I wanted a CB400F when they came out in the seventies. Alas by that time I had grenaded the engine on a Suzuki 380. Not its fault but a combination of an electronic ignition conversion which threw the timing off and a rather unpleasant workshop manager at a Biggleswade dealer who couldn't be bothered to help me get the bike back to the correct settings. Conversely a certain Luton based dealer was exceedingly helpful after the blowup (as were Suzuki) so they got the order for my next bike which, as I was still paying off the finance on the 380, was (another) CD175 so I never did get my nice new CB400F.

Wind the clock forward 30 years and I got the chance to ride a CB400F one Sunday courtesy of Larry Botheras whose then wife Alex owned two and found it to be as good as I imagined. Driving by Stratford Road Motorcycles in Wolverton the following day I spotted this little beauty outside the shop. By the end of the day I owned it, had it insured and was out riding it.