Topic: 1982 750C speed

[huntpa61]

My 1982 750 Custom speedometer only goes up to 80 mph. That is about tops. I'm a little uncomfortable on interstates because of this. Other 750s are faster. Why was this done and is there any way I can change it? My tach runs about 10 points below speed. So if i'm going 60 mph. My tach is at 5000. Going 65 mph the bike just sounds too wound out. Thanks for any help.......

[domer]

the majority of speedo's, be it auto or moto, all stopped at 80-85 during the 80's.

more specifically,

Joan Claybrook, head of the NHTSA under President Jimmy Carter, in an effort to get people to pay attention to there now widely ignored law, passed a rule requiring that new vehicle speedometers have 55 mph bolded and not have the ability to indicate speeds higher than 85 mph. This rule was in effect from 1980 until it was repealed in 1989.

[Gordon]

Are you saying you're uncomfortable with your speedometer only going up to 85mph, or are you saying you're uncomfortable with the fact that your bike won't go fast enough for the interstate? 

If it's the latter, then your bike isn't running anywhere near top condition.  You should be able to do well over 100 on that bike if you wanted to.  The way you can change it is to do a full tune-up to get the engine running the best it can in its current configuration.  If after a tune-up, and you've verified the carbs are all clean and working properly, and the engine still won't run like it should, then there may be bigger issues. 

As far as the bike sounding "too wound out" at higher speeds, this is usually a matter of rider perception.  If you're used to the sound of a big V-twin, then a 4-cyl bike will sound like it's running too fast for a given speed, but that's just the nature of a high-revving engine design.  A 4-cyl engine of comparable size has to spin much faster to make the same amount of power.  That's just how it is, and it's not hurting your bike.  It was designed to rev high.