Topic: Racer/Cafe/Project which one?

[canoscan]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here and I'm fairly new to biking mechanics, can do things like valve setting and changing spark plugs, so not a mechanics expert but not afraid of getting my hands dirty.

Have been thinking about a project Honda for a while, as I don't know these bikes intimately I'm looking to find some more information about these 70s bikes to fit the criteria of what I'm looking for. I have a mechanic friend who will be able to give me some help from time to time (although his expertise is on cars).

Basically looking to do a versatile/cafe/track bike project. I will want to do an engine overhaul maybe reboring but I will not be modifying the engines beyond their originals (so I will not be increasing their power beyond standard).

These are some of the mods I'll be wanting to do:
-Paint job
-Some cafe race handle bars and styling but I will want to keep the bike a 2 seater.
-Two bored twin disc brakes on the front.
-Raised twin exhausts for cornering.

Logically I'm looking at either a CB500/4, CB550/4 or a CB750/4 and I really don't know which one to go for.

Out of the three the criteria I'm looking for is this:

-Good handling on a race track.
-Good power to weight ratio.
-Fuel economy (yes I love a powerful bike that has this in mind!).

Would anyone be able to tell me which of these bikes would be best suited for a track/cafe and summer fun bike.

I was thinking the 750, although I'm not sure the 500/550 wouldn't be quicker around the track owing to better handling/cornering? Plus the 500s have much better fuel economy.

Anyway would love to hear your thoughts on this.

[scunny]

don't overlook the 650 for power to weight.

[canoscan]

don't overlook the 650 for power to weight.

Thanks scunny but while the 650s are nice, they don't have the profile I'm looking for, I'm after the early 70s rather than late 70s-80s looking bikes.

[camelman]

How tall are you?  For handling, power, and your two-up requirements, the 400f is hard to beat. There us a solid racing class for it and low cost kits to step it up to a 466cc. With larger carbs, or a rebore if the carbs, you'll have a nice package. I know you said you don't want to do engine work, but a rebore is suprisingly simple.

[gnarlycharlie4u]

How tall are you?  For handling, power, and your two-up requirements, the 400f is hard to beat. There us a solid racing class for it and low cost kits to step it up to a 466cc. With larger carbs, or a rebore if the carbs, you'll have a nice package. I know you said you don't want to do engine work, but a rebore is suprisingly simple.

The 400 is an amazing bike (if you can find one).

[canoscan]

Yea I was originally interested in the 400. But I'm coming up to 6ft and prefer bigger looking bikes.

Was also concerned that the 400 may lack punch with claimed 37bhp, I'm not going to be track racing with the same class of bikes so wanted something bigger which may at least give a VFR 400 a run for its money.

Hence my thinking about a 500/550 and even a 750.

[pablo78cb550]

go with the 550. weight is good and so is the power.

[gnarlycharlie4u]

go with the 550. weight is good and so is the power.

the 550 isn't that much lighter than the 750, but has a whole lot less power.

[canoscan]

Logic would say I should go for a 750 with more power. But after doing lots of research I keep coming across write-ups such as the following:

Not as bulbous as the CB750 the CB500/4 looked just right, handled better and was almost as fast, Honda had done it again and made a world beater with their second inline four.

From that statement I'd put my money on the 500 winning on the track against a 750. Although I've never owned either bike to be able to tell you.

The 550 I have less info about, but I understand weight wise and manoeuvrability wise is closer to a 750 than a 500, in which case logic demands I go for a 750 over a 550.

Has anyone owned more than one of these bikes and is able to give me a comparison, or an opinion as which to go for.

I'd love to have them all but can only have one and I'm looking for the right one!

[turboguzzi]

Welcome to the club

first of all, you'd have to race quite a bit or at least have a lot of track time  to say: "From that statement I'd put my money on the 500 winning on the track against a 750."

Until you are at a pretty high level, riding skill / race craft counts for a lot more than power/handling, you'd be surprised by the lap times a race tuned CB350 twin can put.

In any case, common knowledge round here is that a fast 750 is quite a lot more expensive to put together than a 500/550. 

On the other hand, I raced a 500 for four seasons, got some nice results but at 6'4" always felt cramped on it. Moved on this year to a bigger bike and surprise, surprise, my lap times havent dropped much at all.

Go to some vintage meetings, talk to people, get a real feel of how these bikes look like, much better education than any forum.....

TG