Topic: 72 honda cb500

[njclimber]

Just want to put this out there for anyone trying to get their bike to rip. A few things i noticed during my build which will aid in troubleshooting.
Right now my bike runs terrifyingly quick, and performs like a raging ape in all gears, in all throttle and rpm ranges. Here's what i did:
1. Assured both fuel lines from petcock are connected. Cut exhaust, added PODS
2. Replaced plunger bits, set float to ~22mm, custom needle shimmed at 4th notch, increased pilot size , mains to 115, synched with vaccumm gauge
3. New plugs, gapped to spec, 1.5 turns on air/fuel mix on carb
4. Also for safety new alloy swing arm bushings, rebuilt front forks.

This set up is a bit rich, but the bike runs absolutely perfect and destroys 0-100mph like a proper inline 4 crotch rocket.

[Stev-o]

Right now my bike runs terrifyingly quick..

Curious why this would be terrifying? I changed the carbs on my 550 and it now "rips" but doesnt terrify me.

[mrfish2]

Terrifyingly quick on a CB500? Is this your first bike or something? Don't get me wrong, it's good you got it tuned correctly for pods, but a 500 really isn't that quick.

[buffalogt750]

I sold my 550 because it didn't scare me. Maybe if I had changed those darned "plunger bits". Actually just thinking about plunger bits scares me.

[RevDoc]

We should ask Bob to move this thread to the Humor section...

+1 Also, if the bike is such a sweet screamer why does he say in his sig line that it is for sale?

[buffalogt750]

We should ask Bob to move this thread to the Humor section...

+1 Also, if the bike is such a sweet screamer why does he say in his sig line that it is for sale?

Too scary for him to ride?

[DaveBarbier]

...but the bike runs absolutely perfect and destroys 0-100mph like a proper inline 4 crotch rocket.

Awesome, but my brother's early 2000's 250cc Ninja would probably smoke my current 550 in all aspects. Maybe not but modern crotch rockets are much faster than these old SOHC4's.

But glad you're enjoying your bike!

[mrfish2]

Awesome, but my brother's early 2000's 250cc Ninja would probably smoke my current 550 in all aspects.

I've tested this! My buddy had a 2004 Ninja 500 and it would smoke my 550 without question haha.

[njclimber]

Its terrifying because if you slip while on the throttle you'll get pulled right off. Im selling because I never wanted it in the first place, it landed in my lap. I love what a smart ass everyone is. Be the last time I'll leave my self open to interpretation, my next comments will come more loaded and ready for peer review. Ah, nothing beats being smart online. Thanks for the replies, and nice welcome to the forum, guess I know what to expect when and if I see another jack ass on a classic on the road this winter. Oh wait, all the girls put their bikes away for the winter already.

[Trad]

Haha, Cal is the best. Just sayin'

[Retro Rocket]

I love what a smart ass everyone is.

The thin skinned section is that way -> -> ->

Be the last time I'll leave my self open to interpretation, my next comments will come more loaded and ready for peer review. Ah, nothing beats being smart online.

No worries, some of us are smart in person too. Or did you mean smart-mouthed?

Thanks for the replies, and nice welcome to the forum, guess I know what to expect when and if I see another jack ass on a classic on the road this winter. Oh wait, all the girls put their bikes away for the winter already.

Are you the "other" jackass? You post some absorb comments, with unsubstantiated tuning data that most of us who have heaps of experience with these bikes, know is anecdotal crap. That you like the bike, that you enjoy riding it, well that is great. Truly, delighted you are impressed with the bike.

But please don't wear your PJs to the Big Boy room and whine when you get your ego bruised. By the way, your Mom called and said to clean up your basement room.

Oh no, not another one...hahahaha   

[DaveBarbier]

Oh wait, all the girls put their bikes away for the winter already.

You're saying you're a man because it's an unusually warm December? I know people who take their bikes out only on warm winter days and they boast that they "ride all through winter". Kinda funny. Riding in less than 40° is pure pain in my opinion.

Good morning, Retro! Steve-O, you up yet? Dave, you should be on your way to work now.

Metro north...it's a love hate thing.

