Topic: Would any of you recommend doing distance on your CB's?

[liaudio]

Being that these bikes are 30 years old or older, I would be a little apprehensive to do a trip longer than about 100 miles. 

Have any of you done trips on your CB's? 

My K5 750 is in tip-top shape but I would be reluctant to do a long distance trip on a bike that is over 30 years old!

[GroovieGhoulie]

Did a 400-miler on my 400F and it never missed a beat.

[okie]

It's a Honda.  I rode a CL350 from El Paso, Texas to Tulsa, Oklahoma (a little over 900 miles).  I can think of a lot of more comfortable bikes to ride, but I am sure my CB350 Four would take me to either coast and back with no problems.  What do you think there is about the bike that can't handle a long trip?  Whatever it is,, fix it.  Then go.  Like I said in the first place; it's a Honda.  They didn't get the success they have by making self-destructing  junk.

[mick750F]

  Ask andy750 about long trips. Or read about one of them here...http://www.hondarestoration.com/stories.htm

Mike

[Rocker]

I did a 250 day trip a few weekends ago on my 75 cb750 and it ran like a top. I would recommend taking some spair fuses with you at all times. But other then that, these things like to cruise.

[martini]

Did 600 miles on my 72 350 twin. No problems whatsoever. As mentioned, there Hondas, they are bulid to last. Go for it.

[DammitDan]

I average about 250 miles a weekend on my CB650, all the way up to 400 miles ones weekend (cruising between 50 - 80mph).  Performed beautifully, no mechanical problems whatsoever.

[Slapguts]

Why not? It's the same bike it was 30 years ago. I'm planning a 2,600 mile trip on mine in June for a friends wedding. Don't see why it wouldn't make it. I've put 1,200 on it in the last three weeks.

[andy750]

Id recommend you ride at least a 2000 mile trip on your Honda  Anything less than 200 miles/day for an outing must mean you are not riding enough :-) These bikes are very reliable and will go on and on and on......even on 3-cylinders (rode a 1000 miles home like this, just not very fast  ). See my signature links for more info on my long distance trips or check out the TRIP REPORT section of this forum for other peoples account of their trips.

cheers
Andy

[jaknight]

 

     Yes, I did 1,500 miles on one trip with my '74 cb750 K4.......... it purred like a kitten all the way.......... and I loved every minute of it!

     ~ ~ ~ jaknight ~ ~ ~

[kghost]

Since you had to ask this question, Will you survive the trip?

The Honda wil be fine.l

[Jonesy]

Took my bike all the way from Detroit to Baldwin, MI and back (across the state) in 2 days. Took along extra sparkplugs and points, which I didn't need.

[merc2dogs]

100 miles? no sweat, that's just a short afternoon ride!

 grand rapids to the sault locks is a decent ride, harder on my butt than it is on the bike.
 these bikes became popular because they were so well suited to long distance runs.

  Besides, if it's gonna break, it will break on a short run as easily as on a long run.

Plan to hit Richmond Va this summer on mine.

Ken

[tsp37]

I did 1000+ miles on a trip with my 250 Custom.  I was much younger and the bike still smelled like fresh rice.  I was sunburned and soaked and saddle sore like a bad night in prison.  Don't worry about the motorcycle - it is tougher than you are.

[rhinoracer]

I haven't done any riding on my project CB but that's what I dream of. Long rides down memory lane.

[liaudio]

From all of the responses, I've concluded that the answer is a resounding "YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!"   

I've posted a few more questions for you guys.

[Soos]

Last year, I would regularly use my cb650 with 30 year old coils, shocks, bearings, etc for 200-300 mile day trips without a hitch once.

ride like you stole it.

 

l8r

[DrMark]

Many weekend group rides of 150-250 miles per day on a 1978 CB550K without a problem. Spare fuses is a good idea, I've lost one fuse in 5 yrs. Then again, I change mine every spring. Local hardware store has them for 4/$1.  Have FUN!!!!!

[scott_cb650]

My wife and I (her as a passenger) made a 600, 2-day, round trip through Arkansas last summer.
I had to add about a quart of oil along the way and adjusted the chain after I got back, but we had no troubles on the ride.

It was a blast!

[snoop]

I am doing a trip from Philadelphia to Montreal for the formula 1 race on my cb550, I am riding with a beamer so I feel like the weak link in the chain.  I am very scared of breaking down.  I have about 2 months to get mine running in tip top shape.

[gregimotis]

Since we're listing our trips:

I did 2500 miles in three days last summer from 4000-8000 feet elevation, 50-100 degrees temp, and 20-105mph.



Wore a chain out, and needed a tune-up afterwards; Otherwise perfect.

[andy750]

Hey Snoop as long as your CB550 is in good shape then will be fine. When we did the SOHC Easy Rider Trip there were 10 CB750s and 1 CB550. The 550 performed perfectly across deserts, up mountains, at altitude etc etc...from LA to Grand Canyon and for the CB550 back via New Mexico to LA.....dont worry about it. Its a Honda :-)

good luck,
Andy

[OldSchool_IsCool]

I am doing a trip from Philadelphia to Montreal for the formula 1 race on my cb550, I am riding with a beamer so I feel like the weak link in the chain.  I am very scared of breaking down.  I have about 2 months to get mine running in tip top shape.

