Reader conversion “Sailor” Honda CB 400 N

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Reader conversion "Sailor" Honda CB 400 N

Mahogany power boats as inspiration

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With the “Sailor”, Rudolf Schutte has launched an extraordinary conversion that, with its sweeping tank-seat line, large wheels and unique details, hardly reveals the descent from the good Honda CB 400 N. He was inspired by the noble mahogany power boats from Riva.

VMaybe Rudolf Schutte let himself be guided by these maritime influences when he converted his first motorcycle, because he always swims against the current in his job. As a successful developer and prototype builder for international designer furniture manufacturers, he prefers to set trends than to follow them. So the retro fan has little interest in the common wide-roll madness in the custom scene. “I wanted to build a very narrow and flat-looking motorcycle with a flowing wave that runs across the entire bike. And do as much as possible yourself. "

Reader conversion "Sailor" Honda CB 400 N

Mahogany power boats as inspiration

CB 400 N to give a fresh swing. As with the famous Riva boats, the “wooden deck” of his conversion is made of mahogany, with “hull panels” made of GRP, which were laminated onto negative molds that he made himself. For the sensational monocoque, Schutte glued 14 layers of thick veneer of the noble wood, which was then pressed into shape for many hours with around two tons on a veneer press with the help of a template made from MDF panels.

Then he cut out the final shape, sanded it down and covered it with a special boat varnish. The precious wood was then sanded and varnished twelve more times until it had the desired pore-deep surface, "which creates an impressive depth effect, as if you had placed a pane of glass on it".

Speaking of impressing: Rudolf Schutte also had to ask the responsible TÜV engineer. And less with optical finesse, but rather with his technical skills. The aim from the start was that the “Sailor” would receive the coveted plaque so that she could leave the local port with the blessing of the authorities. Not an easy undertaking with such a far-reaching conversion that even required the rear frame to be welded around to make space for the self-supporting stainless steel tank provided here. In the end, Schutte had the approximately eight-liter fuel tank with integrated overflow chamber and fuel pump welded by a professional, but he made the cardboard templates for the V4A sheets and the styrofoam model himself.

Every single step of the renovation was discussed in advance on the basis of detailed drawings "with the strict, but also very competent and helpful expert". He nodded a lot, but occasionally used his veto. For example, with the planned extension of the swing arm, which would have been necessary in order to also be able to install a 21-inch spoked wheel at the rear. Now a specially made 19-inch model rotates aft, soled with a 120-inch Race Attack Custom from Conti, which, despite its intended use as the front tire, does not odd the “amazingly good handling”.

The TÜV specialist also insisted on a recognizable seat cushion. The builder met this requirement with a 15 millimeter thick leather cover without interrupting the elegant lines of the monocoque. Since the recreational screwdriver was in no hurry with his first work, he carefully took care of the details, made both the fittings (made of square aluminum and bell switch) and the wiring harness itself. With correct lighting, the front wooden fender and a passed noise certificate (open air filter!) The full acceptance by the TÜV experts, who had been inaugurated in every detail, was then just a matter of form. “Captain” Rudolf Schutte is now officially allowed to swim in traffic with his nicely decked out Honda “Sailor”.

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