While I'm looking forward to tomorrows ride, I've got to park the CB500K0. Here's why.
The throttle return spring is a beast. How does anyone keep the throttle open on a long trip with one of these bikes? I asked at a local shop if they had a throttle lock but to no avail. I enjoy riding the CB500K0 but I'm developing Carpal Tunnel from it.
The 500K0 is ratty...well, it's a rat bike, and to me it is plain SLOW. My 1969 CB450DOHC will eat it for breakfast and ask for seconds. I would like someday to ride someone elses sorted-out CB500SOHC to determine if there is something severely wrong with my K0. I took my bike out to DuPage Honda and the mecanic didn't wait a second when I asked him to take the bike out and flog it a bit to see if it is running right. He threw on a helmet and took off, and I heard him wring it's neck, screaming down County Line Road and continued hearing the bike wail as he went up the road and came back along North Avenue back to the parking lot. I could tell he was out for blood riding my bike. He came back and said it was fine. I put it together mostly and had a good tuner do the fine tuning so I imagine it should be okay, but to me it just seems slow? When I asked the Honda mechanic if these bikes are supposed to be that slow he smirked and without hesitating, he just said "Yeah, they are THAT SLOW but that you really have to get some revvs up to get any power out of it, and when that's not enough you have to downshift a couple cogs. Not encouraging, but maybe there is something I can do to make it faster? Maybe I have to port & polish, and go with pod filters? Any suggestions?
So, tomorrow I'll be riding the DOHC despite this ride being from the SOHC site members. What can I say? I just love my CB450DOHC. Either way it'll be fun.
Jordan AkA polishbeer
