The Honda CBR400 is a Japanese domestic market small-capacity sport motorcycle, part of the CBR series introduced by Honda in 1983. It was the first Honda motorcycle to wear a CBR badge.
Honda CBR400 at a glance
| Maker | Honda |
|---|---|
| Launched | December 1983 |
| Model | CBR400R (NC17), naked |
| Engine | liquid-cooled DOHC inline four, four valves per cylinder |
| Valve system | REV, two to four valves at 9,500 rpm |
| Faired versions | F3 Endurance from 1985 |
| 1988 model | CBR400RR (NC23) Tri-Arm |
| 1992 model | called the Baby Blade |
| 1994 model | styled after the CBR900RR Fireblade |
| Market | Japan only |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the CBR400. No free photograph of a CBR400 was found among the Commons candidates.
History of the Honda CBR400
The first CBR
The CBR400R (NC17) naked bike was launched in December 1983 as the first Honda to wear a CBR badge. Its liquid-cooled four-stroke DOHC inline four had four valves per cylinder and a rotational-speed valve stop mechanism called REV, a prototype of Honda’s later VTEC system, which changed from two valves to four at 9,500 rpm.
Faired versions
Over the following two years the model appeared in semi-faired and fully faired form as the F3 Endurance. The CBR400R and early CBR400RR carried the NC23 model code. The 1986 CBR400R was nicknamed Aero or Jellymould for its rounded shapes, shared with the early CBR600F and CBR1000F Hurricane family; the 1988 CBR400RR became the Tri-Arm, named after its braced racing-style swingarm.
Baby Blade
The 1992 CBR400RR was called the Baby Blade replica, and the 1994 model was styled to look like the CBR900RR Fireblade. In performance and handling it was usually compared with the CBR600. The CBR400RR preceded the 900 cc Fireblade by four model years and went through one major rework, marked by a new gull-arm swingarm. The RR versions were the NC23 and NC29, from the RR-J of 1988 through the RR-K, RR-L, RR-N and RR-R of 1994.
Design and features
- First CBR badge: the model that started Honda’s CBR line.
- REV valve system: two valves per cylinder below 9,500 rpm, four above.
- Tri-Arm swingarm: the braced rear end of the 1988 CBR400RR.
- Baby Blade styling: the 1994 model copied the Fireblade look.
Honda CBR400 versions
- CBR400R (NC17, 1983): the original naked bike.
- F3 Endurance: semi- and fully faired versions from 1985.
- CBR400RR Tri-Arm (1988): braced swingarm model.
- CBR400RR Baby Blade (1992): replica-styled version.
- CBR400RR-R (1994): the final Fireblade-styled model.
The CBR400 began the CBR line that continued with the CBR600RR and the CBR900RR. More Hondas are in the Honda collection.
Sources
- Honda CBR400, English Wikipedia: launch, engine, generations, model codes
