Author Topic: honda cb 500 four more power?  (Read 14087 times)

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Offline kranta

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honda cb 500 four more power?
« on: March 04, 2015, 08:29:18 AM »
so, i want more power for my 500 and i thinking to put 650 cam in it. and 550s stock pistons too. but how i can get more power for my engine? but it does have to be cheap!!!

Offline strynboen

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2015, 08:57:55 AM »
vhy need you more power? a 500/550 goes 165 kmt ..if you need more power bay a newer and better  and less kosty bike.. its not vorth to tune on a old 500..go for somthing less kosty and more powerfull..there are lot of 1980-2000..bikes vho koste less then a  cb500..and runs better and farster
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Offline kranta

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #2 on: March 04, 2015, 09:40:48 AM »
i could buy newer bike but old is allways COOL!! ;D actually i dont need more power but i just wana little bit more power ;D

Offline strynboen

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #3 on: March 04, 2015, 10:28:23 AM »
yes...but the problem vill be..that ALL,,or most  bikes you meet vill autrun you. even you tune it up....so spend the money on  and tires and safty gear..and polish all aluminium and get a new  crome exhost system..then you are cool,and safe at same time..

or get a bigger cool bike like a cbx 1000..or erly naket goldving..
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Offline cbr954

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #4 on: March 04, 2015, 11:08:32 AM »
Its his bike if he wants to spend money on it and have fun with it then why not.  There will always be faster newer bikes but it doesn't mean it isn't fun making the old stuff faster.

Dynoman has a lot of parts for the 500 motor, pistons, cams alot of stuff to choose from.  If you want to put some money into it and have fun doing it I say go for it.
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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #5 on: March 04, 2015, 04:09:05 PM »
Its his bike if he wants to spend money on it and have fun with it then why not.  There will always be faster newer bikes but it doesn't mean it isn't fun making the old stuff faster.

Dynoman has a lot of parts for the 500 motor, pistons, cams alot of stuff to choose from.  If you want to put some money into it and have fun doing it I say go for it.

One good reason not to is the 500 gearbox, the 550 is a better bike to modify using a better gearbox design... ;)
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #6 on: March 04, 2015, 04:52:22 PM »
Its his bike if he wants to spend money on it and have fun with it then why not.  There will always be faster newer bikes but it doesn't mean it isn't fun making the old stuff faster.

Dynoman has a lot of parts for the 500 motor, pistons, cams alot of stuff to choose from.  If you want to put some money into it and have fun doing it I say go for it.

One good reason not to is the 500 gearbox, the 550 is a better bike to modify using a better gearbox design... ;)

+1, I had a 500 and was disappointed in the performance and paranoid I would have clutch problems. 
Drop a 550 motor in it (straight fit) or better yet, buy a 750!
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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #7 on: March 04, 2015, 04:56:28 PM »
Its his bike if he wants to spend money on it and have fun with it then why not.  There will always be faster newer bikes but it doesn't mean it isn't fun making the old stuff faster.

Dynoman has a lot of parts for the 500 motor, pistons, cams alot of stuff to choose from.  If you want to put some money into it and have fun doing it I say go for it.

One good reason not to is the 500 gearbox, the 550 is a better bike to modify using a better gearbox design... ;)

+1, I had a 500 and was disappointed in the performance and paranoid I would have clutch problems. 
Drop a 550 motor in it (straight fit) or better yet, buy a 750!

650 motor bolts in to Steve... ;D ;)
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Offline goldarrow

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #8 on: March 04, 2015, 08:59:55 PM »
I've got a 650 motor sitting by just for that reason.  Will this drop into 400f frame anyone?
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Offline Stev-o

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #9 on: March 04, 2015, 09:49:50 PM »
I've got a 650 motor sitting by just for that reason.  Will this drop into 400f frame anyone?

Doubtful without frame mods.  That 650 was a gift....
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Offline turboguzzi

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #10 on: March 05, 2015, 03:08:12 AM »
guys, not nice.... you all see that he doesnt have that much budget, wants to stick with his loely 500  and you all telling him to buy other bikes, other motors or not tune at all.....? :P
 i have the luxury of having budgets nowadays but back when i was 25 yrs old had exactly the same mind set: want to get more from what i have, paying pennies.
regarding G/B, i totally disagree, have raced a 500 four season and if you do even some home brewed undercutting to the gears, gearbox can last.

kranta, my two cents: big boring will give you the most bung for your back and is relatively pain free. So Your plan for 550 slugs (and block?) + 650 cam is not a bad one. While there i would consider millling a block a bit for higher compression. all in all it will give very usable torque and thats what you want in an everyday bike.

Offline kranta

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #11 on: March 05, 2015, 05:15:49 AM »
i was thinging that i bore my 500s cylinder to 550 and then stock 550s stock pistons from cmsnl. and 650 cam. but that actually isnt bad idea to milling little bit out of cylinder. but how much i can mill out of cylinder? and hold this more power thing is because in finland speed limits are in highway 120km/h. and i wana get faster past from other cars. :D ;D

Offline Stev-o

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #12 on: March 05, 2015, 05:35:55 AM »
Oh, you're in Finland?  That changes things a bit.  In the US, a used 550 motor can be had for $200-300, that would be the cheap route if you can drop it in your self.

Around here, boring is $50/hole, that's $200, pistons, rings, gaskets could run another $200 and the last 650 cam I bought was $100. 

