RealClassic – August 2019

HONDACB400F

Subscribe and save:www.Real-Classic.co.uk/subs AUGUST 2019 I41

ABIKINGLIFE

In his 50-year ridingcareer ,James hasownedawide varietyofBritish
bikes.His NortonCommandoFastbackcame along earlyon; here it is
in 1978

During the decades,manyRoyal EnfieldlightweightshavegracedJames’

garage,some needing moreattention thanothers!

ATriumph 500 twinjoinedthestable,buttheDaytonawasn’takeeper

Afte r44years together,James eventuallybid

farewell to theFastback in 2015...

...buthesoonmissedthedelightsofriding abig

twin, andanEnfield 700Constellationarrived

An Indian-built EFI EnfieldBullet arrived most

recently, encouraging Jamesto widen his horizons.

The1976 Honda had newrear suspension

units,mirrors and genuine chainguard, anew

battery, some oldMoTs and afull servicewith

the carbs being stripped,cleaned andset up.I

thenwaited excitedly likeachild whoknows a

birthdayisc oming!

I’vebeen usedto riding bikeswith brake

and gear levers on each side.Fortunately,

at the startofany ride,oncethe bike is

warmed upIhave to descendadriveway

and use therear braketo slowdown. This

startsto engagemy brain about whichfoot

to use.There followafew gearchanges and

astopinthe village beforeIamout on the

countr yroads.

Idid get into aweave with the Honda soon

afterIboughtit, whenIpulledawaybriskly

at ajunction infirst...only to stamp on the