB400 enigne from the 70's:

http://z1enterprises.com/bike-list-honda.aspx

I saw that on the same site, an old cb400 motor seems to be the only ones with the CB400E prefix to the engine number. But it cant be as it is watercooled, gear driven and looks identical to nc23, nc27 or nc29 motor.
I know the nc23(CBR400), and nc27(CB1)are similar. What are the visual differences between CBR and CB1 motors apart from the different gearing.
I am almost shure it is a CB1 motor as the 1st gear is not tall and she gets away pretty rapidly where I believe the CBR 1st gear is quite tall.
If anyone can shed some light on my stange engine number pls let me know.

Post up a pic of the engine please

Cb-1 engines are prefixed nc23. They are externally similar to CBR engines but the top engine mount is different so wouldn't line up and on your bike you would have a bolt thread just behind the heads which was not attached.

Show us a picture and we will tell you what's up.

How do i post an image ? i have tried but with no success..

CB1doesn't have an oil cooler, also the generator cover is a chrome effect. Obviously there will be other differences.
Mike

Sorry about the delay. Here are some photos of the motor.

That certainly looks like an nc23 motor ! Does the number match the log book/registration document, if so i would n`t worry too much.