Honda introduced the CM400 in 1979 as part of its middleweight street motorcycle lineup, aiming at riders who wanted an easy-to-handle bike with a relaxed American-style character. The nameplate was closely related to Honda’s twin-cylinder 400-series machines of the era, and the CM400 shared its basic engineering family with the Hawk/CB400T while adopting a different stance and styling direction. Honda’s own product archive places the CM400T in the 1979 CM/BENLY CM lineup, and the 1979 launch announcement described it as a new American-style model designed for smooth, approachable everyday riding.
Over its run, the CM400 was offered in several versions rather than as a single fixed configuration. The range included standard and custom-oriented roadster forms, along with the Hondamatic CM400A for riders who wanted an automatic-transmission experience without a manual clutch. That variety gave the nameplate a broader appeal than a single sport or touring model, and it helped define the CM400 as a practical, user-friendly motorcycle in Honda’s early cruiser-leaning lineup.
The CM400 nameplate remained a short-lived, first-generation family and was succeeded by larger-displacement CM models after 1981. Today it is remembered as an approachable vintage Honda twin, especially valued by riders who appreciate simple mechanical character, distinctive 1980s styling, and the brand’s early effort to build a comfortable middleweight cruiser for everyday use.