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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhuxl!houxm!hou2h!an
From: an@hou2h.UUCP (A.NGUYEN)
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: Honda 360 --- a reasoned analysis
Message-ID: <295@hou2h.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 15-Feb-84 13:33:06 EST
Article-I.D.: hou2h.295
Posted: Wed Feb 15 13:33:06 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 16-Feb-84 02:48:59 EST
Organization: Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 38


If you could afford an extra 100 or 200 bucks, I would look into
a Honda 400 instead. I think Honda retired the 360 in favor of the
400 around '77. I had a 360. My brother still has a 400.

The 400 doesn't weight much more (10-20 lbs?), is somewhat faster,
handles a LOT better, and vibrates a LOT less, especially at high
revs (it has a counterbalancer, the 360 does not).

The Hawks are also a lot easier to work on:

	- easier to get to the valves: the whole valve cover
	comes off, with lotsa room below the backbown tube
	to work in; the 360 had one tiny hole for each
	valve;

	- easier to change the oil filter; the Hawk has a
	disposable paper filter that comes out after one bolt;
	the 360 had a centrifugal goo basket and a wire mesh
	both hidden under the right side cover; you have to
	remove the footpeg, the rear brake lever, the right
	side muffler, and the side cover to clean out the
	oil filtration devices!

	- easier to clean the air filter; the Hawks have a
	reusable foam filter under a plastic cover; the 360s
	have two throw away filters under two covers; to
	reinstall the covers, you have to poke a 12 inch
	threaded rod thru one cover and hunt around for
	the matching hole in the other cover, almost 12
	inches away!

I can name several other minor points, but suffice it to say Honda
learned a lot about making mid-size bikes since the days of the 360
(and the 350 before that).

				Au Nguyen