Author Topic: 500/550/650 pride (pictures added) (Read 17915 times)

turboguzzi · « **on:** July 02, 2008, 11:01:20 AM »

Well dear sohc'ers, we "the small block" owners always had to read with envy the stories posted about the glorious past of the official Honda racing 750's, deal with the (great!) CR750 sticky thread and other benchracing tales about the original, big 750 SOHC.

All this is about to change!

Big scoop coming up.

Watch this space

TG

bozo4onion · « **Reply #1 on:** July 02, 2008, 11:08:10 AM »

What?? Honda made a SOHC CB750?

kghost · « **Reply #2 on:** July 02, 2008, 11:19:52 AM »

Quote from: bozo4onion on July 02, 2008, 11:08:10 AM

What?? Honda made a SOHC CB750?

First.

turboguzzi · « **Reply #3 on:** July 02, 2008, 11:48:58 AM »

Quote from: bozo4onion on July 02, 2008, 11:08:10 AM

What?? Honda made a SOHC CB750?

well the title was "500/550/650 pride", so I wouldnt say so

TG

bozo4onion · « **Reply #4 on:** July 02, 2008, 12:14:55 PM »

Oooops. Trying to be funny. never mind. I'll be watching the space turbo.

turboguzzi · « **Reply #5 on:** July 02, 2008, 12:35:42 PM »

First of all, the discovery was made by Italy’s classic bike mag. Motorciclismo de epoca, so kudos to them
OK, so here’s the story…… Many have wondered why Honda never officially raced the small 500 SOHC and concentrated on the bigger CR750. Well, turns out that there was a one and only official CB500 racer! Built in 1972 to compete in the All-Japan 750 road racing championship, the CB500R was actually a 650 (obtained with 64mm pistons). The bike won quite a few races against much bigger bikes and lighter two strokes in the hands of a certain Kyama.
Other than the big bore kit with sand cast cyl block, bike’s got a dry sump oil system with oil tank, dry clutch, 31mm CR’s, a special chrome-molly frame and bigger valves with a different angle. It weighted only 300 pds and the motor put out 80 hp at 10,700. After these successes, Honda thought about bringing it to Daytona in 73’ but the program was shelved. Maybe because it could have humiliated the macho 750’s….?
Nobody knew about this bike till recently because in 82’ it was sent to a Honda dealership in Italy and Honda never documented it. It was raced only once again in 85’ against much faster F1 750 machines, still finishing in a good place, 13 years after it was made.
500/550/650 pride restored!

TG

voxonda · « **Reply #6 on:** July 02, 2008, 12:44:00 PM »

Hi TG,

Can't think of anything else other than: WWWWWOOOOOOOOWWWWWWW!!!!
It is awesome!

Like to see more, if possible.

Cheers mate.

j-conn · « **Reply #7 on:** July 02, 2008, 12:50:52 PM »

...

[tear of joy]

turboguzzi · « **Reply #8 on:** July 02, 2008, 12:57:26 PM »

OK, you asked for it.....

MJL · « **Reply #9 on:** July 02, 2008, 12:59:33 PM »

Looks like a true race bike.

If a 500 (650) could have made 80 hp back then, I wonder what Honda could have done with the 750?

bwaller · « **Reply #10 on:** July 02, 2008, 01:04:01 PM »

That's a trick looking bike indeed, thanks for that TG.

I wish I could end up with a cool set of pipes like those.

By the way the news must have made it out & about back then because the race bike in my avitar is also dry sump, with the tank in the tail. Took that pic at Loudon, NH in 1974.

voxonda · « **Reply #11 on:** July 02, 2008, 01:19:27 PM »

I always find the engine of the 750 the best looking 4-stroke engine, but this is a close second.
Thanks for the picture's TG.

Cheers, Rob

bradweingartner · « **Reply #12 on:** July 02, 2008, 01:27:10 PM »

That gets me going for sure. Pure sex. 80hp??

What's up with the clutch? Some sort of dry clutch conversion or what? Ultra curious about that.

voxonda · « **Reply #13 on:** July 02, 2008, 01:40:11 PM »

Yes a dry clutch like, almost, all the race engines from Honda. The Cr750 who needed a stronger, better, clutch did not get one. Shame on Honda, for that.

turboguzzi · « **Reply #14 on:** July 02, 2008, 02:11:46 PM »

Hei Bwaller

That's pretty interesting! Any chance you could post a bigger pic of that one?

Will post tomorrow a close up of the pump in the CB500R. It's pretty tricky as it has also a return side.

wonder how your loudon guy solved that by himself.

Cheers
TG

squirley · « **Reply #15 on:** July 02, 2008, 02:51:42 PM »

More, more i say

Dave-and-his-550 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 02, 2008, 04:37:29 PM »

Would be awesome to dig up some race footage of this bike

bill440cars · « **Reply #17 on:** July 02, 2008, 05:21:21 PM »

Hey TG. Pretty cool stuff there.

I also appreciate you posting this but of info, along with those pictures.

Makes me wonder why Honda didn't go any farther with that displacement too.

Is that why you decided to build your bike or did you find this stuff out after you built your bike? Just curious.

Take care TG, Bill

Shenanigans · « **Reply #18 on:** July 02, 2008, 05:31:40 PM »

Wow!

Awesome stuff right there.

bwaller · « **Reply #19 on:** July 02, 2008, 07:07:34 PM »

TG,

I really don't remember if I even talked to this guy, too long ago. I did check the bike out in the paddock and recall thinking it was a very cool ride with what I expect was a dry sump. It looks to me to be a stock pump, but who knows.

Like you he had to content with TZ's and the like.

The pic is a little grainy......well it is rather aged!

dustyc · « **Reply #20 on:** July 02, 2008, 07:17:03 PM »

Wow. Thanks for those TG. Beautiful. More please!

Hush · « **Reply #21 on:** July 02, 2008, 08:35:44 PM »

Tear in eye, think I'll go polish my 650's tank a bit more in reverance.

bradweingartner · « **Reply #22 on:** July 02, 2008, 09:42:59 PM »

Something else that interests me is the brakes. No adjustment screw/spring.

I've considered running my brake completely floating can't see why not... Anybody else done this?

scunny · « **Reply #23 on:** July 02, 2008, 11:14:25 PM »

thanks for the pics TG, and for the term "small block",I just may have to borrow that one

Shenanigans · « **Reply #24 on:** July 02, 2008, 11:26:16 PM »

Hey bwaller, do you have any pictures/or info on what that 550 you pictured was running for a rear disk?

News:

Author Topic: 500/550/650 pride (pictures added) (Read 17915 times)