new guy

tsflstb · 10-05-2004, 10:35 AM

Great site. Haven't really posted anything here besides an ad for my VFR a while back. I consider myself a careful rider, but had a run of bad luck with tickets on that bike. Not sure if it was the sportbike look or what, but I always seemed to get picked out of a string of cars going the same speed. Figured it was time to slow down, but I wasn't quite ready for a cruiser, so I found a '75 CB400F.

Bike pic one

Bike pic two

This beast is pushing about 30HP, so it keeps me out of trouble. It was in bad shape when I bought it. I've put in a lot of work to get it to the semi-sorry state you see now. It's not done yet, but I think I've shaken out most of the mechanical problems. Next on the list is a bucket of bondo and some flat black paint.

Anyway, if you see a 200# guy riding this little bike around Humble/Atascosita/Kingwood, that's probably me. I may expand my "comfort zone" farther from the house as I get more confident that the bike won't leave me stranded.

I'd like to make a short ride or two before our first child gets here in early December. I'll probably have my hands full for a few months (years?) after that. I can hardly wait though.

stephen

PS -- Did anybody see the Vincent Black Shadow riding around Kingwood this weekend? Incredible bike, looked brand new. I was headed to Lowe's on 494 and nearly ran off the road.

[IMG tags changed to URL because image wider than 500 pixels - Admin]

**Tourmeister** · 10-05-2004, 12:06 PM

Howdy Stephen,

I had a similar experience being passed by a pack of cars, and I got pulled over. Fortunately, I got a warning. I found that putting GIVI luggage on the bike pretty much took care of that issue. With all the luggage you get a second look from the LEO but it is usually a perplexed look instead of the hunter/prey look, hehe.

The CB looks great. I like the red. It makes a nice contrast with the rest of the bike. Are you going to use a glossy black? I think that would look pretty good as well.

We're expecting our first in early December. I too am wondering what may happen to my riding opportunities afterwards...

Glad you came back out of lurk mode

Adios,

tsflstb · 10-05-2004, 01:16 PM

Must need hard luggage to get out of tickets, I had some cortech bags, no deal...

I can't decide whether to go with matte black like the "dark" Ducatis or go for a real paint job (red/black with clearcoat). I'll be doing this myself, and figured it would be hard to mess up flat black.

Contgratulations. We're due December 5th. Went to a 4 hour class this weekend for first time parents. Learned how to change a diaper on a plastic doll. Sure beat drinking beer and watching football. Actually, pretty informative class, better to learn this stuff now than in the heat of battle.

**ZapataZR7** · 10-05-2004, 02:46 PM

Best regards Stephen:

AWESOME bike....!!!! Perfect candidate for a "CafÃ© Racer"......!!!!!

Just change the "drag/flat" bar for a "clubman" bar. I agree with the matte black color.

Congratulations for the newborn.

tsflstb · 10-05-2004, 03:28 PM

I've always like the older Norton, Triumphs, and even the older japanese cafe racers. Not sure why, as most guys my age like the newer stuff. This bike is really light and actually pretty quick despite the lack of power.

I agree the clubman bars or even clip-ons would look a lot better. I'd like to move the headlight and instrument cluster down a few inches below the top triple clamp also. I think that would clean up the bike quite a bit. Always a work in progress...

Here's a picture of the bike when I bought it. It came stock with a dual seat and passenger pegs on the swingarm(!). Seemed like an afterthought, so I changed that up.

bike in original condition

[IMG tag replaced with URL tag because image wider than 500 pixels - Admin]

sbaker33 · 10-05-2004, 04:48 PM

Hey, good to have another Kingwood-area rider around. Shoot me a PM if you want to go for a ride sometime.

10-05-2004, 10:35 AM	#1
tsflstb Join Date: May 2003 Location: Katy, TX Posts: 99	new guy Great site. Haven't really posted anything here besides an ad for my VFR a while back. I consider myself a careful rider, but had a run of bad luck with tickets on that bike. Not sure if it was the sportbike look or what, but I always seemed to get picked out of a string of cars going the same speed. Figured it was time to slow down, but I wasn't quite ready for a cruiser, so I found a '75 CB400F. Bike pic one Bike pic two This beast is pushing about 30HP, so it keeps me out of trouble. It was in bad shape when I bought it. I've put in a lot of work to get it to the semi-sorry state you see now. It's not done yet, but I think I've shaken out most of the mechanical problems. Next on the list is a bucket of bondo and some flat black paint. Anyway, if you see a 200# guy riding this little bike around Humble/Atascosita/Kingwood, that's probably me. I may expand my "comfort zone" farther from the house as I get more confident that the bike won't leave me stranded. I'd like to make a short ride or two before our first child gets here in early December. I'll probably have my hands full for a few months (years?) after that. I can hardly wait though. stephen PS -- Did anybody see the Vincent Black Shadow riding around Kingwood this weekend? Incredible bike, looked brand new. I was headed to Lowe's on 494 and nearly ran off the road. [IMG tags changed to URL because image wider than 500 pixels - Admin]

10-05-2004, 02:46 PM	#4
ZapataZR7 My Email Address Does Not Work!! Please Contact Admin! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Richmond, TX Posts: 182	Best regards Stephen: AWESOME bike....!!!! Perfect candidate for a "CafÃ© Racer"......!!!!! Just change the "drag/flat" bar for a "clubman" bar. I agree with the matte black color. Congratulations for the newborn. __________________ "It is better to die on your feet than to live all your life on your knees!" Emiliano Zapata 1879-1919

10-05-2004, 04:48 PM	#6
sbaker33 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Kingwood, TX Posts: 211	Hey, good to have another Kingwood-area rider around. Shoot me a PM if you want to go for a ride sometime. __________________ -sbaker 2009 HD Sportster http://backroadsbuddha.blogspot.com/

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10-05-2004, 01:16 PM	#3
tsflstb Join Date: May 2003 Location: Katy, TX Posts: 99	Must need hard luggage to get out of tickets, I had some cortech bags, no deal... I can't decide whether to go with matte black like the "dark" Ducatis or go for a real paint job (red/black with clearcoat). I'll be doing this myself, and figured it would be hard to mess up flat black. Contgratulations. We're due December 5th. Went to a 4 hour class this weekend for first time parents. Learned how to change a diaper on a plastic doll. Sure beat drinking beer and watching football. Actually, pretty informative class, better to learn this stuff now than in the heat of battle.

10-05-2004, 03:28 PM	#5
tsflstb Join Date: May 2003 Location: Katy, TX Posts: 99	I've always like the older Norton, Triumphs, and even the older japanese cafe racers. Not sure why, as most guys my age like the newer stuff. This bike is really light and actually pretty quick despite the lack of power. I agree the clubman bars or even clip-ons would look a lot better. I'd like to move the headlight and instrument cluster down a few inches below the top triple clamp also. I think that would clean up the bike quite a bit. Always a work in progress... Here's a picture of the bike when I bought it. It came stock with a dual seat and passenger pegs on the swingarm(!). Seemed like an afterthought, so I changed that up. bike in original condition [IMG tag replaced with URL tag because image wider than 500 pixels - Admin]

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