No help with this one but I remember that bike. There's been a couple of side car rigs posted over the last few years, fairly rare. All of them have been the A model
Fitting a sidecar to a CB400A Hondamatic
hello everybody 
A few moons ago there was a very nicely turned out 400A with a sidecar fitted, turned up on this forum ( see below)
![Land vehicle Vehicle Motorcycle Motor vehicle Car]()
What I am looking for is some guidance regarding the fixing points used on the CB400 frame. A few pictures would help and I am sure that I can transpose them into the UK driving side without much problem. I have quite a bit of sidecar driving experience and I cannot see any reason why the Hondamatic should not give a good account of its self.
It is just an interesting thought at the moment but I think the torque charicteristics of the Hondamatic should work quite well although I would not expect it to be a motorway rocket.
Food for thought perhaps
cheers from the UK
A few moons ago there was a very nicely turned out 400A with a sidecar fitted, turned up on this forum ( see below)
What I am looking for is some guidance regarding the fixing points used on the CB400 frame. A few pictures would help and I am sure that I can transpose them into the UK driving side without much problem.
I have quite a bit of sidecar driving experience and I cannot see any reason why the Hondamatic should not give a good account of its self.It is just an interesting thought at the moment but I think the torque charicteristics of the Hondamatic should work quite well although I would not expect it to be a motorway rocket.
Food for thought perhaps
cheers from the UK
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Hi Steve9e; you can use the front engine mounting bolts for the bottom front fixing; a clamp round the front down tube would also work; toe in and lean out as per the diagrams should suffice; but I'm not sure about the rear fixing to the frame on a 400Hondamatic. Try this link:
http://simplysidecars.co.uk/fittingguide.html
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![Line art Motor vehicle Drawing Sketch Diagram]()
HTH
NIGEL.
http://simplysidecars.co.uk/fittingguide.html
HTH
NIGEL.
Hi Gixxer,
Thanks for the info. I do have some pics of a sidecar fitted to a 400 which looks the same period as my 1979 400A which I had forgot about. They were taken off ebay a year back from a guy selling a sidecar?
The front two are normal practice, but only shows one at the end of the gearbox using one of the rear footrest hanger bolts. I attach these pics for the benefit of our colonial friends just in case someone else fancies having a go? Do not be fooled by the crude steering damper connection which at a glance looks like a sidecar connection.
I rode a Chang Jiang 750 flat twin outfit for a couple of years and a look through my records might be worth a look as the connections were awesome, very Panzer like?
![Land vehicle Vehicle Sidecar Motorcycle Motor vehicle]()
![Vehicle Car Scooter Vespa Auto part]()
![Land vehicle Vehicle Motor vehicle Car Auto part]()
feels like a winter project coming on if I can locate a sidecar to my taste ?????
![Land vehicle Vehicle Motorcycle Motor vehicle Mode of transport]()
Thanks for the info. I do have some pics of a sidecar fitted to a 400 which looks the same period as my 1979 400A which I had forgot about. They were taken off ebay a year back from a guy selling a sidecar?
The front two are normal practice, but only shows one at the end of the gearbox using one of the rear footrest hanger bolts. I attach these pics for the benefit of our colonial friends just in case someone else fancies having a go? Do not be fooled by the crude steering damper connection which at a glance looks like a sidecar connection.
I rode a Chang Jiang 750 flat twin outfit for a couple of years and a look through my records might be worth a look as the connections were awesome, very Panzer like?
feels like a winter project coming on if I can locate a sidecar to my taste ?????
hi LDR
I think the lower rear connection fixes to the Rear fork pivot bolt? I am not so sure that is a good idea.:???: Someone somewhere in the UK must have come across this period of Honda with a sidecar.
at the moment this is a passing fancy on my behalf but you never know what turns up?
cheers
I think the lower rear connection fixes to the Rear fork pivot bolt? I am not so sure that is a good idea.:???: Someone somewhere in the UK must have come across this period of Honda with a sidecar.
at the moment this is a passing fancy on my behalf but you never know what turns up?
cheers
hi LDR
I thought about the fix to the rear fork pivot bolt and you are right of course . It is the strongest point and care would have to make sure the fork is not "crushed" and remains free. On this type of frame there is not much choice really. Bikes such as BSA Golden Flash, Triumph Thunderbirds etc all had twin shock rear suspension and were popular sidecar bikes, so I will have to have a look at few examples at Vintage Club meetings.
i am sure I will turn something up.
Cheers
I thought about the fix to the rear fork pivot bolt and you are right of course . It is the strongest point and care would have to make sure the fork is not "crushed" and remains free. On this type of frame there is not much choice really. Bikes such as BSA Golden Flash, Triumph Thunderbirds etc all had twin shock rear suspension and were popular sidecar bikes, so I will have to have a look at few examples at Vintage Club meetings.
i am sure I will turn something up.
Cheers
hi LDR
I talked briefly to Watsonian Sidecars in the UK and they have a design and could supply a fitting kit. First of all I will keep my eye open for a suitable period 1970-80's single seater sidecar to restore as that is the high cost item and my budget will be low but enthusiasm high?
I wonder what will happen next?
I talked briefly to Watsonian Sidecars in the UK and they have a design and could supply a fitting kit. First of all I will keep my eye open for a suitable period 1970-80's single seater sidecar to restore as that is the high cost item and my budget will be low but enthusiasm high?
I wonder what will happen next?
hi LDR
Why not, the price of the one on offer seems very reasonable, and you could carry more sandwiches?
The pic below was taken last Sunday at the Allenheads lunch stop of the Beamish Trophy Trial which in its present form has been running annually in my neck of the woods since 1972. Needless to say I took part in the first one riding a 1949 600cc Scott t/s twin.Not the sort of event for aging knees and a 400A. There is a very nice pre war 1000cc JAP engined Zenith parked just behind me.
![Motor vehicle Motorcycle Vehicle Transport Mode of transport]()
Why not, the price of the one on offer seems very reasonable, and you could carry more sandwiches?
The pic below was taken last Sunday at the Allenheads lunch stop of the Beamish Trophy Trial which in its present form has been running annually in my neck of the woods since 1972. Needless to say I took part in the first one riding a 1949 600cc Scott t/s twin.Not the sort of event for aging knees and a 400A. There is a very nice pre war 1000cc JAP engined Zenith parked just behind me.
On my Ride for MS last Sunday, there was a sidecar rig for a wheelchair. Ramp and all. Handicapped kid had the time of his life.
![Land vehicle Vehicle Motor vehicle Sidecar Sidecar]()
Check out what he had printed on the front...lol.
Check out what he had printed on the front...lol.
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