Riding with a beamer, eh?  Sounds a bit "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" ish!

Your concerns beg a few questions:
- What parts/tools/supplies to bring on a long trip? 
- What should be done before I leave? 
- What should I do each day after a ride?

Lets help Snoop out y'all!  I'll start a list, please feel free to add to it.

Tools
- plug wrench
- screw drivers (straight & cross)
- wrenches & sockets (6mm thru 19mm)
- adjustable wrench (up to 25mm+)
- feeler gages for points and for valves
- tire pressure gauge
- tire leavers
- points file
- ruler/tape measure
- spoke tool
- knife
- pliers, needle nose and regular
- shop manual
- string/rope/bungee cords
- tape
- cell phone
- Visa/Master card

Parts
- chain
- points
- fuses
- tube patch kit
- clutch cable (you could ram gears WITHOUT a clutch if you had to, but it isn't easy and stops are a #$%*!)
- throttle cable (realize that you have two, in a pinch, your "push"cable could be connected as a pull, reversing throttle direction)
- fresh set of plugs
- fuel line

Supplies
- oil
- oil filter
- brake fluid
- tube patch kit
- 2-3 cans of SeaFoam

Things to do before leaving (do these things yourself or watch closely so you can do these things yourself on the road!)
- change your chain, sprockets, cables, fuses, points, condensers (then pack the old ones as spares)
- tune up
  - set valve gap
  - inspect points
  - set points gap
  - set timing
  - adjust cam chain tension
  - balance carbs
- change oil
- brakes
  - inspect
  - bleed
  - adjust front & back
- change fork oil
- tires
  - check for ware
  - align
  - set tire pressure
  - check spoke tension
- adjust clutch
- inspect throttle cables
- inspect clutch cable
- lube cables
- inspect drive chain and sprockets
- tension drive chain

What should I do each day after a ride?
- check oil
- check brake fluid
- check chain tension
- check tires
- check tire pressure
- check spoke tension
- inspect plugs for good color

[liaudio]

Oldskool,

That's what I'm afraid of.  If it is recommended to carry all those parts, I'd rather do my trip on a newer bike.  I understand that always being prepared should be the motto, but I'd need an extra bag just for the tools and spares!

[littlebronco]

11,000 miles riding every day for 2.5 months on a 75 CB750F a few summers ago.  Nothing major went wrong, just some tuneups and tinkering along the way.  PLUS there're alot of Honda shops across the US with parts for these bikes.  My riding buddy's 2000 Ducati was a little harder to track down dealers for.

[c_kyle]

100 miles is nothing, just 1.5 hours of riding through horse country, here in central FL.  I haven't gone on any long distance trips with my 650 yet, but I've easily done 6 or 7 150 mile trips in the last 4 weeks; and that was with a f-ed up charging system.  Once the fork seals are replaced, new cables installed, and the front brakes rebuilt, I'll be putting some miles on her.  From what I've experienced so far, my CB650 runs like a champ, and really does well at 55-75mph.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Well, what parts, tool and supplies would you carry to perform roadside repairs on your NEW bike? 

- $100+ electronic ignition instead of points & condensers.  You can leave the points file behind, I guess.
- no need to bring the tube patch & tire leavers because a popped tubless tire means you'll be using the cell phone and Visa card looking for a tow to a repair shop that won't be open until Monday.
- Depending on the primary drive type of you new bike, you may not be able to repair a broken chain roadside, so that's 2 more pounds saved.
- since you may be limited on timing and fuel mixture adjustments, you don't need to inspect your plugs daily, but I'd still pack a wrench and fresh set of plugs anyway. 
- Certainly no changes to the pre-trip todo list or the daily inspection list.

Other then that, I don't think you would want to change your roadside kit by much.  Guess you could dispense of it all and depend on the kindness of strangers to get you back on the road. 

The point being that, as is anecdotally evidenced by the earlier replies, these bikes are VERY reliable, despite their age.  A well cared for CB is a true road warrior! 

My contention is that these bike are simple to fix too, and you have a better then even chance of fixing it roadside and won't be left behind in the parking lot of a closed repair shop waving to the rest of your travel companions as they continue the trip without you.

Besides, you don't have to be the only one to carry the kit.  Just make sure you have your bike-specific parts & supplies and that at least someone in your posse has the tools.  Think of the respect and addoration you will earn if you happen to be carring the one tool or part needed to repair a buddy's bike and salvage their trip!

[ofreen]

- no need to bring the tube patch & tire leavers because a popped tubless tire means you'll be using the cell phone and Visa card looking for a tow to a repair shop that won't be open until Monday.

I'd rather pick up a nail with a tubeless tire out on the road than a tubed tire.  Way easier to deal with.

