Topic: Green Hornet CB 550/650 # Some pics of my trip to Scotland with SOHC4 Honda

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

He's probably too busy riding it!

[Oette]

Hey guys, sorry!

Had been to Scotland this spring for 13 days with my CB, what was followed by some busier time.

Many appointments in my calendar and had been busy finishing my undergraduate studies. I'm finished now with good results and doing some changes for graduate studies in another city.

This year there is some footage still waiting for editing.

I managed to do a short soundcheck, though.

Check out

Bike runs well and has a new camshaft regrind, hitting power peak at about 10.800 rpm but still with nice torque in lower rpm.

Never regretted the build!

If interested in some pics of Scotland, just scream!

[FunJimmy]

Sounds like you need a brake check too. 

[Godffery]

Motor sounds great!
 I can help with that Brake squeal:
http://www.vinmoto.org/gallery/v/VinMoto-Garage/album03/Godfferys-Garage-123/Parts+and+service/

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

The engine sounds good.  The brakes could use some attention.

[Oette]

Actually they are working very well. You're able to block the front wheel with use of just 2 fingers if it wasn't for the enormous squealing.
That's currently a goal for winter, to get the bolt-bores shimmed with sintered metal and make use of special stainless bolts. It's offered by a Honda SOHC focused service over here in Germany.

Use of a GSXR master cylinder and new braided brake lines made a huge improvement concerning stopping power!

[RAFster122s]

The rotor/brake disc probably would benefit from a deglazing with scotchbrite pad and some sandpaper to it. Then you can pull pads and bevel the leading edge and rough up the pad surface.  It may not be exactly centered or it could be a right side caliper alignment issue if it has been noisy from day one.

Sounds like she's running well without too much burbling noise on deceleration.

Thanks for giving us a visual and audible treat.

David

[flatlander]

If interested in some pics of Scotland, just scream!

<scream>bring them on!</scream>
and did you ever put that thing on a dyno? would love to see the result.

[Oette]

Well, here you go.
I'll post a short selection of some motorcycle/landscape-related photos and leave out the cultural stuff.
I added a few comments to the pics...


Before boarding the "Princess Seaways" from Amsterdam (NL) to Newcastle (ENG)


Arrival in Newcastle. A fellow student and friend joined me on the trip for 13 days with his Aprilia Pegaso.


Passing the Scottish border (I'm the tall guy to the left)


First impressions from the border viewpoint


At the coast directly opposite of Edinburghs bay. We stayed there for two days to check out the town.


Near Glendevon on the first day trip to Tormintoul. 1 of 3


2 of 3


3 of 3


At the center of Cairngorms National Park (What tricky, damaged and curvy roads (not on pic)) 1 of 3


2of3


3of 3


My personal "How to turn the right way in left-hand drive countries"-assistant


Next day, right after Tormintoul. Was pretty cold (notice the snow on the far away mountains). About 4-10 degrees Celsius all the time and we had been there in the end of May!


On a mountain viewpoint right before Loch Ness (No pics from Loch Ness, since it started raining and the place is absolutely overrated. There are so many far more interesting places around Scotland!


Near Loch More


Singletrack Road near Ullapool


View to the rocky North Atlantic coast near Ullapool


Next day. Some folks on the sidewalks are interested in two bikers resting next to their place.


People selling stuff in small stands next to the road at the end of the world. You can pick what you want and pay whatever you are willing to give.


Some German bikers from near Hamburg are interested in the green Honda. They could not believe that it is possible to ride around scotland with A) a bike like this and B) velocity stacks.


Before riding down the quite famous "Applecross Pass"

We arrived at the Isle of Skye that day but I wasn't able to upload more pics yet because I'm quite busy at the moment. Eventually there are more pics to come and there are 6 days left...

[flatlander]

looks great. how many days did you spend there in total? any tips for finding good routes or other planning advice?
we've been talking about going to ride around scotland with a friend, some time next year.

[andy750]

I am glad you found Applecross that is one of my favourite areas in Scotland! The roads around Ulapool are also very nice as you saw. Did you make it to Skye at all?

Thanks for posting! Great pics!
Andy

[Oette]

looks great. how many days did you spend there in total? any tips for finding good routes or other planning advice?
we've been talking about going to ride around scotland with a friend, some time next year.

