Topic: Phaedrus: CB750 RestoMod - Update: 09/23/21 w/ new video

[MCRider]

You're a patient and meticulous caretaker Ron and I salute you. I subbed out most of my chrome, black chrome and polished bits for powdercoat when I last rebuilt my bike to make cleaning easier after riding.

Well thanks. But I'd rather be riding, but since I can't something else needs to take the place.   

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

You're a patient and meticulous caretaker Ron and I salute you. I subbed out most of my chrome, black chrome and polished bits for powdercoat when I last rebuilt my bike to make cleaning easier after riding.

Well thanks. But I'd rather be riding, but since I can't something else needs to take the place.   

Ron, you've successfully transferred that passion for riding to a passion for building a meticulously crafted fun machine.  Kudos.

[MCRider]

Thanks, its actually working out OK. 

[MCRider]

Drags not happening. Rained out, conflicting work schedules, etc. Track re-opens in April.
Installed AGM battery.
Prepped items for sale: Chainguards
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=142064.new#new

Still looking for break in miles and maybe a Dyno run yet this year. Install Nautilus horns, oil cooler, misc.

[grcamna2]

Hard break-in miles still on the plate ? 

[MCRider]

Hard break-in miles still on the plate ? 

Nothng scheduled, but there should be some sunny days ahead, even if cold. I need 100-200m without oil leaks etc., before a Dyno run.  Got a fall vacation to MI coming up, knocks out next 2 weekends.   

[grcamna2]

I like the cooler weather for break-in,you can run'em a little harder;I've been learning on here about break-in's,I don't need to 'baby' it for 600 miles anymore...   

[MCRider]

I like the cooler weather for break-in,you can run'em a little harder;I've been learning on here about break-in's,I don't need to 'baby' it for 600 miles anymore...   

ITs a controversial issue, like which oil is best. I always thought there was some kind of conflict as in the drag shop, we'd build em and the first thing you do is run it wide open on the strip. Same thing to a slightly lesser extent for roadracers. But for a streetbike we're supposed to baby it?

The argument would go back and forth: for race you set them up looser bearings and rings to offset lack of breakin, and of course a performance engine gets taken apart more often. But if you don't wail on the street bke earlier, the honing doesn't break in right, blah, blah.

Since I have no need to preseve this engine, I'm going with the hard breakin crowd. If I'm still running it with a ghost rider after 3000 miles great for me. IF it smokes we'll know, if it doesn't smoke we'll know something else.

http://www.cbr500riders.com/forum/cbr500-general-discussion-forum/191-soft-break-vs-hard-break-cbr500.html

U can google hard break in v soft break in and read all night.

[grcamna2]

I like the cooler weather for break-in,you can run'em a little harder;I've been learning on here about break-in's,I don't need to 'baby' it for 600 miles anymore...   

ITs a controversial issue, like which oil is best. I always thought there was some kind of conflict as in the drag shop, we'd build em and the first thing you do is run it wide open on the strip. Same thing to a slightly lesser extent for roadracers. But for a streetbike we're supposed to baby it?

The argument would go back and forth: for race you set them up looser bearings and rings to offset lack of breakin, and of course a performance engine gets taken apart more often. But if you don't wail on the street bke earlier, the honing doesn't break in right, blah, blah.

Since I have no need to preseve this engine, I'm going with the hard breakin crowd. If I'm still running it with a ghost rider after 3000 miles great for me. IF it smokes we'll know, if it doesn't smoke we'll know something else.

http://www.cbr500riders.com/forum/cbr500-general-discussion-forum/191-soft-break-vs-hard-break-cbr500.html

U can google hard break in v soft break in and read all night.

a lot of good info on that link for both easy & hard 

[Tintop]

I've always gone by the rule you break it in the way your going to use it.

[MCRider]

I've always gone by the rule you break it in the way your going to use it.

I read that in the Google search I did on the subject. So you're not the only one.

There is this issue: a lot of the justification is that modern engine technology doesn't call for it (soft bi). So is a rebuilt CB a modern engine or just a new old one?

We are using new piston rings/ new tech there and that's what the break in is mainly for... I think.

Anyway, I've got 2 oil changes in 20 miles. The 20 miles was up and down thru the gears pretty hard, cappped at 6000 rpm, no more than a few hundred yards between cycling up and down.

NExt run will be 80 miles, with hard accel and decell to seat the rings. Then some more for fun. Then wail.

[Retro Rocket]

The best bike I ever owned was built and run in on the race track, raced the same week...

[MCRider]

The best bike I ever owned was built and run in on the race track, raced the same week...

There you go, settled! 

Seriously, I think I agree. But was your bike overall modern, or an older rebuilt one.

[Tintop]

From my point of view the only things your 'breaking in / seating in' are the rings and bearings.  So changing the oil frequently likely has more benefit then anything else.

