Topic: to cb550 owners

[pablo78cb550]

has anyone ever had it up to 100 and over? without a steep hill involved. well maybe with a slight down grade.

[egar]

I have a black '78 550 that I have yet to push past 60 due to a strang wobble in the front tire. The tires are ancient and I think there's a flat spot in the front. Once I buy new tires, I'm sure I could crank it up a notch. My brakes are still a bit iffy too.

[MetalHead550]

Ive had mine at a 115mph but that was on a long, straight, steep hill...with a stiff tail wind, but it did it.  I have had it at just a hair over 100 going down interstate in normal conditions.  They will do it but theyve gotta be well tuned and youve gotta be willing to rap the hell out of it!  Seems like they get to 90 without much fuss but from there on its a creep.  They are simply not geared for high speeds.

[pablo78cb550]

hey egar,
as my shop teacher once told me "don't hurt yourself"

[MetalHead550]

Dont kill yourself Egar!

[78 k550]

have had mine just under maybe 93 or 94.

[MetalHead550]

MetalHead550
Enthusiast


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Dude fire up a doobie!  Waaaa!   Stupid hippies.

[bill440cars]

MetalHead550,
Have you ever had your bike on the post so that it could be looked at? If not, how about it. From what I can tell from that "little" picture, it's really a sharp looking bike. How about it?
                               Looking ro see it,   Bill

[egar]

I take it easy. Just ride from my house to work, about four miles away. I want to put whitewalls on like Chippy's incredible 500 (see gallery), but I can't figure out which sizes to order. My tires are called Kenda's or something like that. Metalhead, we need more photos.

[hymodyne]

I've had my 500 around 90 pretty easily on numerous occasions this summer, but was able to get it there easiest by winding out second and third (7000rpm). Happily, no wobbles or vibration. factory replacement filter (Uni) and carbs from a 550K. top speed is 95 on a flat.

hym

[ken74-550K0]

Had mine up to 85 on the crappy Connecticut roads.  It just did not feel like a bike that wanted to go much faster.

[pablo78cb550]

Metalheads ride is in the gallery section

[pablo78cb550]

Had mine up to 85 on the crappy Connecticut roads.  It just did not feel like a bike that wanted to go much faster.

where are you conn. i used to live in hartford.

[pablo78cb550]

I take it easy. Just ride from my house to work, about four miles away. I want to put whitewalls on like Chippy's incredible 500 (see gallery), but I can't figure out which sizes to order. My tires are called Kenda's or something like that. Metalhead, we need more photos.

egar th estocks i have are 120 18" rear and 100 19" front
both are availible from maxxis in white walls. buy in the front tire section only.

[volz1fsu]

I have a CB550 with a CB500 engine in it and I have had it up to 115 mph.  I was using premium at the time and I guess I should mention that I also port matched the intake runners to the head when I rebuild it, also ported and polished the intakes best I could at the time.  That baby would move.  It was geared to high though, I would hit 105 in 4th gear and only pull the extra 10 mph in fifth gear at around 6000 rpm.  Not on a down hill or with a tail wind, just a straight away. Can't imagine how fast I will get her after I finish the CB550 engine with CB750 pistons, also planing on a cam regrind and of course a real good port and polish job.  Getting it done a little slower than I had hoped but I don't want to rush into it and end up messing something up.

[Bodain]

I have a black '78 550 that I have yet to push past 60 due to a strang wobble in the front tire. The tires are ancient and I think there's a flat spot in the front. Once I buy new tires, I'm sure I could crank it up a notch. My brakes are still a bit iffy too.

I have too many memories of speed wobbles back in the day. No way this 550 will ever go past 80 with me on it.

One of the things I still needed to do on my beast was figure out why the front end is bouncing. I took on that task today.
I thought it might be the tire, but it wasn't. I could jack up the front end of the bike up to where the front tire is about .060 off the ground.
Now I would spin the wheel. It became very obvious, something was out of wack. I now see why I have the bouncing effect. The front wheel is not round.
It's actually about one hundred thousands out of round.

