Road: Introducing


The CBR400RR NC29 Gullarm....

...Or BabyBlade if you prefer.

Not long ago I bought a GSXR400 GK73A with the idea that it would be my cheap track tool and future race bike once the CRMC went and let these little rocket ships in.
Getting the bike where I wanted it turned out to be more of a pain than I had anticipated and what I wanted was a Honda after all so no matter how well she performed I would always want for more. 
One track day later and the right bike came up at the right price. The next thing I knew I had my third Honda in the garage and a nice chap taking my GSXR400's away (you will have to read that blog to see how the number of bikes had escalated). 

But why?

Well I have always liked the CBR400 NC29.

Ever since borrowing a mates BabyBlade in the noughties I knew that the CBR400 was the best 400 cc SuperSports bike out there. Admittedly his was a bit fancy (mechanically that is. the bike looked rough) but I fell in love with it and found my own GSXR400 GK76A wanting ever since.
I loved the refined wine of the gear driven cams, the sweet handling, even the nifty folding rear pillion pegs.
I could go on but if you want to know more about my biking history then have a read on my about me page.

So what's this one like?

I drove to a shop near Liverpool, having first seen the bike on eBay, to pick this bike up. It was a good price and looked straight so I was hopeful to finally get me a Gullarm.
The guys at the shop were honest, laid back and helpful. I had already negotiated a good price and when I mentioned racing to them, I also got some spare fairings for peanuts too!
The bike is tatty with mismatched (but original) plastics, scuffs here and there and a Micron can.
I found a few other questionable bits but the bike was otherwise straight and ran sweetly.

Now she is home she is waiting on a run out and strip down before I can get into the plans for her future. 
At over twice what I paid for the GSXR, tattier and heavier, I do wonder if this was a good idea or not.
Lets hope she doesn't have any demons.

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