[andy750]

I picked up a nail on the rear wheel as I was leaving a gas station in Baja and about to cross the Central Desert. It was Sunday, my first day in Mexico and I spoke no Spanish and I was in a little village with 10 houses. Lucky for me a local came by just as I was acting out the motion of "flat tire" to a tire-repair shack at the side of the road. He motioned for me to follow him up some rutted unpaved backroads riding on a flat rear tire. Lucky for me I saw the old orange CB550 in the garden of the local "mechanic" and who it turned out local "drug dealer". 1hr later the tire was fixed and I was speeding across 125 miles of desert  . Clearly if I was skilled in roadside tire repair I could have done it myself but i wasnt. Still I wouldt let that stop you taking a trip. If you are going to take a trip on a 30+ year old bike then you have to expect some adventures along the way. Probably also applies to modern bikes as well.

Supplies I would NOT take (personally speaking)
- oil - pick up oil at any gas station in the world if you dont mind using 10W-40 car oil (as I do) - if you are going to put gas from a big open barrel (some "gas sations" in remote places in Mexico where simply barrels of gas)  in your bike why not car oil ;-)

- oil filter - again any auto store has these and unless you are going over 1500-2000 miles why change it?

- brake fluid - rarely goes down over thousands of miles and if it does you have bigger troubles.

- tube patch kit - GOOD idea if you can change tires.

- 2-3 cans of SeaFoam  - if you need to use this then your bike wasnt tuned up properly before hand. I guess one would be handy for emergency's.

I do agree with OldSchool about taking a good selection of tools (8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm and 17mm, screwdriver, spark plugs) on a regular basis. These are the heaviest items to carry as spare cables dont weigh very much.

cheers
Andy

[ieism]

I do 1000 mile trips on my 550 a few times a year. I used to take parts and tools, but now I just take the stock toolkit that's under the saddle 2 extra sparkplugs and some oil and chaingrease.
I wouldn't dare drive that far without tools on my much newer Moto-Guzzi.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

OK, maybe I'm wrong on the tube vs tubeless tire.  And sure, you can plan to pick up the consumable supplies along the way.  But my point still holds, I think, in that you stand a better chance of repairing a CB roadside then you would a more complex modern scoot.

[mrclyde50]

Can I ask a silly question...WHAT DOES CB STAND FOR??

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Can I ask a silly question...WHAT DOES CB STAND FOR??

Currency Burner??

That's been debated before. 

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=12211.0
http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=2894.msg37988#msg37988

Don't know if we ever found the "official" meaning.

[slarty-bart-farst]

The 750 will see us out! The only time a 750 is going to be unreliable is if it has just been worked on or stored. If you split the engine give it 500 miles shake down to de bug and if you store the bike expect  carb/fuel problems but if its in use all the time it will be fine. I carry spares a.    condensor, a split link a fuse thats it! If you can change a tyre and are going realy far take levers a tube and a repair kit then you need a minature cycle pump or by one of the car 12v accessory pumps and take off the bulky plastic case and tie wrap it under the RH side panel.
If the coils are over 15 years old they can deteriorate but the bike will get you home, sometimes its worth replacing these anyway, the bikes always go better on new coils.
If its run on modern semi synthetic and gets regular changes and filter it will go forever, the only thing that will stop you is what stops any bike nowerdays, a puncture, learn how to fix that and your one step ahead of 99% of all other bikes on the reliability front.

Graham

[Geeto67]

Being that these bikes are 30 years old or older, I would be a little apprehensive to do a trip longer than about 100 miles. 

Have any of you done trips on your CB's? 

My K5 750 is in tip-top shape but I would be reluctant to do a long distance trip on a bike that is over 30 years old!

My K5 will go anywhere with confidence and I don't even have it in a good tune. during the summer she regularly makes the city to montauk trip (approx 100 miles), as often as 3 times a month (weekends) and that doesn't count all the commuting I do with her.  I'm planning to ride her to DC in a week or so (probably Friday night) and that is a 4 hour ride. She's gone to New Orleans and back a few times too.

[sandcastcb750]

Today I broke my first chain on a CB750 K1; 30,000+ mi on many bikes and 27 years ....first experience. My suggestion is by a new/heavy chain for a long trip, even if the chain looks good (my chain had 1800 miles and lubed).

Have not taken off sprocket cover yet to find out if engine cases cracked; I was too tired from pushing the bike home!!

Bob

[Snowdigger69]

If you don't take normal care of your bike all the tools in the world won't help you on a long ride! If you are riding over 1500 to 2000 miles service it before you start! I switched to Dyna electronic ignition and don't even look back! My only failure on my Vermont to Florida trip was a flasher for the directional lights. Do carry the onboard took kit for routine tasks! Moe

[jdpas29]

i rode 100 miles on my K8 not long after i got it running and it ate it up.  no problems at all.  i would recommend taking a few extra fuses, some duct tape, vice grips and a leatherman multi-tool.  and of course make sure your chain is lubed well before heading out.