Topic: Stronger rods-do I need them?

[KayOne]

I have placed an order to Cycle-X and am beginning to second guess myself. Building a K1 with a Wiseco 836 kit and CX-2 (Webcam 41a) cam. Ordered studs, HD primary chain, tensioners yada yada. Should I bite the bullet for the $600 Cycle-X rods?

Not planning on riding like a redline ranger but I want to be able to wail on it without worrying. Plus I don't want to be rebuilding the engine again in my lifetime.

[Old Scrambler]

My 2-cents based on a similar build from 7-years ago...........With good bearings, compression of less than 11 to 1, oil-journals, and oil............the standard rods can be expected to provide a long life for that set up. What you have is a mid-range torque improvement. "Wailing on it" implies high-RPM but exceeding the 8,000 red-line is not advised.  BTW.........do you have decades or only a few years left?   

[KayOne]

Thanks for the insight Scrambler. I'm hoping decades. Think I'm similar in age to many forum members. I was in high school when the CB750 came out. I will never forget the scene in the spring of 1970 in front of the school. A Gasser style Toyota Corolla with a built SBC vs a KO. Race only went to 70 or 80 mph. The Corolla had the jump but the KO handed him his _ss once he got it rolling.

[754]

My 836 with stock rods, did at least 500 passes in the 1/8 mile, scads of burnouts, ran it to 10-11K constantly.. That said they can break, but the majority seem to do fine.
 No guarantees if racing though..

 My 836 was together around 24 years, the last 6 or 8. Running without aircleaners..  Your mileage may vary....

[PeWe]

I had those thoughts too. I came to the conclusion that replacing existing rods need new and correct bearings+ balance of the entire crank that made me to think about a complete crank with those rods... "super" crank.... I did not have the money... but it should have completed the bottom end for future use and increased the feeling what I know and nobody can see. HD prime chains from CCC was one improvement though.

[PeWe]

I bought a cheap future upgrade when I visited a bike scrap yard. Rods from HONDA DOHC 900. Look the same as CB750 but with a little bit more meat and 1.5mm longer.  Will give more CR.... compensate with extra base gasket. Maybe need to carve the head too...

[MRieck]

Get the F2 bolts and nuts...cheap insurance.

[KayOne]

Sounds like a done deal. F2 bolts already installed in rods. Now I can save the $ toward the crank rebuild on the H1.

Thanks for everybody's input. I appreciate the experience and knowledge forum members so generously share.

[Don R]

Well, if we knew the difference was going on an H1 we might have led you in a different direction. Just kidding. We love em all.

[Old Scrambler]

But some more than others...............My sandcast never lost to an H1 in more than one street-drag near LAX in late '70-early ''71.

[KayOne]

Scrambler, I have an H2 also  Kidding aside, I love late 60's and early 70's vintage Honda and Kawasaki triples and 900's. I'm glad that companies like Honda and Kawasaki had the balls to push the envelope.

[scottly]

I'm kind of surprised no one has mentioned polishing the beams and/or shot-peening the stock rods? 

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

But some more than others...............My sandcast never lost to an H1 in more than one street-drag near LAX in late '70-early ''71.

The local H1 guys quit 'picking on me' after I smoked both that tried on my F0. All I needed to convince them was 3rd gear.

And now, back to rods..... If you go bigger than 850 invest in some kind of new aftermarket rods.... or take your chances.

[Doctor_D]

I'm kind of surprised no one has mentioned polishing the beams and/or shot-peening the stock rods? 

Anyone that did a search on the topic would come up with that answer (in addition to adding stronger rod bolts).

[Sprocketwerx]

I'm building a relatively mild (10.5:1) 970, and it's been suggested to just use a good set of stock rods, shot-peened. Polishing the beam adds another bit of work (and personal satisfaction) so I'll prob go that route.
It's not going in a race bike (for my survior chopper), so I doubt I'll push it hard enough/long enough to hurt it. Still it won't get babied

[cbr954]

I had APE shot peen my stock rods for my first 836 build.  I am using the Super Rods for my 970 build.