Topic: Took first "ride" yesterday on CB

[ProTeal55]

Me and a few of my friends / customers took a ride yesterday , due to the weather just bring perfect out. This was not the first time out on the bike , just the first long ride , going more than 10 miles back and forth to work.

All in all , the bike performed great. Rode about 300 miles total . Was way too nice to not ride.
I do realize that I need to do the following things on the bike :

1. Get a new friggin seat ! The seat on the bike now is good for about 1/2 hour , then i would of rather rode standing up the rest of the way ! Maybe a stock seat with some Gel , or a custom solo seat.
2. Make some sort of front fork brace. The forks have way too much play in-between them. With the front fender removed , anything over 60mph is kinda scarry. Gonna fab up something heavy duty to go around the front tire , and mout to the original fender location.This should solve my issue , and look kinda cool in the proccess.
3. Adjust pre-load on rear shocks. Never did this when the shorter shocks were installed. Bottomed out a few times , once knocked my glasses off my face.
4. Re-build front fork sliders. One is leaking , and they just need to be gone - thru. Prob. lower them internally 1'' while I am in their , and go with some thicker fluid.
5. Get rid of the 4 into 2 exhaust on their and go with a 4 into 1. I def. need to make the bike louder....

All in all , in the pack of 20 or so custom American v-twin bikes , and custom bobbers I was riding in , my bike got more attention then all of them from other bikes / people we came in contact with during the day. Just makes me wanna spend more cash on the Black Bomber to make it more unique , and def. road worthy...

[SteveD CB500F]

The OEM front fenders had a built-in brace.  If you've removed it then you definitely need to add an after-market fork brace.

First time out in the rain and you'll be running back to refit a front fender!!

[Geeto67]

If you wanna do it on the cheap, drill out the rivets holding the stock fender to the center mount (brace) and then use the holes to bolt/rivet on a fiberglass fender, or just paint the brace balck and use it by itself.

Stock seats are super comfy, I suggest getting one and trying it out. Since new ones (repro) seem to be about $150approx try it out, the worst  case is you can always sell it on ebay.

if you want the bike to be louder go with drag pipes. I have drags on my 550 and I love it's sound, similar to a 60's gp car when you are going down the street. Mac still makes drags for the 750.

congrads on your bike's first long ride since it changed owners.

[ProTeal55]

The first long ride was a good one, the weather was just perfect.....
Planning another one this comming weekend.....

Looks as if I am going to remove the stock front fender brace and have it powdercoated black. This untill i get some spare time and can make something that looks a bit more vintage.

As far as exhaust goes , I think I am gonna go with a 4 into 1 style exhaust. I have heard a few bikes with 4 into 4 drag pipes , and I am really not a fan of the sound. Plus , A 4 into 1 is gonna be allot easier to tune. Prob. go with a black header into a chrome muffler..