Show us your bike...

[BUGIE]

Don't worry mine hides quite a few too - Mainly that the exhaust has a dent in it.

The rust on the frame is common. If its very small areas and minor surface rust i would just put some hammerite on it. I forgot the exact name but they have some special paint which basically creates a chemical reaction in the rust and turns it hard so the frame gets a protective coating meaning it won't rust any further.
Why not try polishing the forks first... I think they look much nicer and is easy to do.
You can find anything you need on this forum in terms of instructions to do stuff like polishing the rims, stripping the forks, etc.

[Cadwatta]

Instead of using Solvol Autosol on the forks, you could use a polishing block - much cheaper. I am interested in how you (Bugie) got the paint of the wheels. Your wheels really look super and the paint is flaking off mine so I have to do something. Cheers.

[BUGIE]

Hey Cadwatta - Yeah the polishing block is a bit cheaper but is a lot more difficult and requires a lot more effort then Autosol.

As for the wheels - from the factory, they're painted up to the centre line while powdercoated down the strut (at least they are on my 92 Superfour)

I used paintstripper to strip the wheel down. This will easily remove the paint but won't touch the Powder coating.
If you want to go my way, you'll need to sand down the powdercoating, clean the entire wheel with white spirit and then mask off the lip vey carefully to get a nice clean, straight line. Finally just spray it. Go for thin layers of paint as this will help avoid flaking of the paint during everyday use. Also remove the masking tape when the paint hasn't fully set as this will prevent it cracking

If you want to go Jimbo's way, the paint stripper will leave you a perfectly straight line along the centre of the wheel so all that is left for you to do is to polish the rim

A couple of notes...
* Make sure you use the strongest paint stripper possible.
* Try and do it in as hot a temperature as paintstripper works much better in hotter temperature
* When removing the leftover paint be careful not to scratch the rim (an old brillo pad is good here)
* For any left over paint that won't come off, use Thinner on the brillo pad..
* Whichever you go for, spray the polished surfaces with lacquer as this will mean it becomes maintenance free
* Oh yeah and use gloves

[Cadwatta]

Cheers Bugie. The outer rims have flaked where the previous owners tape was removed. The rest is ok. To me it seems that the whole wheel is like a rough matt finish and I think I would go for just a shiny polished rim - yours looks like this from the photos. You mention varnish - this is also a good tip for polished forks. I did it years ago on an old bike I have and it looks a bit crackled now but has lasted about 10 years. I am trying to get hold of a carrier & rack for it and have one on order for a 1994 CB500. I am hoping it will fit as the CB400SF ones don't seem to be available. I'll publish the results. The frame looks similar.

[BUGIE]

Yeah Cadwatta mine was the same. Just found a picture of when I first got the bike so here's a before and after



In my opinion the tinted rear lights and removal of the 2 bars really lifts the rear end!!! The wheels just make the bike look a lot nicer and cleaner

I'm actually quite worried about it's current condition as I moved to the Netherlands and left it in my Dad's hands. My understanding is that in 4 months It's only received 2 quick washes

I'll have to wait until December to see the results..

[nampus]

Welkom in Nederland Bugie, Don't know if you speak dutch? But that means welcome in the Netherlands ofcourse.
Where do you live now?

[BUGIE]

Bedankt/ Dank u Wel Nampus (not sure which one i should use in this context).

I'm learning Dutch now and am beginning to manage to read sentences so that's good as I've only been here since July. I'm living in Amsterdam and working in Amstelveen..
Unfortunately my only means of transport is a Fiets and I'm getting serious Motorcycle withdrawal symptoms!!!!

I see you're from Sint Philipsland... I can't believe it but I haven't seen a single CB400 since I've been here...

[nampus]

In this context you can use both.
Amsterdam is quite far from my place (about 200 km i think)
Having only a bicycle can be quite frustrating. I'm still in school but I have a car and my bike (it's a cheap car and I work everyday I don't have to go to school)
The only cb I've seen in Holland is mine. There are a few, I think there are about ten of them in Holland. I've seen about four on markptlaats (dutch site for secondhand stuff) But they are very rare.
In Holland everybody thinks you need at least 600cc to start with.

[amorti]

In this context you can use both.
Amsterdam is quite far from my place (about 200 km i think)
Having only a bicycle can be quite frustrating. I'm still in school but I have a car and my bike (it's a cheap car and I work everyday I don't have to go to school)
The only cb I've seen in Holland is mine. There are a few, I think there are about ten of them in Holland. I've seen about four on markptlaats (dutch site for secondhand stuff) But they are very rare.
In Holland everybody thinks you need at least 600cc to start with.

http://www.prozaq.nl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[nampus]

The link doesn't work, as far as I know, prozaq.nl has been offline for quite a while.
the new cb-1 forum if that is what you want to show, is http://www.cb-1.nl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; I think.