Topic: CB500/550 on the highway?

[stevenmgrr]

How many of you regularly take your CB500/550s on the highway?  How comfortable are you in traffic at 70-75 mph on this relatively small bike?  What kind of rpms are you turning at these speeds and how stable is the bike given that it is lightweight, has no fairing and skinny tires?

I have a 71 CB500 and only had it on the highway for about 5 miles.  Most of my riding is around town.  While the bike is certainly capable to go this fast, I was a bit concerned about its overall stability at these speeds.

Any thoughts?

[Brian G]

You shouldn't have any problems on the highway. My personal experience with the 500/550 class is quite limited (I rode our new purchase back home to PEI from Halifax, Nova Scotia - about 2 1/2 hours total) but she was fine. I've read in various publications of owners doing umpteen-thousand miles on their bikes and consider them fine tourers - I certainly wouldn't think twice about taking one on vacation - along with a few spare cables, bulbs etc. (Good practice for any bike!)

At 70-75 mph you're not going to have a lot of oomph left, but you're touring, not racing, right? I found stability was fine - the occasional 18-wheeler might give you a moment, but they'll move my CBX a bit too. It's nothing you can't handle, I'm sure.

Take it out on a shorter run - 50 miles or so - and see how you feel. Personally, if I knew she was sorted out, I'd take one from coast to coast.

Just my 2 cents worth...

Hth,
Brian

[TwoTired]

The stock 550 will cruise at 80 without much issue at all.  70-75 is routine.  It is NOT a small bike, and is quite stable.  Cross winds will blow you sideways some as it does with all bikes.  The bike likes to steer just by leaning your body weight.  If you bob, wiggle, and weave on top of the bike, so will it.  It's no chopper that wants to go straight regardless.  It will track a steady curve quite predictably if you just keep body weight steady in the turn.  (beware squirmy passengers, their shifting weight will make the bike change it's curve line.)

95MPH is about 8000 RPM.

At speeds above about 60 you will not have huge response from the twist grip. That's what the trans is for.  Drop a gear or three and THEN twist, you'll scoot.

This applies to the bike in stock configuration.  If you've modded it, your can quite easily change it's docile and predictable nature, and that includes tires.

Cheers,

[dustyc]

Drop a gear or three

 

I've ridden mine quite a bit on the highway and it's not bad.  I prefer the stability and power of the 750, but I had no problems with a 500 on the highway.  I was typically on I-85 from downtown Atlanta to 50 miles north where I got off the highway. 

[toddkamps]

I've got a 76' 550 and routinely take it on the highway.  Like everyone said, they have no problem going 75-80 all day; except there isn't much left and what is takes a minute or two. 

That being said I ride mine all over NJ and it feels fine. 

[mystic_1]

Even my wife's old CB350 twin did OK at highway speeds, and that IS a small bike.  Sure, at 70mph there wasn't a lot of top end left, and strong enough gusts will upset ANY bike, but we took several longish trips with it and it was ok.  Naturally she's much happier with her Shadow 600, but it wasn't like riding a moped or anything.


mystic_1

[karmasic]

i ride the hell out of the highway on my cb550. i have pods and a dyna elct. ignition on it, but thats really the only engine mods. I can cruise at 90 with ease. and i hit 106 once. i also have plenty of passing power. cb750 does seem a bit more stable, but the 550 still kicks ass.

[gold72]

I can /do ride my 500 on the highway all day long

[333]

I take my 350F out there all the time.  No problem.  Now, a 125S?  That's a small bike.  But I've done it.  More than once.  On purpose!

[JZEROE]

I ride my 550 on the highway all the time, and it scares the piss out of me.

Of course, this is all my fault. I have drag bars, which are not the best to lean on, and I dropped a tooth on the front sprocket to get more quickness. So at 75 I'm at about 7.5k rpms, which just doesn't seem sustainable, despite my religious maintenance.

With the stock sprocket and taller bars it was much better at speed, but I used to get beat off the line by a homeless guy with a shopping cart—and for my daily San Francisco gauntlet, acceleration is far more important than top speed. I'm hoping, however, to goose the low end with an overbore kit and some cam love. Then I think the bike would be a perfect size for any road: light enough to zip around the city, but a nice size for the highway as well.

[florence]

My 500 four is my daily rider.  I ride it all over the place and it is capable of cruising at 80 all day.  I think it is one of the most stable bikes I have ever owned and handles very well and considering its age it is still very much a modern motorcycle.  The only worry I do have is that the brakes are not really as good as I would expect for the power of the machine so allow greater braking distances and anticipate developing traffic situations.