[Stev-o]

Steve-O, you up yet?

Of course.  I just cannot add to your excellent response!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

300 rwhp turbo bike -- yeah, that's scary for anyone, but a 500??!   

[Retro Rocket]

I've been scared by a 500, you guys been over to "Do the ton", some scary sh1t there....

[Gene]

Here's what i did:
1. Assured both fuel lines from petcock are connected.

Not trying to be a smart a$$ here, but this is - I think - reasonable.

[Retro Rocket]

Here's what i did:
1. Assured both fuel lines from petcock are connected.

Not trying to be a smart a$$ here, but this is - I think - reasonable.

I'm not trying to be a smart ass either but I think-its bleeding obvious...

[jonda500]

Replacing the needles & seats seems reasonable if that's what 'plunger bits' are. Cutting the exhaust - err well 30 years ago I did do that to my 400-4 (cut most of the muffler off so it didn't muffle any more). I also fitted POD filters and drilled out the main jets one size bigger several times (until it ran worse, then went back one size (had purchased a spare set)). I didn't vacuum sync or change the pilots or needles or clips. I got it running quite ok, but really well with the muffler removed. At the time I believed I had made it faster than stock (now I doubt that - extremely unlikely!) and it seemed more responsive at very low revs too. In the end though, I got fed up with having soggy pod issues every time it rained and returned it to stock.
At the time, I also fitted new steering bearings and swingarm bushes - I used oem bushes but I'm sure the bronze ones could work fine...

I am guessing njclimber is a younger sohc rider (like I was 30 years ago), what really bothers me is this statement from him "I never wanted it in the first place it landed in my lap". I don't think there would be any members here who wouldn't be bloody THRILLED if a '72 cb500 were to 'land in their lap'?!!!! John 

[Retro Rocket]

^^ ^^

[jonda500]

I don't think there would be any members here who wouldn't be bloody THRILLED if a '72 cb500 were to 'land in their lap'?!!!! John

I would be as long as some dolt PO hadn't drilled the jets, cut off the exhaust, and torn it down to bare essentials in a moot effort to make it terrifyingly fast.

maybe it was already torn down to bare essentials when it landed in his lap - either way I'd have been very happy to have it land in my lap! (obviously a complete, original bike would be even better!)
The worst (not reversable) things I did to my 400 (thirty years ago), were: reshaping the seat foam, cutting out the frame rails between the bottom engine mounts, and cutting off the bracket that the muffler bolts to. - I then later had to make a new exhaust mounting bracket for it - ah well, gotta live and learn!
John
(it wasn't such a serious crime back then though!   )

[Retro Rocket]

Haha, a Vrod would eat it and sh1t it back out before he crossed the intersection....

[jonda500]

"Runs and rides correctly, rips in every gear, in every throttle position.
Carbs optimized and synched for pods/exhaust
No issues daily rider w/ new swing arm bushings, freshly oiled & adjusted forks.
Good tires, good brake life, clean title.
Fast, loud, and easy to take into tight turns fast, great for short trips. This bike is mechanically sound and very dependable. Low ride height makes manuevering at low speeds a breeze.
Bikes been stripped of some bells n whistles, but its low curb weight makes blowing out of traffic at lights like a rocket. I could see this bike smoke most bobbers, classic vrods/twins, and other cafe racers."

Ha ha ha I hadn't seen that!
 - I wonder what "freshly adjusted forks" is supposed to mean?!

 - "great for short trips" - "this setup is a bit rich" - sounds like it probably only runs well for ~10 miles until it reaches operating temperature and then needs to stop and cool down before it will run properly again...
John

[seanbarney41]

ehhh...so the kid exaggerates a little...


 

[Retro Rocket]

ehhh...so the kid exaggerates a little...

On this forum....lol, sure picked the right crowd to bullsh1t to...

[Trad]

What's going on here is....... it's probably O.P's first "real" bike and in his mind everything he said is true.........Please go test drive a V-rod and report back. Better yet and even easier, the first modern sport bike you see. I'm not trying to be a dick, it's just what you described in the sale ad. just isn't a way a 500 would normally be described. Sounds like an ad for a riced out GSXR 750 or something.