Motorcycle Repair: 1975 Honda CB400F doesnt accelerate well, honda cb400f, cb350f

Question
Hi Chris;  I have recently "restored" a 1975 Honda, model CB400F with 23,000 miles on it.  The major work included freeing up a seized piston (rusted), honing the cylinders, replacing all rings on all pistons, camshaft guides, disassembly and cleaning the carbs and replacing jets.  New points, cleaned the advancer (was sticking), adjusted and freed up the valves. I bought a second "parts" bike and used the seat, exhaust, and wheels from it.  Anyway it all came together and last year I got it on the road and used it as much as I could.  Starts and runs well, no smoke, good compression, now about 25,000 miles.  Two major problems.  First it accelerates poorly.  I don't mean it stumbles, backfires, etc, it just doesn't seem to make much power in a hurry.  At 5000 RPM if you open the throttle it just doesn't respond much, in fact, seems to lose power.  I have balanced all the carbs and the rubbers don't leak air.  The bike will make about 95MPH if you give it time.  Second, the base gasket is leaking oil, which I don't understand because I put a new gasket in and was very careful with torquing the heads.  I am planning on pulling the valve cover of and retorquing the head, as I know that you should do this after a rebuild, but I suspect this is not the issue.  Others who have owned SOHC4 bikes say this is a common (and irritating problem).  I also own a CB750F but it is dry.  I used to own a CB350F back in '75 and after about 10 years it also leaked at the base, but a new base gasket took care of that.  Anyways, any suggestions on these two problems would be appreciated, especially the first one.  I suspect the second will succumb to some blue RTV if worse comes to worst.

Answer
Hi Howard.
 The CB350 was a very good little bike, but was never a speed demon or a fast accellerator.  So you're stuck on that one.

 As far as the leaks, you are on the right track.  Some rtv blue is what is needed.  Whenever you replace gaskets like that, you should put a thin layer of gasket sealer on both sides of the gasket when you install it.  But it seems like you have everything well under control and on the right track.

Good luck.
FALCON