[Deltarider]

When allowed, I prefer to cruise at 7000 rpm (= 140km/h in 5th). An old mechanic who owned a 500Four himself gave me this advise and I never regretted it: no vibes and your combustionchambers get decarbonized well. I have done it many times all day. After such a ride the engine always responded better.

The only worry I do have is that the brakes are not really as good as I would expect for the power of the machine so allow greater braking distances and anticipate developing traffic situations.

+1 I haven't made up my mind whether I'll improve the front brake or not. Like it is now, I know what I've got and I can brake like a fool without much danger of locking the front wheel. In rain the original front brake is outright dangerous. There should have been a serious warning in the Owner's Manual.

[mmtsquid]

I ride my 77 550K 70 miles a day, all interstate and have had no problems other than the occasional "wash" from a big rig.

Of course, this is the only bike I've ever owned, so I don't know what a bigger bike feels like.

[stevenmgrr]

+1 on the braking issue.  I am awaiting my upgraded modern master cylinder and brake lines to be delivered.

I was preparing to get a bigger bike for cruising longer distances at higher speeds, but if my CB500 will capably perform on the interstates, I will use it more.  I guess I will just have to get a little more experience out on the the highways at speed to get a little more confidence. 

[karmasic]

I love my cb500 on the high way, have clubmans on it. rode it over 150 miles at 80+mph. feels great.


i put on a new master cylinder and wow. i run a drilled rotor, steel line, no brake switch connector, and a cbr master cylinder make my brakes great! can almost do an ENDO.

[Operator]

I used to take my bike everywhere on the highways and it was a 73 350 Four, and I did some relatively long trips, we are talking 3- 400 miles in a weekend riding with my 8 year old on the back. He didn't like the highways very much but I felt comfortable, despite the occasional transport windstorm.

When in doubt, two wheels are better than four even in the rain

Operator

[Shenanigans]

I think they do excellent on the highway, they have plenty of go.

On an earlier part of my trip when I was crossing Texas I had the bike redlined for the majority of 2 tanks of gas. It had no problems being at 100+ with whatever speed it was doing in warmer weather, loaded up with gear with a stock motor, stock pipes and an oil cooler.

[cafe750]

I ride 'em on the freeway quite frequently. My little brother just took his 550 to Sturgis, 1500 miles each way, cruising at 75-80 without a hitch. As long as it's a well maintained bike, you'll be able to ride the freeway all day long with no problems.

[Hush]

Some young guy did Europe on his ratty old CB500 and it never let him down so modern highways should be a breeze.
Amazing story I saw on here, look it up, very inspiring.

[jbailey]

It depends on what you call highway.  An hour or two at 70-75 MPH is Ok on my 550.  If I'm taking a trip such as 400 or more miles per day then I take my Concours.

I also have a Geo Metro.  I take it on the highway, but if I'm driving cross country, it won't be in the Metro!

[Hope]

No problem on the highway here.  Closed helmet is better than an open face helmet.  My head starts to bob with an open helmet going 70+.  Otherwise, the ride is alright.

[speedy gonzalais]

I used to ride my CB125 on the motorways daily with no problems then they are not quite the american highway but still 4 lanes of traffic, Then if it worries you riding on the highways then maybe you should use the car instead

[Shenanigans]

I used to ride my CB125 on the motorways daily with no problems then they are not quite the american highway but still 4 lanes of traffic, Then if it worries you riding on the highways then maybe you should use the car instead

I took out my CL125 out on an interstate outside of town once. I was going as fast as it would go laying down on the tank at about 500rpm PAST the redline for about 40 minutes straight. Just trying to keep up with the speed limit. I don't think I was going any faster than 57. That's a tuff bike, and it still runs great!

[speedy gonzalais]

I used to ride my CB125 on the motorways daily with no problems then they are not quite the american highway but still 4 lanes of traffic, Then if it worries you riding on the highways then maybe you should use the car instead

I took out my CL125 out on an interstate outside of town once. I was going as fast as it would go laying down on the tank at about 500rpm PAST the redline for about 40 minutes straight. Just trying to keep up with the speed limit. I don't think I was going any faster than 57. That's a tuff bike, and it still runs great!

I had the cb up to 75mph just outta the red

[Shenanigans]

I used to ride my CB125 on the motorways daily with no problems then they are not quite the american highway but still 4 lanes of traffic, Then if it worries you riding on the highways then maybe you should use the car instead

I took out my CL125 out on an interstate outside of town once. I was going as fast as it would go laying down on the tank at about 500rpm PAST the redline for about 40 minutes straight. Just trying to keep up with the speed limit. I don't think I was going any faster than 57. That's a tuff bike, and it still runs great!

I had the cb up to 75mph just outta the red

I am pretty sure the CBs had better street gearing. As the CLs were never meant to be street bikes, or even road legal... How was the CB geared?