So, you're looking at $500 minimum, hardly pennies TG. 
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Offline calj737

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #13 on: March 05, 2015, 05:37:19 AM »
Best way to turn your 500 "up" is to perform some porting on the head, and insure that your carbs and igntion are in a perfect state of tune. There's heaps of hidden power in the head for your stock motor.
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Offline turboguzzi

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #14 on: March 05, 2015, 06:55:59 AM »
kranta, the nice thing about increasing compression is that it's really free power. the 500/550 has a nice tapered area in the head that can be used as squish area and you could easily go up to 11:2 by easily machining a matching taper in the pistons and lowering the block by say 0.5-0.8 mm. I do this in al l my vintage race bikes more or less.

Oh, you're in Finland?  That changes things a bit.  In the US, a used 550 motor can be had for $200-300, that would be the cheap route if you can drop it in your self.

Around here, boring is $50/hole, that's $200, pistons, rings, gaskets could run another $200 and the last 650 cam I bought was $100. 

So, you're looking at $500 minimum, hardly pennies TG. 
right, things might be different here in europe (even if i always thought tuning in USA is cheapest. :) )
i pay about 25 euro per pot + a cruizing image kit 80$ -
ok, even 180 is not pennies, but bang for the buck could be highest than any other option and you get a fresh motor on the way, not some tired thing with unkown history.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB550F-CB550K-600cc-61-5mm-Bigbore-Piston-Kits-with-Head-Gasket-CB550FBB-/251407380852?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item3a890c3174
that could be a nice start, cam could cam later as funds allow.
calj, "heaps of power" in a tune up and some porting? can understand that if the bike was previously totally out of tune. but if carbs and ign were fine to begin with? i really doubt what power you'll find in "some porting". Never mind the skills needed to do it right.
« Last Edit: March 05, 2015, 06:59:15 AM by turboguzzi »

Offline strynboen

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #15 on: March 05, 2015, 08:12:25 AM »
start to get a stabil running bike..run it for atleast 1 seson..then deside if you need ekstra power..


do you have a licens? have you run 500 cc bikes for long time?. have you a running bike now??.there are some faktors in this game..and ve dont have fachts to give the best advise.
.ve are guessing abaut most... ::)
i have a 550..it run as good it can stock..the first seson i had it..i only ran full speed 4-5 times in that year..later i got bigger bikes...and now i feel the lack of powe against 1000cc bike,,,but still ..its great fun to ride the 550..but on long distanses i prefere the 1000..it handel better and breake better..and komfort are greater..
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Offline flatlander

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #16 on: March 05, 2015, 08:35:57 AM »
start to get a stabil running bike..run it for atleast 1 seson..then deside if you need ekstra power..

this is good advice. get it to run really well as it is, and get to know it well.

a properly running cb500 will break your speed limit of 120kph any time, and get you away from all but the quickest superportscars (or the electric tesla these days, they pull away like hell!!).
especially if you're stuck for money i'd first get it tuned perfectly, see what it does then, and decide on what to do next instead of throwing money at it randomly.

Offline kranta

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #17 on: March 05, 2015, 09:09:43 AM »
im from finland and here 500/550s hold motor pay 800-1000euros and bottom end usually pay 200-300 euros. (prices are so high because in finland 500/550s are popular race bikes) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB550F-CB550K-600cc-61-5mm-Bigbore-Piston-Kits-with-Head-Gasket-CB550FBB-/251407380852?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item3a890c3174
that would be nice but i have to buy 550 cylinder for it.? i have plates and every thing but i am building a so called "finnish chopper".

Offline flatlander

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #18 on: March 05, 2015, 09:29:27 AM »
then spend your money on the chassis first. new bearings in the wheels and headset (conical), swingarm bushings, good suspension... they'll make a huge difference. more power won't do much good if you keep wobbling off the road.

Offline kranta

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #19 on: March 05, 2015, 09:34:26 AM »
i found this too same seller. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB500K-CB500F-553cc-Bigbore-Pistons-Kit-59mm-W-Head-Gasket-CI-CB500KBB-/261543222265?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item3ce530dbf9
do any one know its that seller reliable? and last owner was change all bearings (1 year ago)

Offline strynboen

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #20 on: March 05, 2015, 11:07:20 AM »
its not the cubik ccm vho gives hp..it gives moment..(torque)..but not so mutch real hp...so piston thange ..is almost lost money

.goes for better flow in the head..and eventuell old 750 kaburettors (erly types)..and a 650 cam...
(evt light the crankkace and generator,,so it spinns  kvikker up ,,,and take more rpm.).and get elektronik egnision.....valve springs must be thanged.so they not floting..
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Offline kranta

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #21 on: March 05, 2015, 11:43:37 AM »
yeah, i dont actually want more HPs. i wana that torgue. so that when you put throttle to full that power come right to way. and i think that i put that 500 big bore kit on it and just only 650 cams.

Offline strynboen

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #22 on: March 05, 2015, 12:16:48 PM »
400 four and 500 needs rpm..this bikes dont pull up from lov..so dont go for a cam thange...it vill only reise the rpm need..so yes...in that case 650  cc are the right vay..

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Offline turboguzzi

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #23 on: March 05, 2015, 03:53:14 PM »
i found this too same seller. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB500K-CB500F-553cc-Bigbore-Pistons-Kit-59mm-W-Head-Gasket-CI-CB500KBB-/261543222265?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item3ce530dbf9
do any one know its that seller reliable? and last owner was change all bearings (1 year ago)
heads of 500 and 550 are the same

Offline scottly

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Re: honda cb 500 four more power?
« Reply #24 on: March 05, 2015, 05:48:51 PM »
yeah, i dont actually want more HPs. i wana that torgue. so that when you put throttle to full that power come right to way. and i think that i put that 500 big bore kit on it and just only 650 cams.
If you don't mind sacrificing top speed in favor of acceleration, the cheapest and easiest way to accomplish this would be to change the front sprocket to a smaller size. One tooth less will make a noticeable difference. ;)
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