Godfrey DiGiorgi wrote: > > ... As for Honda motorcycles, did you ever come across the CB400N > > Auto, which my local independent motorcycle sales manager ran? .. > > I think that was the CB400A in the USA. They didn't sell very > well here, but we had a few of them go through the shop.
They sold (so I was told) about 1 auto for every 500, 400 sales. > One of my buddies owned a small independent shop. We built > specials and race motors there. On a lark in about 1977 or > so, we picked up a Honda CB750A automatic engine unit, fitted > an 812cc kit onto it with a good worked head, and installed > that in a Rickman chassis. Had to tune it a little > differently from a 5 speed machine to maximize powerband, but > it was a kick to run around Bridgehampton and Pocono tracks. > Went well as long as it held together ... Unfortunately, the > torque converter cooked the oil, despite synthetics and four > huge oil coolers, and the shared gearbox/engine oil > combination cooked the pistons fast, so it never lasted a > complete race. Very interesting. All my motorcycles were standard - must dig the photos out :-) Malcolm
