I recently picked up this 1981 CM400A Honda “Hondamatic” motorcycle from marketplace. These are fairly rare. Automatic motorcycles never caught on in America; Honda tried for four years to build a market for them and then gave up, so not many were ever manufactured. Motorcycle riders tend to mentally link gear shifting with masculinity. I think it sounds fun though to not have to constantly shift in stop-and-go traffic, so I sought a Hondamatic out. This one ran ok when I bought it, but needed a lot of work. I also wanted to make the bike look a bit meaner and fit my personal aesthetic.
Things I’ve done:
- Installed new tires, wheel bearings, brake shoes, break line, chain, sprockets, rear shocks, master cylinder, oil filter, air filter, fuel line, shift rubber, grips, mirrors, spark plugs, flasher relay, rectifier, front turn signals, tail lights, headlight, and stem bearings.
- The pre-exhaust chamber and mufflers were rusted to nothing. I found a replacement chamber on eBay in good shape. Then I had it and the header pipes professionally cerakoted. New short mufflers purchased from 4into1.
- Traded out the stock handlebars for straighter ones. Those combined with risers makes the bike much more controllable while maintaining a comfortable riding position.
- De-rusted and painted foot pegs, battery box bracket, and kick stands
- Found an OEM battery box on eBay (since it was missing)
- Repaired the side panels (broken tab)
- Switched back chrome fender with an aftermarket black fender and fabricated a front fender.
- The front brake caliper was seized. Fixed that.
- Fixed the broken speedometer.
- Changed the motor oil and fork oil.
Just had my first test drive and it handles beautifully now.