I've never actually tried to true up a spoked wheel before. Today is a good day to learn. 1 hour on the web learning the rules.
1 hour hitting the pawn shops, looking for a dial indicator. I'm back home and pull the tire from the front wheel, then remount
the tireless wheel back on the bike with it off the ground. I apply my new found knowledge using the dial indicator.
I couldn't get it right simply by tightening or loosening spokes. I eventually loosened all spokes and start anew.
Well I loosened all spokes and started fresh twice. I was just making it worse and not understanding the logic.
Finally it all come together. The rim is now within .010 of being round.  A test ride and all bounce is now absent.

Maybe 85 mph now...

I always wanted to learn the art of lacing wheels. Not really that difficult. Patience and many small adjustments bring it right in line.

[pablo78cb550]

I have a CB550 with a CB500 engine in it and I have had it up to 115 mph.  I was using premium at the time and I guess I should mention that I also port matched the intake runners to the head when I rebuild it, also ported and polished the intakes best I could at the time.  That baby would move.  It was geared to high though, I would hit 105 in 4th gear and only pull the extra 10 mph in fifth gear at around 6000 rpm.  Not on a down hill or with a tail wind, just a straight away. Can't imagine how fast I will get her after I finish the CB550 engine with CB750 pistons, also planing on a cam regrind and of course a real good port and polish job.  Getting it done a little slower than I had hoped but I don't want to rush into it and end up messing something up.

what??? dang! what carbs are you running? exhaust? how did you regear it? pictures of ported pieces if you have them please.

[78_SaltLick]

i got mine up to 55 once.........

[hondachopproject]

While my bike  was stock, it hink 65/70 was top speed
not a speed bike for sure
now that it will be hardtail, don't think I will try 100 anyways.

[ken74-550K0]

Had mine up to 85 on the crappy Connecticut roads.  It just did not feel like a bike that wanted to go much faster.

where are you conn. i used to live in hartford.

I live in Sandy Hook, CT it's about 10 miles east of Danbury.

[Joe Danger]

I hit 82 once on my CB550.  With the natty pipes, it sounded like I was riding an explosion.

If you see me riding 100, I'm being chased by ninjas or stormtroopers.  I ride like a grandmother.

[volz1fsu]

I have a CB550 with a CB500 engine in it and I have had it up to 115 mph.  I was using premium at the time and I guess I should mention that I also port matched the intake runners to the head when I rebuild it, also ported and polished the intakes best I could at the time.  That baby would move.  It was geared to high though, I would hit 105 in 4th gear and only pull the extra 10 mph in fifth gear at around 6000 rpm.  Not on a down hill or with a tail wind, just a straight away. Can't imagine how fast I will get her after I finish the CB550 engine with CB750 pistons, also planing on a cam regrind and of course a real good port and polish job.  Getting it done a little slower than I had hoped but I don't want to rush into it and end up messing something up.

what??? dang! what carbs are you running? exhaust? how did you regear it? pictures of ported pieces if you have them please.

I am almost positive that the carbs are from the CB550 since that is what the bike is, I will have to double check that.  I am just about to take that engine out and take it apart, I will provide as many pics as I can of my port job.  It was absolutly amazing how far off the ports were from making a match.  At once I could remember the sproket size but I will also have to recheck that.  I could never figure out what exhaust it had on it.  It was a 4 into 2 setup with no crossover.  Maybe a CB500 systemm, Anyways I had to build/modify the exhaust baffles.  Much louder than stock and most definitely not legal but I have never been bothered by the police, they are very relaxed about that in my area.  I will give pictures pictures and plans on that when I get time.  Probably one of the best sounding exhaust I have ever heard on a CB550, of course I am partial though. I will definetly share my secrets if the demand is there.

[Glenn Stauffer]

Had my 77 550 up near 100 once on a long, slightly downhill stretch of straight empty highway.  I would have gone to 100, but was slowly climbing past 90 when the straight threatened to run out on me, so I backed off.

Comparing it to my 750 at high speeds, the extra mass of the 750 gives a sense of security I didn't feel on the 550 at that speed.  Works the opposite way at lower speeds, on tight roads and in traffic - for me anyways.

