History

• Honda released their first CM400 series motorcycle in 1979 and made it available in automatic or manual. The 1979 CM400T came in just two color schemes: candy presto red and candy holly green. Both had orange and red pinstripes. Designed for new riders, the top speed was limited to 100 MPH produced from a 395cc parallel twin engine. The CM400 series inspired the Honda Nighthawk, which debuted in 1982.
  
  

Engine and Transmission

• From 1979 to 1981, the CM400 series used the same power plant. A 395cc, single overhead cam, three-valve, parallel twin paired to a five-speed gearbox produced 43 horsepower at 8,500 RPM. The air-cooled, wet sump four-stroke had a compression of 9.3:1, 70.5 mm bore and 50.6 mm stroke. According to motorprofi.com, the zero to sixty time for the “T” model was 5.8 seconds. By no means were these motorcycles fast, which made them potential starter bikes.
  
  

Models

• There were four models of the Honda CM400 series through its three years in production. The original 1979 CM400A was an automatic. The automatic version had the same mechanical specifications as the others but the top speed was limited to 80 MPH. The CM400E came without a tachometer. The “E” stood for economy. The CM400T was the most powerful. The “T” stood for touring. With a top speed of 100 MPH, it had increased features including a tachometer. The CM400C came with the most features including upgraded brakes, black Cornstar wheels and dual carburetors. The “C” stood for custom and was only available in 1981.
  
  

Wheels and Brakes

• The CM400T and CM400A had a disc brake to the front wheel and a mechanical drum brake in the rear while the CM400E had a drum brake in the front. The CM400C had dual piston front calipers for better stopping ability. The front tire had a size of 3.50-18 and the larger rear tire had a size of 4.60-16. Depending on the year and model, the CM400 came stock with black five-star rims or chrome wire-spoke rims.
  
  

Features and Specifications

• In 1979, the CM400 was considered a touring motorcycle, which led to the 2.5-gallon fuel tank. The 395cc engine was fuel-efficient. Dual exhaust added to aesthetics and increased the flow of engine waste. The flat seat, plastic fairings, single headlight and mechanical components added up to a curb weight of 406 lbs.