Author Topic: Where does the CB500 rank?  (Read 12709 times)

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Offline Deltarider

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #50 on: June 10, 2012, 11:24:51 PM »
Quote
48bhp = like 30whp with these bikes lol.

Untrue. Mine tested 40hp at the rear wheel. It ran > 180 km/h on the Dyno and runs 170km/h on the road, be it nose between the gauges.
In this forum we strive to give correct information. Why don't you?
« Last Edit: June 10, 2012, 11:34:27 PM by Deltarider »
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Offline dave500

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #51 on: June 10, 2012, 11:28:28 PM »
i for one care less for dyno or other posted horse/pony figures,or top speed,hows your 1/4 mile times?

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #52 on: June 10, 2012, 11:29:27 PM »
......
While nice enough little bikes, the 350/400/500/550/650 fours will only ever be seen as secondary to the iconic, world changing CB750....
 

You left out the part about how they were designed for and intended to be ridden by Japanese women.

Ha ha, I may have said that somewhere before Greg, but I'm trying hard to be politically correct today. A friend of mine in Sweet Home, Oregon, who had a bike shop "back in the day" told me that the reason that the smaller SOHC4's were so popular in the US was due to the lower seat height than on the 750, which was quite high. I'm 6'4", so the seat hight was never an issue for me, but I can understand why "vertically challeneged" folks would prefer a smaller, lighter bike. Cheers, Terry. ;D
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Offline ofreen

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #53 on: June 10, 2012, 11:48:12 PM »
Ha ha, I may have said that somewhere before Greg, but I'm trying hard to be politically correct today.

Good luck with that. ;D
Greg
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Offline Deltarider

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #54 on: June 11, 2012, 12:05:21 AM »
Terry, I've read your posts more than once and I still don't understand what you're saying, but maybe you could try to convince Porsche. Soichiro Honda himself regarded the 350 the cleverest bike of his stable at that time, but he's no longer with us. The Brits admire the 400 most and - to be honest - I think they're right.
I weigh 90 kgs and am 196 cm (6.6). tall. So you suggest I should ride a 750? I won't. Many years ago I've made some clever adjustments and my bike fits me like a glove.
When I prefer a 500, does that make me political incorrect?
I will never want to have a bike that weighs more than 200kgs. Never.
If I were to go on a long holiday ride with various roads I'd always choose a 500 or 550 over a 750 (regardless whether it is a Honda, Kawa or Suzuki). > 100.000 kms on all type of roads in Europe have learned me it's the best for me. A top speed of 170 km/h is plenty, a safe cruising speed of 140 km/h is more tiring for me than for my bike. With luggage I can upright the bike myself when it has fallen over and - very important - it will allow me to go in the terrain to reach that wonderful spot to camp in the wild. Sure there were and are bikes that accelerate faster. But I don't like to pay for all the extra rubber and I hate the idea of halfway my holiday to go to shop for a new tire.
It takes some independecy of mind to judge bikes. As I wrote above, I'm in good company. Remember that program The Ten Greatest Motorcycles Ever and the number one, the Honda Cub? I have travelled a lot in South East Asia and I can assure you that if there's one bike that deserves that title, it's indeed the Honda Cub. Although it's not likely I will ride one, I must admit it's a "greater" bike than mine.
 

« Last Edit: June 11, 2012, 12:23:20 AM by Deltarider »
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Offline dave500

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #55 on: June 11, 2012, 12:16:57 AM »
what sort of wild is left in europe,?, queensland is two and a half times the size of texas!