[TwoTired]

I have a CB550 with a CB500 engine in it and I have had it up to 115 mph. 

I don't wish to be insulting.  So, don't take offense.  But, was this indicated speed on your speedometer?  And, how confident are you that it was accurate?

I don't consider any of my Cb550s (stockers) to be running right until I can at least achieve 90-95.  And, they usually have a bit more left in them.  But, it is clear they are going to take awhile to make the needle get to 100.  And, I just don't have the luxury of long, straight, deserted roads in my area.  And, if you get caught going faster than 100 on public roads in my state, you are going to jail and lose your driver's license.

BTW, I don't have any problem believing the engine can be modded to achieve more than 100 MPH.

Cheers,

[volz1fsu]

I have a CB550 with a CB500 engine in it and I have had it up to 115 mph. 

I don't wish to be insulting.  So, don't take offense.  But, was this indicated speed on your speedometer?  And, how confident are you that it was accurate?

I don't consider any of my Cb550s (stockers) to be running right until I can at least achieve 90-95.  And, they usually have a bit more left in them.  But, it is clear they are going to take awhile to make the needle get to 100.  And, I just don't have the luxury of long, straight, deserted roads in my area.  And, if you get caught going faster than 100 on public roads in my state, you are going to jail and lose your driver's license.

BTW, I don't have any problem believing the engine can be modded to achieve more than 100 MPH.

Cheers,

No Offense Taken, I know the speedometers are inaccurate and I was going off my Speedo so I am sure I am not going exactly 115.  I wish I knew how far off my speedo is at that speed, I have followed my friend in his car and my speedo was reading about 62/63 when he had the cruise locked in at 60, so I figure at most (hopefully) it is only 5 miles off at high speeds.  I think 110 is still fast for the CB500 engine so I am not ashamed of that.  As for the police in my state, they can take you to jail for going 25 mph over any posted speed limit but they usually won't from what I have heard unless you are just being stupid.  I only have done it a few times in the middle of nowhere with very straight and long roads, also very open country so I was sure of no surprises.

[dusterdude]

on a public road,my balls aint that big.

[paulages]

i've never took my cb550 up to those speeds before i started tearing it down, but it surprises me that this model has auch a hard time getting there. i've taken my cb350 (twin) up to 90mph many times, and though it's geared in a manner that allows you do do it in a 1/2 mi. stretch and be done with it before you know it, it's not a problem at all. it won't get past it, though, and i know the speedometer's not quite accurate.

[MetalHead550]

Yeah I have a pretty detailed restore/custom diary in the gallery.  Most of the pics are pretty sorry but I got a new camera so I'll get some decent pics up one o these days and probably delete the rebuild post and replace it with a couple finished shots and some shots of my original 75 550.  I think it turned out decent but I plan on making it nicer and hopefully doing some performance mods eventually.

Good point with the speedo accuracy.  The previously stated speeds I reached were on my 75 and its a rock solid runner.  Everything tuned the best I could get it w/ fresh rubber and chain.  The 78 has only seen 75mph, its not completly ready for the road yet but is safe.  I run my bikes hard and take corners hard on roads I know.  I dont abuse them mind you, but that said I make sure everthing is tight and in safe running condition.  I have a daily check list before It leaves the garage.  Anyway the speedo on the 75 does tend to bounce at a certain range.  Ive run it next to a couple buddies, and my dad, and they confirmed the speed at just over 100mph.  Lots of lightly traveled straight-aways near my original hometown Bellflower.  Middle of nowere.  The time I hit 115 I was on a steep asphalt highway that leads into Bellflower with a 20mph due North tail wind and I was giving it hell.  The was the hardest Ive ever run that bike.

volz1fsu:  I'm interested in details on your build.  How much of an overbore to fit 750 pistons?  What rods? etc.

[clarkjh]

I’ve had mine close, but am a little light in the seat, wants to suck me up off the bike.  My first 550 quite a few years back with about 12000 miles on it would do 100mph and still have twist in the grip.  I don't get a thrill at high speeds, must me getting older, or maybe just a little wiser.

And as Glenn says, they seem a little twitchy at high speeds.

James