There are quite a few blogs and tour-reviews from other bikers which helped me finding my route of choice. Moreover I checked Google Maps/Streetview if the roads were promising.
Maybe I'll do a trip summary within the next weeks but I'm quite busy now moving and starting graduate studies at another university.
If I'll do so, I'll make sure to include detailed trip information and the route.
The whole trip, excluding the two days for getting to the ferry, was 11 days in Scotland with about 3300 kms (approx. 2050 miles) including the way to and from Amsterdam with about 200km in each direction.

I am glad you found Applecross that is one of my favourite areas in Scotland! The roads around Ulapool are also very nice as you saw. Did you make it to Skye at all?

Thanks for posting! Great pics!
Andy

The roads were very good but the night in Ullapool was a not so good part of the trip. We accidently made our trip in the English bank holidays so the place was horribly overcrowded and because it already turned dark outside we were more or less forced to spend the night in "Caledonian Hotel" in Ullapool. Keep your hands of that ruin! But we had no choice, since it was the last room available in town..

We made it to Skye, but I haven't picked the best pics yet...

[flatlander]

thanks a lot for the info, oette. the good thing is that i'm already in amsterdam and it will be a short trip to ijmuiden to catch the ferry.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Oette,

That looks like a beautiful road trip.  How's the 650 engine?  Do you have any plans to overbore the motor or are you happy with it stock?

Don

[RAFster122s]

Oette, thanks for sharing the pictures, some nice country (scenic and fun to take a trip in I hope.)
David
P.S. the recent James Bond movies featured some picturesque landscapes and roads, I imagine that it would be hard to retrace some of those roads; identifying them being one of the challenges.

[70CB750]

Oette, great pictures, thank you.

[rb550four]

Nice pics of Scotland.
Your bike looks fantastic!
I was thinking about the giant licence plates you all have, oh my ,look at the size of those f in plates! If American Government took to that size plate, you can be sure half of it would be corporate advertisement space for the highest bidder. I wouldn't want to be running around with Walmart , Exxon or some condom brand  plate.....just thinking out loud...not  reality based at all.
Great pics, looks like a great trip, thanks for sharing.

[Kemp]

Fantastic pictures, talk about an enchanting landscape for riding, truly amazing. Your hybrid sounds great and really moves, the cam adds a nice snarl as it comes on, that 650 head really breathes well on the top end, excellent work!!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Fantastic pictures, talk about an enchanting landscape for riding, truly amazing. Your hybrid sounds great and really moves, the cam adds a nice snarl as it comes on, that 650 head really breathes well on the top end, excellent work!!

Now he just needs a Hindle 4-2-1! 

[RAFster122s]

Cb750, gee you are quick to spend his money,  his Cone Engineering muffler gives a nice bark. The Hindle would be pricey and the performance change wouldn't be felt I am betting.
I have a nice 4-2-1 for my 550 that came from Japan.  It was lightly used and the PO didn't like it being quiet...I don't mind quiet if it isn't performance killing from too much back pressure.I think it will not be for my 550 with 650 cam when it is done.

[calj737]

Cb750, gee you are quick to spend his money...

It was for Kemp's benefit, Raf. Kemp owns Ripple Rock Racers and makes the Hindle exhausts.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Cb750, gee you are quick to spend his money...

It was for Kemp's benefit, Raf. Kemp owns Ripple Rock Racers and makes the Hindle exhausts.

Hey, at least someone got the humor in my post.  David: note the juxtaposition of Kemp's preceding post AND the wink.   

[calj737]

Hey, at least someone got the humor in my post.

Forest for the trees, Don, forest for the trees 

[RAFster122s]

Maybe Kem could invest in Oette's exhaust as a marketing tool for the area as his bike draws attention wherever it goes and the investment is likely to have returns as he travels and  other bike owners query the sources for the cool bike build.
So, if Kemp sees that potential he could see his way to provide that marketing tool to Oette along with a stack of business cards to direct them to Hindle and other offerings of Ripple Rock's services.


Sorry that I didn't catch the wink and connections. 
David

[Kemp]

You guys are a riot! Yes I really love Odette's build and our Hindle Exhaust would definitely give him more power and torque. Have a great deal on these babies right now so a great time to buy as the Canadian dollar is also very weak, sigh. Can't help it, I get excited when I see a performance build like Odettes. Hey, my ancestry is Scottish also!!