Offline Deltarider

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #56 on: June 11, 2012, 12:40:00 AM »
The advantage of Europe is that you have all kinds of landscapes not that far apart. I'm always amazed what I've seen if I have travelled only a 1000 kms south. The variety within that 1000 kms is already incredible, in-cre-di-ble. I was never tempted to go to Australia precisely for this reason. There's to much of the same before you reach another landscape. I have experienced that in Canada: days and days of the same landscape. Take a country like France. France offers you everything: it borders the Atlantic Ocean with a spectacular coast (Brittany and Normandy are two of my favourite destinations btw), the Mediterranée with islands like Corse, rivers like the Loire, with astonishing castles around every bend, spectacular gorges, the Alps (France shares Europe's highest mountain with Switzerland), hills, moors, wetlands, the Channel with it's spectacular tides,  history combined with good food and wine. France has excellent roads. People pay taxes for it. It's in the price for fuel and that's only fair if you look at the condition of their roads. Riding the Route Napoleon for example, it's fantastic.
Quote
queensland is two and a half times the size of texas
Yes, and a 5 liter V8 is 2,5 times bigger than Honda's S2000 engine, but it doesn't make it a better engine. Bigger is not always better.
« Last Edit: June 11, 2012, 01:33:01 AM by Deltarider »
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Offline dave500

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #57 on: June 11, 2012, 12:42:12 AM »
oh??tried antidepressants?

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #58 on: June 11, 2012, 12:45:31 AM »
I think someone takes themselves far too seriously and lacks a sense of humor...

As far as traveling in Europe, how can you compare something you have never seen and obviously have no idea about, in a little over 2 hours riding here i can go from the Ocean and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, through rain forests, open plains, over mountains and into the out back, including deserts, every possible terrain on earth is in our beautiful little corner of the world, if you had been here you would already know that.... Don't have to travel 1000k's to see it all that either....If i do i have snow as well....


Funny Dave.... :P
« Last Edit: June 11, 2012, 12:48:09 AM by Retro Rocket »
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Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #59 on: June 11, 2012, 01:07:20 AM »
Ha ha, well naturally we're all proud of our own countries, but I can understand Delta's love of Europe, I spent three months there back in 1974 and loved it, I spent a lot of time in Amsterdam and was lucky to have the use of a Moped while I was there, and at 14 years old, I thought I was in motorcycle heaven! One day before too long, I'm going back, I hope it's still as beautiful now as it was back then.

Don't get me wrong, the other SOHC4's are capable bikes, but will never have that place in history that the 750 enjoys. There are plenty of good reasons why folks prefer them over 750's, and for them, that makes them "better". Not better bikes technically, just better for them.

It's no secret that I have other motorcycle loves apart from my Honda. In fact, apart from the CB750, the CB1100R, the RC30 and the RC51, I don't really consider myself a Honda fan. I love British and European bikes, and American V Twins. If I had to choose one brand, it'd probably be BMW, but luckily enough, it's a free country, and I can ride what I want to. Cheers, Terry. ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #60 on: June 11, 2012, 01:26:02 AM »
Lol, my comment wasn't pride based {although we do live in the best country in the world  :P} it was more about ignorance..  You travel 1000 k's just about anywhere in Australia and you can cover more landscapes than most places on earth... ;)
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Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #61 on: June 11, 2012, 01:31:16 AM »
Lol, my comment wasn't pride based {although we do live in the best country in the world  :P} it was more about ignorance..  You travel 1000 k's just about anywhere in Australia and you can cover more landscapes than most places on earth... ;)

Yep, just don't mention NZ Mick, although in reality, it's just another suburb of Oz........... ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline Deltarider

