Should a cb400 ever lose traction under heavy acceleration?

My tyres seem fine enough for thread and the road surface is mostly ok around where I am but I'm finding it very easy to make the back wheel lose traction when I rev hard into vtec range or drop down into it.

I don't particularly mind.. I just have no idea what the rubber quality is like on the tyre so wondering if a cb400 has enough torque to break traction. If it doesn't, I'll have to look about getting a new tyre.

Max Headroom

Has it a turbo fitted..............:D

Are you sure its not the clutch slipping or maybe oil/fluid leaking onto the tyre,,,theres no way a cb400 will spin up under normal conditions.....

Wonda-Boy

Can you give a proper instance of when it happens? Are you stopped and pulling off fast, or moving and giving it hard acceleration? Are the tyres warm or you just starting the ride....is this only happening on one particular road in your area.

What tyres do you have on her?

Please Kill Me

There's no way a CB400 would wheel spin. I use my OH's Super Four from time to time and I don't ride it easy, and it's never happened to me. You mention vtec range - there's no vtec on a CB400 mate, so I'm slightly confused here. The only thing I can think of is that your clutch is slipping or your tyres have had it. This usually happens when you're gunning it/accelerating hard and she's almost redlined. Happens on my ZX sometimes when I'm caning it.

Cienciano

Please Kill Me wrote: »

There's no way a CB400 would wheel spin. I use my OH's Super Four from time to time and I don't ride it easy, and it's never happened to me. You mention vtec range - there's no vtec on a CB400 mate, so I'm slightly confused here. The only thing I can think of is that your clutch is slipping or your tyres have had it. This usually happens when you're gunning it/accelerating hard and she's almost redlined. Happens on my ZX sometimes when I'm caning it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CB400SF

For 1999, Vtec was introduced in an attempt to improve low- and midrange power.

Del2005

Ads by Google wrote: »

My tyres seem fine enough for thread and the road surface is mostly ok around where I am but I'm finding it very easy to make the back wheel lose traction when I rev hard into vtec range or drop down into it.

I don't particularly mind.. I just have no idea what the rubber quality is like on the tyre so wondering if a cb400 has enough torque to break traction. If it doesn't, I'll have to look about getting a new tyre.

It's winter so your tyres will take longer to warm up. The roads are soaking with loads of rotting leaves, doesn't help traction. Do you know how old the tyres are, the good can go out of tyres?

While you're tyres may have legal thread, water clearing doesn't work as well that low, if you have around 3mm I'd change.

Wossack

just to confirm - just heavily accelerating going in a straight line? all bets are off going wide open midcorner

I'd expect the front to lift before the backend to go really. So either tyres, or road surface imo

Max Headroom

Are you Casey Stoner perhaps....................:D

CJhaughey

OP is in Vietnam, maybe the road surface is different there or the tyres are super hard.

Fabritzo

The tyre should have a date code on it, if it's over 4 years old, I'd change it. I'd recommend a Bridgestone touriing tyre or something from the Michelin pilot power range.

Please Kill Me

Cienciano wrote: »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CB400SF

Didn't know there was a vtec in them. The one I have is 93 and anyone I know who has one, are in around the same year, so obviously no vtec.

Cheers for the info all the same. Nice one.

Cienciano

Please Kill Me wrote: »

Didn't know there was a vtec in them. The one I have is 93 and anyone I know who has one, are in around the same year, so obviously no vtec.

Cheers for the info all the same. Nice one.

Didn't know either, surprised too when I saw it.
Never on one, but I see the odd nicely kept super four around town, savage looking bike when it's nice and shiny.

Please Kill Me

Cienciano wrote: »

Never on one, but I see the odd nicely kept super four around town, savage looking bike when it's nice and shiny.

They're a great bike!! Nimble and agile, great, fun commuter bike.

Cb400 does indeed have vtec.. And the wheel spin just happens in first and continues if i shift hard into second. Tyres are Michelin Pilot Road and after having a second look, I think I just need a new tyre.




Never bought tyres for a bike and years since I bought them for a car so my judgement is way way off. It's about $250 here for a continental rear tyre. Joys of driving a mostly illegal bike.

As a side note, thought I'd be ready to drive any bike after getting comfortable with dirt bikes but definitely see the value of a 400 before a 600.. Traffic and road conditions here are insane and I'd hate to think how I'd handle a cbr in so many tight spots everyday. The sheer amount of engine breaking being one of the most noticeable things to get used to.

Please Kill Me

That's the old version of the Pilot Road. Get the new version and I guarantee you'll notice the difference!

Odysseus

I have put a fair few miles up on two CB's over the years, I have never had that problem.

KamiKazi

My old CB400 would spin up, but only in the winter on frosty roads.

Are you sure it's not the clutch slipping? How do you know it's the wheel spinning up? Does the back end start squirming around?

The Don

I'd recommend Michelin Pilot Road 3. Fantastic tyres!

Yea I know it's not clutch slip. I bought the bike with the clutch slightly tight and it was slipping. Now it's the actual back end squirming. Id like to take tyre advice but I'll be stuck with whatever I get. Cheers for the advice.

paulieeye

had a 99 SF vtec for years up to few months back...never happened to me

Fabritzo

This you?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEEcaiburYg

BrokenArrows

Fabritzo wrote: »

This you?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEEcaiburYg

Is love to see that from an external point of view

Fabritzo

Fabritzo wrote: »

This you?!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEEcaiburYg

Jesus.. :eek: I don't know how anyone can deal with that amount of adrenaline.

Cienciano

A normal commute home on a friday evening, no big deal

Hotblack Desiato

As a card carrying* atheist, I can only say, JESUS CHRIST








* atheists do not carry membership cards

CJhaughey

Ahh, Russians you gotta love them.

KamiKazi

CJhaughey wrote: »

Ahh, Russians you gotta love them.

Filmed in Athens according to the Youtube description actually

galwaytt

KamiKazi wrote: »

Filmed in Athens according to the Youtube description actually

Russian tourist on rented bike in Athens anyone.......... ??

jeez he's nuts. locking it up, breaking traction all over the place. And all on tarmac that looks like it was painted with old engine oil.

Ba-Na-Nas.

Richard tea

I noticed some cracks within the thread of my Bridgestone rear tyre. After checking the manufacturing date which im sure is DOT 4209, should the tyre be what they call dry rotting already? Its just shy of 4 years old.

Fabritzo

Is it left outside all the time?

Richard tea

Fabritzo wrote: »

Is it left outside all the time?

I have the bike about a year and a half and its mostly outside