Topic: RE: Will a CB500 pull 220 lbs plus fairing?

[chewbacca5000]

I am putting together a CB500 project for a friend of mine who has helped me out alot in the past and he has some reservations as to whether it will be able to pull him around.  He's 220 lbs and the bike will have a fairing.

[RAFster122s]

Sure it will/can. It just will not do it as fast as if it did not have the fairing and his weight. What is the rated 2 up passenger load of the 500?

[chewbacca5000]

Sure it will/can. It just will not do it as fast as if it did not have the fairing and his weight. What is the rated 2 up passenger load of the 500?

I have no idea what it is rated for.  He need to be able to cruse at 65 MPH comfortbly. He is not a speedster or power rider.  Just needs to be able to keep up with friends on new bikes and feel safe.  He had a goldwing before and seems to compare everything else to that.  He sold it because it was hard to handle so I thought a smaller bike might work.  Who know he'll probablly have to ride it before deciding.

[bollingball]

I have had 3 wings and you can not really compare them to any thing else. Sorta like a Vmax. Why not talk to him about a 550 or 750?
Ken

[drj434343]

I've ridden 2 up (~350 lbs) with a fairing and it will cruise at 65mph.  I had to find 4th on hills, but it really wasn't too bad at all.  I don't know what a 1500cc GW feels like on the highway though...

[RAFster122s]

A wing will cruise effortlessly by comparison, so your friend may not like it. The Vesco Rabid Transit fairing is more efficient/effective at speed than a Vetter, so I would recommend it.

[Bankerdanny]

Well, MJ Stone has a 500 with the full Vetter treatment, fairing, bags, trunk. Now he doesn't weigh anywhere near 220, but figure the bags and trunk make up for most of the difference. During Relay Rally I he had no problems cruising in the 70mph range.

On the same trip my 550, with a windsheild, 220 pounds of me and probably 30-40 pound of misc stuff (I way overpacked) also easily cruised at 70mph with more available.

So yes, I would say that the 500 is plenty capable of that. He won't have a lot off speed left, but should have enough to keep from getting runover by a semi.

[bjbuchanan]

He will be able to cruise like that for sure just break him of the mindset that "cruising" is at low rpm. I bet that goldwing would cruise at three grand all day and quietly too so he is gonna have to adjust to a higher revving cruiser

[Bankerdanny]

My GL1000 is turning 4k at 70mph (verified it last night). But it's so smooth it's not unusual to find myself doing 80 (I have a Vetter on it) and not realize it.

[bjbuchanan]

My GL1000 is turning 4k at 70mph (verified it last night). But it's so smooth it's not unusual to find myself doing 80 (I have a Vetter on it) and not realize it.

I never rode one so I was just guessing at the rpm, I just mean that it is two different machines that gotta be ridden a little different. The 550 is up for task for sure, just needs to be ridden right

[chewbacca5000]

I have had 3 wings and you can not really compare them to any thing else. Sorta like a Vmax. Why not talk to him about a 550 or 750?
Ken

I am trying to do that.  The smallest he seems interested in is a 750.  He really can't handle the wing with his legs.  Trying to get him some more manageable. 

[chewbacca5000]

I've ridden 2 up (~350 lbs) with a fairing and it will cruise at 65mph.  I had to find 4th on hills, but it really wasn't too bad at all.  I don't know what a 1500cc GW feels like on the highway though...

Thanks this is helpful!

[chewbacca5000]

A wing will cruise effortlessly by comparison, so your friend may not like it. The Vesco Rabid Transit fairing is more efficient/effective at speed than a Vetter, so I would recommend it.

Thanks for the recommendation. Not sure what fairing this, but it is a nice light weight one.  Looks like a HD or police fairing very nice.

[chewbacca5000]

Well, MJ Stone has a 500 with the full Vetter treatment, fairing, bags, trunk. Now he doesn't weigh anywhere near 220, but figure the bags and trunk make up for most of the difference. During Relay Rally I he had no problems cruising in the 70mph range.

On the same trip my 550, with a windsheild, 220 pounds of me and probably 30-40 pound of misc stuff (I way overpacked) also easily cruised at 70mph with more available.

So yes, I would say that the 500 is plenty capable of that. He won't have a lot off speed left, but should have enough to keep from getting runover by a semi.

Thanks, but I will leave out he death by semi comment.

[chewbacca5000]

He will be able to cruise like that for sure just break him of the mindset that "cruising" is at low rpm. I bet that goldwing would cruise at three grand all day and quietly too so he is gonna have to adjust to a higher revving cruiser

We'll got the missing carb part today so hopefully I will have some idea of how this thing will run latter in the week we'll see.

[chewbacca5000]

My GL1000 is turning 4k at 70mph (verified it last night). But it's so smooth it's not unusual to find myself doing 80 (I have a Vetter on it) and not realize it.

I know they do have a nice ride.  I am more of an in the elements type of guy myself, but may end up really like this faring.  It's pretty cool.  Got to de sap the pine tar and do some minor repair where the turn signal mounts, but that should not bee too bad.

[Bankerdanny]

Oh, I missed the comment that he had a Goldwing. Personally 95% of the time I wish that I had my 550 rather than my 'Wing, which is why I am building a new 550.

However, if he is going to spent significant time on the highway, he will be very disappointed with the performance of a 500 (or 550 for that matter) if he is used to the Goldwing. The smooth effortless way a Goldwing cruises is hard to understand until you experience it, and going from a Wing to any SOHC4 is a downgrade when you are talking about highway cruising.