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #62 on: June 11, 2012, 01:42:49 AM »
Quote
As far as traveling in Europe, how can you compare something you have never seen and obviously have no idea about, in a little over 2 hours riding here i can go from the Ocean and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, through rain forests, open plains, over mountains and into the out back, including deserts, every possible terrain on earth is in our beautiful little corner of the world, if you had been here you would already know that....
I must admit I might have judged to hastily. I never realised that within Australia there's a part that offers variety too. Strangely, it's not much advertised here. When advertised here, we always see the same images of how big the outback is, how long you have to travel and always Ayers Rock ofcourse.
After many travels abroad, I must confess France is my favourite. It's the combination of it all and... it's safe. Like in most European countries, violence is the monopoly of the state. Not many people have a gun inside their glovecompartment. It's sad but I will never be able to travel the States again the way I did it 1973.  But I'm off topic again. 
« Last Edit: June 11, 2012, 01:46:22 AM by Deltarider »
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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #63 on: June 11, 2012, 02:15:18 AM »
We live on the central East coast Delta, Beautiful bays and beaches and Moreton, Stradbroke, Bribie and Fraser islands all just off the coast, and reef every where,  40 minutes north or south there is rain forests and mountain ranges, 1 hour west is the great dividing range, different again as the height makes it quite cool, even in summer, go a little further west and you are starting to experience the outback, a little further and you are starting to taste the desert plains then just desert for 100's of miles. Go south for 1000 k's and you have the Snowy mountains, go north for 2000k's and you have the tropical North in all its beauty, head west into Kakadu and then further west into the Bungle bungles and into Western Australia with some of the most beautiful and contrasting country side in the world. I always wanted to see the world but i would definitely have to see Australia's nearly 30,000 k's of coastline and massive interior and all its delights before going anywhere else, although i have been to NZ on numerous occasions and it is totally different but beautiful as well....
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Offline dave500

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #64 on: June 11, 2012, 02:17:08 AM »
yeah its winter delta,,threads get off topic easy,,next time your in australia forget about ayres rock(uluru if you dont mind now),you can come around to my place,,ill chuck a shrimp on the barbie for you,(ill eat it though),you can paint a section of the sydney harbour bridge aswell for a small fee just like Mr dundee,later on in the outback ill let you run some platypusses down in an old holden with no exhaust,if your lucky we can pan for gold and recreate the eureka stockade,id take you to meet ned kellys mum but shes a rude #$%*,we will watch classic old aussie films like the cars that ate paris,sunday too far away and episodes of skippy,,youll get the hang of it then,anyway the 500/550 are a great little bike to those like us who like them.

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #65 on: June 11, 2012, 02:42:26 AM »
Won't you let him have one shrimp Dave? What a tightarse! No wonder you ride a 500, you're too lousy to pay for the extre 250cc's! ;D
I was feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't afford new bike boots, until I met a man with no legs.

So I said, "Hey mate, you haven't got any bike boots you don't need, do you?"

"Crazy is a very misunderstood term, it's a fine line that some of us can lean over and still keep our balance" (thanks RB550Four)

Offline dave500

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #66 on: June 11, 2012, 02:47:27 AM »
hey chill terry i ride a 550,,ill settle for giving delta the tail,,and ill treat him to a midnight marathon of chips rafferty in the smiley films aswell as the entire matlock police collection,he will have to be a true aussie after that lot??further to which i still stand by my belief the 500/550 is the best bike available to mankind,,which is the purpose of this thread,,as well as pushing australia to the rest of the world,,hey get down here guys!!!,,youll #$%*in love it!!!
« Last Edit: June 11, 2012, 02:50:50 AM by dave500 »

Offline dave500

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #67 on: June 11, 2012, 02:53:20 AM »
Yes, and a 5 liter V8 is 2,5 times bigger than Honda's S2000 engine, but it doesn't make it a better engine. Bigger is not always better. « Last Edit: Today at 06:33:01 pm by Deltarider »

tug of war???  i thought not.

Offline Deltarider

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #68 on: June 11, 2012, 04:12:32 AM »
Fascinating forum.
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #69 on: June 11, 2012, 06:00:50 AM »
How did this turn into the Travel forum?  I would love to go to Oz one day.

