Author Topic: CB500 wont go past 90 mph  (Read 1558 times)

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Offline Nicolai

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CB500 wont go past 90 mph
« on: September 17, 2016, 08:03:32 AM »
Hi All

I have a recently rebuild CB500 from 1977. I run pod filters and 4 into 1 exhaust. It accelerates well and pulls evenly up through the revs. However on the highway in 5th gear I am not able to go past 88 mhp on a flat road. I never drove it before the rebuild so I dont know how it used to drive. Is this normal or should I be able to get more power out of it?

Br

Nicolai
'77 CB500 K3

Offline Nicolai

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Re: CB500 wont go past 90 mph
« Reply #1 on: September 17, 2016, 08:25:23 AM »
I should mention that I have just rechecked the valves, sync. the carbs and set the timing.
'77 CB500 K3

Offline DaveBarbier

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Re: CB500 wont go past 90 mph
« Reply #2 on: September 17, 2016, 08:44:47 AM »
What RPM are you at when you're at 88? My 550 seems to hit 100 ok on flat but not much more than that. These bikes aren't able to rocket you that much faster. Maybe 115 with a 750...?

Offline DaveBarbier

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Re: CB500 wont go past 90 mph
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2016, 08:47:01 AM »
Maybe this will answer your question better. I'm convinced there are no new questions posted on this forum.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=55524.0

Offline nvr2old

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Re: CB500 wont go past 90 mph
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2016, 08:56:50 AM »
With my experience, a 500-550 should be able to top the ton, no problem.  My 400F hit 98mph, and my 550F cafe' does 115..  My best friend had an early 550 with a full Vetter fairing and it would hold it back to about 90mph.
'76 CB550F-'72 XL250-'82 MB5-'82 CX500 Turbo-'77 naked Goldwing-'75 CB400F cafe'-'79 Suzuki GS1000S..hey, it's a Wes Cooley..

Offline Nicolai

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Re: CB500 wont go past 90 mph
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2016, 09:08:01 AM »
I have a new Motogadget speedo so it should be very accurate. The engine is fully rebuilt with new pistons etc.

At 88 mph I am at about 7.500 rpm.

I took the plugs out yesterday and they looked okay. No. 1 was a bit black, but since then I have adjusted the valves.
'77 CB500 K3

Offline Nicolai

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Re: CB500 wont go past 90 mph
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2016, 09:09:49 AM »
I dont remember what jet size I am running but I added bigger jets when I installed pods. But maybe I should increase the jet size even more?
'77 CB500 K3

Offline harisuluv

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Re: CB500 wont go past 90 mph
« Reply #7 on: September 17, 2016, 10:23:06 AM »
You need to figure out what settings/configuration your bike has.

Offline alacrity

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Re: CB500 wont go past 90 mph
« Reply #8 on: September 18, 2016, 01:40:35 PM »
Nicolai-  as others have suggested the simple answer to your simple question is : IT DEPENDS.

It depends on a lot of things.   It's like asking "shouldn't this pizza taste better?"  How many variables are there in that!!?    Even more here.   What is your gearing? Is your clutch slipping? What are your carb settings and hard parts? Are the float levels perfectly correctly set?  Is your petcock flowing enough?  At full tilt with wfo throttle it needs to gulp gas, not sip.  And the pods are not as good as the OEM air box at high speed because you have a lot of high pressure, fast moving air ripping past the outer two carbs (1 and 4), which creates a low pressure area in the middle for carbs 2/3.
So your synch at idle is now basically meaningless and your carbs are struggling to function in the various kinds of dirty air.  I worked on a bike that would barely pull 80 if I rode it with my knees splayed out, but got to 100 or so if I squeezed my legs in just next to the outer carbs.  Don't believe me that airflow at high speeds (anything over 60, basically) is a real thing? Stick your head out a car window at 100 mph, face the wind directly and try to yell ALACRITY IS AN IDIOT."
Now, after the (likely) coughing fit subsides, turn your head 90 degrees to the oncoming blast and repeat. When the tingling sensation from your hyper-vibrating lips subsides, face the back of the car with the wind hitting the back of your head and try again.  Multi-cylinder bikes need matching everything: compression, fueling, air, spark, timing, etc in all the combustion chambers. Pretty much everything done in a "tuneup" is there to support this need and address any aberrations.
« Last Edit: September 18, 2016, 01:46:51 PM by alacrity »
I recently restored and sold a 77 cb750f, and am nearly finished with a (former basket case) cb750k5.  This is a place to share, learn and enjoy.  I am grateful to and for 99+% of this site's membership.

Offline Flyin900

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Re: CB500 wont go past 90 mph
« Reply #9 on: September 18, 2016, 07:15:15 PM »
The speedo's were usually optimistic in most cases on these bikes when new, so after 40 years who knows how accurate they are.

I have to say that on a modern bike 100 mph is a breeze and quite stable and relatively minimal risk of mechanical stuff. Going 100 mph on a 40 year old bike that someone else put together isn't on my radar these days... hell even if I put it together it's still not a consideration.

So you guy's who do you have some mighty big brass ones!  ;D
Common sense.....isn't so common!

1966 CL77 - 305cc - Gentleman's Scrambler
1967 CL175K0 - Scrambler #802 engine
1972 CB350F - Candy Bacchus Olive - Super Sport
1973 CB350F - Flake Matador Red - Super Sport
1975 CB400F - Parakeet Yellow - Super Sport
1976 CB400F - Varnish Blue - Super Sport
1976 GL1000 - Goldwing Standard
1978 CB550K - Super Sport
1981 GL1100 - Goldwing Standard
1982 CM450A - Hondamatic
1982 CB900C - Custom
1983 CX650E - Eurosport
1983 CB1000C - Custom X 2 Bikes now - both restored
1983 CB1100F - Super Sport - Pristine example
1984 GL1200 - Goldwing Standard