HI ALL BOOSTERS OUT THERE.
I've just joined - again - after losing all me email/log on data 10 years ago. I am keen to track down my original bike 1972 CB500/4 IN NEW ZEALAND.
it had plate 699SO which according to the Govt. doesn't exist past 1990ish WHEN THEY WENT ELECTRONIC.
It was originally Gold 1972 IN CHRISTCHURCH, Spent some time as a 500/4. a short stint with ATP kit not very exciting so Graduated to a 630cc ( 63mm low compression pistons custom made) Pretty impressive performance and amazing fuel consumption. Thirsty with the original ATP carb. a BENDIX with accelerator pump. 20 mpg and SUPER economical with a 2.5 inch SU carb off a TRIUMPH sports car i think. Just threw it on because it fitted and was on the bench. This carb gave me 50 mpg at 70 mph average speed on one run. This was on a ride with hilly sections various corners and lots of 750 and 900 bikes to keep up with. It wasn't an economy run. more like a road race.
Eventually, the lust for power won over handling and Underdog status and I transferred the ATP kit over onto a 750/RC900 kit, Golden rods and all the sensible stuff. BUT STILL NO WASTE GATE.( The 500 ATP kit never had one, and My dad made up the manifolds for the 900 in a day and didn't have time to make a wastegate. IN BLENHEIM.
It went like stink. Never could ride it to potential in 1/4 mile; best time 11.89s @124 mph. still pretty decent for 1978 but not the best. Once had occasion to "race" a car through North Otago and wound out to 145 mph (233 kph) two up!! The speedo was doing wild fluctuations but the rev counter was steady on an estimated 11,600 rpm ( NOT recommended for extended times - more than 10 seconds - AND IT'S AGAINST THE LAW) with the extra tooth on the pinion I was get 12.5 mph per 1,000 rpm so 145 was my best estimate. Boost was somewhere around 14-16 lbs, but it was difficult to see the flimsy bracket and stay alive at the same time.
I was 21 at the time my wife (to be) 18. Her comment - that seemed pretty fast ? Her comment after we ran out of gas, 10km short of the next town -- is unprintable. It was quite thirsty at 100 + with the Bendix carb, super smooth acceleration and beautiful sound at cruising speed @ 6000 rpm 75 mph. speed limit 60 mph - 100kph and no radar detector in those days. The Lewis Pass is a dream ride on this bike. Very difficult to ride smoothly through town.
Back to MY old 500/630. It was sold by my dad in 1994 to someone in NZ - While I was tripping around the pacific and by that time had no turbo, a BLACK tank possibly still the GOLD side covers the left with a cut out for the turbo exhaust. I'd be surprised if the buyer knew it was a 630. Unless told. It had a few other semi cafe racer mods. twin discs probably a 4 into 1, not the original pipes shown in photo. May have had a bikini fairing. I'm sorry now but didn't care then. My dad died in 2005 and I never asked him. The last photo was taken in 1993 and closest to how I think it was sold. not sure about the pipes.
Roy
