“Proper Rips” — Nick Parker’s CB400/4 Bitsa Special…
When the Honda CB350F hit the market in 1972, it was the smallest-capacity four-cylinder motorcycle ever to enter mass production. Three years later, the CB400F came along with a number of upgrades. It was punched out to 408cc, boasted Honda’s first production six-speed gearbox, and had more of a café racer-inspired design with a swooping 4-into-1 exhaust — one of the most gorgeous factory exhaust systems ever. Motorcyclist called it “Japan’s first real sportbike.”
These bikes were so charming in stock trim we usually see them lightly customized to accentuate their café racer style. However, that requires having a donor with at least some of the original parts intact, and the world is full of bikes too far gone for such a build. That’s where a man like Nick Parker comes in, willing to resurrect a wreck into a heretofore unseen “Bitzy.”
Nick grew up tinkering with bikes. He had a DT50MX at 16-years-old…which didn’t stay stock for long:
“Ehh let’s see if my YZ80 motor fits 👍 what fun !!”
Later, at 17, he had a Yamaha DT125LC with full ’82 YZ125 suspension, which was “absolutely huge.” And believe it or not, he’s actually owned this CB400/4 since 1989.
“Bought originally for £80 totally stripped down, everything wrecked or missing, never the idea to put back to original.”
Back then, Nick assembled a number of parts for a build only to realize he didn’t have quite the requisite skills to pull it off on his own. Instead of hiring out the build, Nick got himself two City & Guilds certificates and a Scottish Vocational Educational Council (SCOTVEC) in motorcycle maintenance so he wouldn’t have to pay anyone else to work on his bikes — legend!
That said, this particular build sat languishing for years before the pandemic struck and Nick decided to finish it out. His influences included King Kenny Roberts and his TZ flat tracker, a hand-built Harley-Davidson hillclimber built by Patrick Hook and featured in the December 1991 Crossbow Calendar, and “probably watching too much Mad Max and Lost Boys.”
What’s more, years ago, Nick tried to buy a 400/4 with a Kawasaki KE175 front end and rear shocks, along with dirt tires, which he saw sitting in someone’s field. The owner wouldn’t sell it, so Nick decided to build his own.
“All standard as you can see 🤣 Z1R front end and wheel, Yamaha swingarm, CG tank, made the seat. All new electrics and ignition, Marshall deep tone, bigger jets, proper rips for an old girl.”
Nick also converted the bike to a hydraulic clutch, rechromed the stanchions, and fitted a wide variety of parts from other bikes: GS125 front mudguard, Harley front fender in the rear, CB900 headlight, Z750 rear wheel and rebuilt caliper, Yamaha 650 swingarm, and more.
The keyswitch holder was made from an old kitchen worktop corner cover, and the bike is now running an electronic ignition, K&N filters, and larger jets.
“Breathes beautifully. The Castrol stickers are real ones, she’s running on original R40 — smells amazing 🤩”
The bike has been through quite a few iterations as Nick tried to make the UK’s DVLA (Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency) happy.
“It’s been standard then mono shocked. DVLA wanted to see pictures, then condemned it to a Q plate. So it was put back to twin shock and they still condemned it to a Q. So I bought a frame and put it back together with a few changes and put on the road.”
Nick says he just got the bike back on the road and has done about 1000 miles in the saddle: “I’ve smiled every one of them 🤓” The bike is geared to go about 90 and “gets there nicely,” he says. And the brakes are “absolutely amazing — meant for a much heavier and faster bike.”
Of course, “Bitzy” isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s built to Nick’s taste…and stature:
“Yeah she’s had a few different looks and always gets comments, one wee biker says I’ve ruined an £8k bike! He was only 5’4″ — I’m 6′ and a standard one is far too small for me, so I made it fit! Obviously I don’t care, where’s the fun in standard where they all look the same.”
Amen, Nick! And if the purists weren’t irate enough already, Nick is happy to let them know “Bitzy” isn’t the only bitsa in his stable.
“You should see what I’v done to her big sister — ‘Mother’ — and a 350 LC/TZ mutant 😱”
Nick, thank you for sharing the story of “Bitzy” with us, and we look forward to featuring more of your two-wheeled mutants in the weeks to come.
More Photos
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The owner will not value my opinion probably, which is cool 😀 ! Very nice that he rescues an unsalvageable bike and puts his own spin on it. I personally think it’s a mess, visually. But if it rides nice and the cost was limited I think this is a lof of fun!
Agree with jayjay. It maybe drives nice (maybe the center of gravity too high ?)
but also not my taste. Hate bikes with protruding headlights (“googly eyes” plus too high) and too long end pipes, Sorry
Finally, a motorcycle with exhaust that doesn’t look like it was pieced and welded together from the scrap pile. Another first in a long time, an actual rear fender, outstanding sir! Looks fine to me, something that is getting ridden, not a glob of parts put together to be an edgy mess. Good on you Nick! Tell the people that don’t appreciate the visuals of your bike to pound sand, I am pretty sure you didn’t build it to make them happy.