[Retro Rocket]

The best bike I ever owned was built and run in on the race track, raced the same week...

There you go, settled! 

Seriously, I think I agree. But was your bike overall modern, or an older rebuilt one.

Late 80's Kawasaki 750 ninja, it was a very successful race bike Ron {great rider too}and a real blast to ride on the street, best handling bike i ever owned... ..  Still though, I was talking to a guy a couple of months back, that builds fast 750 Honda's here and he said to just "run it in on the dyno", it only takes a few heat and torque cycles and an oil change and bingo, all done... I like that idea because i can avoid speeding tickets whilst trying to run the bloody thing in on the street...

[MCRider]

The best bike I ever owned was built and run in on the race track, raced the same week...

There you go, settled! 

Seriously, I think I agree. But was your bike overall modern, or an older rebuilt one.

Late 80's Kawasaki 750 ninja, it was a very successful race bike Ron {great rider too}and a real blast to ride on the street, best handling bike i ever owned... ..  Still though, I was talking to a guy a couple of months back, that builds fast 750 Honda's here and he said to just "run it in on the dyno", it only takes a few heat and torque cycles and an oil change and bingo, all done... I like that idea because i can avoid speeding tickets whilst trying to run the bloody thing in on the street...

Sounds good. 

[MCRider]

Going on R&R to S Haven MI. No shop time this week.

Had a visitor looking to buy the CL77. After careful vetting I allowed him into my shop. HE immediately looked over the CL to Phaedrus sitting on the trailer. "Where have I seen this before" he remarked?

He finally figured it out it was on somebody's Facebook page, from one of the shows we were at. After an approproate length of time gawkin, we returned to the CL. He made a decent offer, but I got to get hold of a title first.

Turns out he knows several of the old school acquaintances I ran with "back in the day". Talked for hours.   

[grcamna2]

That CL you showed to that prospective buyer,is that the one that you were 'holding' for your neighbor a while back ?

[MCRider]

That CL you showed to that prospective buyer,is that the one that you were 'holding' for your neighbor a while back ?

Yup.

[grcamna2]

That is one Nice bike Ron  Did you decide how you'll do the title/reg. yet ?

[MCRider]

That is one Nice bike Ron  Did you decide how you'll do the title/reg. yet ?

Nope, on hold till I get back.

[MCRider]

The weather brightened up. Rick and I took some time off work to put miles on Phaedrus: a hard breakin.

There were teething problems. But with 70 hard miles on it now, the feedback grows more and more enjoyable. Starts everytime; very little choke, only first thing; clutch engages smoothly adn the engine responds too, no monkey business, clutch slipping necessary; running to redline now (8500) and then engine brake back down, over and over. 100mph is easy in third, indicating maybe 9000+rpm (or an optimistic speedo. Rick thinks the earlier). Higher speeds await! Drags and other venues. (Top Speed Calculator puts my set up: 18/48 w 140/70-17 wheel at 137mph, assuming it will pull redline in 5th.)

Pulls cleanly to redline in 1,2,3. Pulls cleanly from 4000 up with a rolllon. Too damn lucky! Seat of pants dyno calls for no fruther tunng. Maybe the real dyno will.

Biggest disappointment is the trans seems to lose its slippery snickeriness from the undercuts, when really pushed.

A small oil drip began to slither across the alt cover, so Rick called it. Front wheel is a little bouncy at speed. So I have some things to mend before finishing the break in.

And oh yeah, where ever he goes, people look. Stopped for gas, people walk over from pumps distant to gawk. Says he's never been on a bike like that.

All in all a fun day!   

[MCRider]

Rick reports: "the Webcam 41 comes in at 6000 rpm, and carries past 8500, not a kick in the pants, but definitely noticeable."

I doubt those 1.5mm OS intake valves had anything to do with it.   

[grcamna2]

Rick reports: "the Webcam 41 comes in at 6000 rpm, and carries past 8500, not a kick in the pants, but definitely noticeable."

I doubt those 1.5mm OS intake valves had anything to do with it.   

Nice Ron   
Do you think the dragstrip is on for this year ?

[MCRider]

Rick reports: "the Webcam 41 comes in at 6000 rpm, and carries past 8500, not a kick in the pants, but definitely noticeable."

I doubt those 1.5mm OS intake valves had anything to do with it.   

Nice Ron   
Do you think the dragstrip is on for this year ?

No, they just closed. Reopen in April.

Got to get the front wheel bobbin sorted out. Rick doesn't want any hindrances to running WFO. We talked about it today. His philosophy on launching, from so many road racing launches, is to compromise wheelspin with forward motion. He said the APE clutch was feeling real good, wheelspin should not be a problem. Then throttle down to get maximum traction without bogging.  Better to have a little wheelspin and trim the throttle, with the clutch locked up, than to fry the clutch.