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Awesome story and restoration! great job!
I have one question: did you polish the metal such as pipes, handlebars, suspension....? or replaced them?
If you polished them what product did you use? they look amazing and I'm in the middle of restoring a 1971 Honda CL450 it doesn't have as much history as yours but it should be nice when finish.

I polished everything chrome and alum on that bike except for the mufflers/pipes , shocks, engine side covers, which where replaced. They where purchased from a friend who used the compound sticks with the buffing wheel on those. He was the one that suggested for me to use polishing stick compounds when I asked him what he used to get them so nice and polished. The polishing stick compounds are different grade mixes with a buffing wheel on a drill which is what was basically used on the entire bike.
The compound colors are Emery cake(black) for heavy cutting, Tripoli(brown) for alum, pewter, chrome, white rouge for stnls, alum,, and red rouge for bright luster on silver, gold, precious metals. I also used "flitz" on the areas that didn't need allot of buffing.

The buffing wheel really works great on bikes that been sitting for a long time and need allot of elbow work to get them clean.
My valve cover is in poor shape so I will be taking that off and using the brown stick with the drill/wheel to clean that up real nice. The white sticks works nice on the chrome as well as alum. I have done the fenders, handlebars, fork covers, foot peg mounts ,wheels/spokes and exhaust heat shields with the white. The Forks, Wheel hubs, and front pipe mounts with the brown.

Thank you so much. I'm going to try it this weekend. Now just to make sure when you say compuond sticks is this what you mean? http://www.acehardware.com/sm-buffing-c ... 54931.html

Yeah, I used the craftsman buffing wheel compound...heres a link

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... 0928650000

Looks identical to my resto project, a 1980 CM400E, aside from the luggage rack and backrest that is! I got ahold of this one back in August for the grand price of $FREE. It' got 16k on the odometer and yes it runs!

Cool!
yeah I remember my bike having the luggage rack with the black latch box in the back as well. My mother used to put her helmet and groceries in there. We think my grandfather took it off in the early 80's when he had the bike.

Anyways, I would love to see pictures of your progress on your resto project!

I finally got a new center stand spring from honda and got my brake pedal on this past weekend. I'm going to soon post the final picture of my bike and fam when it's 100% complete. Been really cold here and I need to get some heat in my garage so I can finish it:) Hard to try and work with gloves on hehe.

Thats a fine job you have done there, it looks like its just came out the showroom.
I'm starting restoring a 1981 Yamaha DT250 shortly so I'll post some photos as it goes on.

I am sort of looking for a CM400 or CM450 as both a restoration project (god help any poor bike I attempt to restore) and as a first/learner bike for the missus to be after we finally beat Immigration Canada into submission and she can get her license.

where did you find all of those parts? I bought a 1980 cm400e and can't find a part that came on the fuel line... I will have to add a photo later
thanks!

I got most of my parts through ebay and a friend who had parts from the same bike. I also use "yamaha of troy" ...below the direct page for 80cm400E you can copy and past. Most major parts like exhaust, gas tank etc are discontinued but you can still get nuts, bolts, bulbs, hoses and all that small stuff yet. I wouldn't order online since when I did that I found out the stuff I ordered was discontinued so it is best to call them and ask what is still available.

http://www.yamahaoftroy.com/fiche_secti ... &fveh=3172

Ebay is a good source for parts but most are in bad shape but if you keep watching someone will post NOS parts and some nice things from a bike with low mileage. It is where I got my NOS gas tank, NOS taillight bracket, NOS exhaust guards, headlight ring and much much more. You maybe able to get your part for fuel line from yamaha troy if not watch ebay or post on inet for someone parting the same bike or nearly the same such as 78-82 cm400E, C, A,T since most parts interchangeable. Any questions you can message me anytime.