Delta - we know you have a fine 500. But I think you are in denial as far as how widespread the trans problems are on those. Yes, yours has 130,000 kms, you've posted that so many times I know by heart!  Why would Honda change it if it wasn't an issue?
Even Dave500 has had a few trans issues with the 500 and now has upgraded by putting a 550 in his 500 frame.
Give it up.
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Offline ekpent

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #70 on: June 11, 2012, 06:44:01 AM »
Just one point on the evolution of actual motorcycle size.When I was a fledgling rider in the early 70's there were a lot of two stroke road bikes.Honda back then and the other Jap makers were selling bikes in the smaller displacement categories as the norm.350-500cc bikes back then were the 'big boyz'. Still a lot love for them out there with folks. Brits with the 650-750's and HD's were the big bikes of the time. Then Honda rolled out the mighty 750 Four and since then it has been game on. What are we up to nowadays the Rocket at 2294cc's ?   Now back to the Travelogue.
« Last Edit: June 11, 2012, 06:46:06 AM by ekpent »

Offline Deltarider

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #71 on: June 11, 2012, 07:31:28 AM »
Quote
Delta - we know you have a fine 500. But I think you are in denial as far as how widespread the trans problems are on those. Yes, yours has 130,000 kms, you've posted that so many times I know by heart!  Why would Honda change it if it wasn't an issue?
Even Dave500 has had a few trans issues with the 500 and now has upgraded by putting a 550 in his 500 frame.
Give it up.
No, I won't because my information is first hand and I'm the second owner.  Moreover, I have ample documentation here you wouldn't believe. It's not only in Dutch and English, but in French and German as well. Then there's information I've learned from dealers who used to ride 500s themselves. Then I frequent the German, French, English and every now and then the Italian site, but all information is filtered carefully. Be fair, I might be useful. But... everytime I have the feeling members use this wonderful forum as an echopit (or is it echowell?) to show socalled knowledge, I step on it. I try to fight nonsense or information from hearsay that doesn't state it is from hearsay. You have to realise this is not a bar, this is the internet and everything said here, right or wrong, is for eternity. I would hope that would arise some sense of responsibility. Let's face it: even that American Honda booklet might have it's information corrupted. It's been only yesterday I did a testride to check the info in that booklet.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=107811.msg1212345#msg1212345
Do you have any idea how many fellow CB500riders I have met since 1979? How come I don't recall a single case of what you guys are experiencing? There must be ofcourse, but I don't recall a single case. You guys do know how to shift don't you? How about adjusting drivechains?

Maybe you like to read what Bryanj wrote about a year ago:
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=87857.msg988336#msg988336
Quote
I keep reading on here about bad 500 transmissions, now i have had several and the only problem i have ever found is the clutch operating mechanism and the pushrod getting damaged, especially if teh chain is run loose.

All motor types will break one of everything somewhere in the production run and the 500 is no worse than any other, yes the 550 is improved but then that is evolution more than anything else
But it's possible models for Europe underwent modification. After all mine was built in 1976.
« Last Edit: June 11, 2012, 08:14:01 AM by Deltarider »
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Offline Greggo

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #72 on: June 11, 2012, 08:07:41 AM »
As far as I know, you either had the 500 bottom end, or the 550 bottom end with the Euro 500/4's, and it was the same bottom ends that the American bikes had. 

The issue of shift dogs wearing out seems to be very real.

Offline Deltarider

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #73 on: June 11, 2012, 08:20:10 AM »
Quote
The issue of shift dogs wearing out seems to be very real.
Then... what did I do wrong?
BTW, 'seems' is not good enough for me. People are repeating each other. Again, read what Bryanj had to say.
Do I think my bike is perfect? Far from it, that camchain tensioner is a crappy piece of #$%*. I had mine replaced every 45.000 kms or so.
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Offline Greggo

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Re: Where does the CB500 rank?
« Reply #74 on: June 11, 2012, 08:33:10 AM »
Quote
The issue of shift dogs wearing out seems to be very real.
Then... what did I do wrong?
BTW, 'seems' is not good enough for me. People are repeating each other. Again, read what Bryanj had to say.
Do I think my bike is perfect? Far from it, that camchain tensioner is a crappy piece of #$%*. I had mine replaced every 45.000 kms or so.

I love the 500's, and did not say you did anything wrong.  My shift dogs are worn...that's my personal experience, and I have a friend with a '73 who has the same issue.