Topic: The Texas Mile

[richmagee7]

Well, after two years of the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials being cancelled, I decided to go to the Texas Mile to try out the latest mods on my land speed CB500.  The event is only two hours from where I live in Texas and took place last weekend.  Thought I would give an update.

A quick recap copied from my "Bonneville Bound" post.

"Anyway, my billet cut 12.5-1 CR pistons finally showed up, so the bike is put together with those plus the Megacycle cam.  To recap, we ran in 2021 with the Mike Rieck ported (seriously) head with oversize intakes, CR26 carbs, Hindle exhaust, Dyna S ignition.  But stock pistons and cam.  Now I have the new pistons in and the Megacycle 126-20 cam with custom 110 degree lobe centers.  We went 109mph in 2021 but it required nursing it up to 3500rpm, stumbling until then, at which point it just takes off and screams.  Always starts easy and idles easy."

This year with some carb tuning help from this forum, I felt ready and curious to run the motor more than just in front of my house.

My buddy Casey came out to wrench and help.  Photo of Casey prepping bike in pits.  I'll try to link some videos also.

[richmagee7]

So, about 220 vehicles were signed up with about 28 bikes included.  Almost every single car came on a trailer and the slow cars were going 150 to 170, but only a few.  Most were hunting for 200.  Mustangs, Camaros and Vettes to a great extent.  They came in motor homes pulling golf carts that matched their cars, I was really surprised by the rigs and setups.  The bikes were mostly Hayabusas, with a Ducati, an Aprilia or two, one V-Rod, one Sportster, and one electric bike.  Met some Bonneville guys that I had not met at Bonneville before.  The electric bike, Team Speed Hertz, went 180.

The event is held at an old Naval Air Station in Beeville Texas using an old runway.  Standing start, one mile with speed traps at 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile and at the mile.  www.txmilespeed.com if you're interested in seeing all the results.

Despite being one of the slowest vehicles there, the bike got a lot of love as being something classic and something unique in a sea of Hayabusas, Mustangs and Corettes.

Some pics, should have took more.

[richmagee7]

Tech inspection.  Waiting.

[richmagee7]

So, how did it go?  Pretty good I think.  Gained some information two hours from the house instead of 23 hours from the house.  Such as the clutch is slipping with the additional power and I apparently forgot to replace the rear wheel bearings (and they needed replacing).  First video gives a taste of the Texas Mile and my first run.   Since Bonneville, besides the cam and pistons, I changed from 17-34 gearing to 18-34.  After the 2nd run we changed gearing to 18-32.  I thought I could nurse the clutch.  Not so much, got worse.  Second video is of my fourth and final run which showed no improvement but I had bought the ticket, wanted to take one more ride. You can definitely see the clutch slipping on the tach and hear it.
2nd run - 121.9
3rd run - 122.3
4th run - 120

[scottly]

Good job Rich! Thanks for sharing, since we've had no top speed stuff for a while. You may have done better if you had kept the lower 17-34 gearing, as it would have put less load on the clutch and allowed the engine to get closer to it's power peak RPM before slipping.

[grcamna2]

I think it's time for installing a solid clutch;have you considered APE clutch plates and springs ?

I bought a set of them for a Built 83' GS1100ED that I had;red clutch plates.
 I had it on the street and noticed the APE clutch plates were very grabby;they like it best when I slammed through the gears,although I learned to carefully modulate the 'catch point' and finally got used to it.
I lived on a resort island at the time which really taught me to be patient w/ 'bone-heads' behind the wheel;many sight-seeing tourists through the Summer.

[dusterdude]

Very cool

Sent from my SM-G973U1 using Tapatalk

[richmagee7]

grcamna2, thanks, I will look into APE.

[Stev-o]

Hi Rich....very exciting, thx for sharing.  How's the bike feel at 120?  I dont like the look of those expansion joints on the runway but see that you avoided them.

I know a guy from DFW that has a heavily modified '67 Vette with a 427 that did 200! I didnt believe it but saw his slip.

[bek1966]

Awesome thread!  It's great to see the CB500 in a sea of modern equipment.  Nice work.

Regards,
Brad

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Good job Rich

Now you have me thinking haha

[richmagee7]

Stev-o, bike felt fine though my fork seals are shot and right at the mile mark the pavement drops about an inch, Bang.  The sensation of speed is greater on the smaller track than it is on an expanse of salt.  But I don't know how those Busa riders have the juevos to go over 200.

Jerry,
There were people there from Alaska, you could certainly make it down CO.  Bring your car or your bike.

Thanks Scott

Thanks Brad, the bike did get a lot of appreciation for being unique.  I think on my first run the announcer said "well, here's something you don't see every day".

[scottly]

Thanks Brad, the bike did get a lot of appreciation for being unique.  I think on my first run the announcer said "well, here's something you don't see every day".

200 MPH Busa's are nothing special anymore. There was one at a local bike show a few years ago, fresh from El Mirage. Your efforts, and Dennis's, are special, in my opinion, as it's a grass-roots effort to go as fast as you can, with what you have and can fabricate, just like the pioneers that started LSR on the dry lakes in the old days.

[seanbarney41]

+1!  Plus, now you know that you got a damn fast cb550, if not the fastest!

[Old Scrambler]

Great Job ..............The speed perspective is interesting.............Recommend fresh OEM fibers and disks with HD springs...........and agree with Scott about the smaller sprocket being easier on the clutch.........Adjust after a few shifts.........What oil?

What tire-pressure? Plenty of room to slowdown? 

[richmagee7]

Thanks Dennis,
The bike got new OEM fibers when I put it together and has only made a few runs at Bonneville and still seems fine now.  Is there a minimum thickness on the steel disks? I dont think I replaced those, they looked good.  The springs measured okay but I will replace them, I'll get some OEM and some heavy duty.  I actually don't think I had the bolts on the clutch plate tightened all the way down, don't ask me why.  Not sure which sprocket to start with since the clutch was altering my estimation of how much power we were making.  I suppose going back to the 34 rear sprocket and then adjusting from there makes sense.  I was running Mobil 1 4T racing oil, 10W-40.  40 psi on the Avons. 

Plenty of room to slow down for me, didn't actually use the brakes till the turn.  Trying to get off the track so next vehicle can run. They make you run both front and rear brakes.  I had mine LOOSE.  I think it was between 1/2 and 3/4 of a mile after the mile marker before turning.

Rich

[scottly]

I actually don't think I had the bolts on the clutch plate tightened all the way down, don't ask me why.   

If the bolts were loose enough, then that would explain the slipping clutch.
As far as sprockets, all bets are off until the clutch is holding.

[Old Scrambler]

Rich..........I don't know how many hours you ran to break-in the rings...............but I do know that mineral oil is best for that

I'm in Quartszite AZ for the winter...........somewhat of a lucky find while rock-hounding for gem-stones...........an 8 x 14 x 3-inch slab of petrified wood with black crystals..........a friend says it may be worth a few thousand bucks.........will know more in a few weeks when the guy who sold his piece shows up

[BenelliSEI]

Fantastic story! Congratulations and keep us posted. I’ve been racing for 54 seasons and the salt flats is one place I’ve always wanted to go……. Seeing your results is great!

[richmagee7]

Thanks Benelli.  The salt keeps getting thinner, you should head out to Bonneville before it's all gone.  And bring something to RACE.  Rich

[BenelliSEI]

Thanks Benelli.  The salt keeps getting thinner, you should head out to Bonneville before it's all gone.  And bring something to RACE.  Rich

I vintage raced a Lotus Eleven for about 20 years. Another Canadian, Brian MacEachern, still runs his. He went to the flats with his around 1990. Should have gone then!

[Don R]

 I made it out there last year for the flood just before speed week, the Great Salt Lake was drying up and the flats were flooded. Ironic.
 We went from Illinois to Carson City Nv. to get a California car, 64 Nova, it was a rust bucket and we left it there.