Topic: How do you ride your cb350F?

[ntm1974]

I have a more modern bike but I recently got my 74 cb350F on the road and am not sure what my expectations should be having never ridden a bike from the 70's.  I got it on the highway today for the first time and all was going well till I came to a big hill and I tried to see what it could do.  Needless to say, I hit the hill at about 68 mph and was going 62 toward the top and loosing speed fast.  I probably could/should have downshifted to 4th gear but I wanted to see how it did in 5th on the highway. Is it normal to loose speed like that on this little bike?  Should I have downshifted?  The bike rides great at slower speeds with good throttle response and feels peppy through the entire rpm range so I was surprised that it bogged down on the hill.  The gearing I am using is 17 front 36 rear. (the same gearing although not gears that came with the bike)

1.  What rpm range should I be keeping the engine in while riding?

2.  At what speed can you comfortably cruise on the highway?

3.  What is the max speed you have had it up to?

Thanks for any tips.

[Gordon]

I thought the stock rear sprocket on the 350F was a 38 tooth, but I could be wrong.  That could explain some of the issue with going uphill at high speed, as the rpm would be lower than it normally would be.  But to answer your question, yes, if you're losing speed in top gear going uphill, you should downshift to maintain speed. 

1.  Any engine speed that isn't lugging it or beyond the redline on the tach is fine. 

2.  On the 350F I found 60-70mph the most comfortable for me, but I'm sure the bike would have been fine with more.

3.  I had mine up to an indicated 100mph, which was probably more like an actual 90mph.

[camelman]

I take mine on the highway a lot and I don't have an issue going up hills even with a passenger on the back.  Granted, I ported out my heads a bit, matched the intake boots to the head (you can grind out the overlapping rubber), and ground the vacuum port screws flush with the flowpath.  Before I did that, I was in the same boat as you though.  I struggled to get up hills with a passenger in 4th gear. 

Park the rpm at whatever speed you feel like going, and ignore it.  These engines will spin high rpm on the highway, but it doesn't bother them.  My typical highway speed is just a little faster than traffic.  My speedo is not accurate, so I'm not really sure how fast I'm going.  I've had mine over 100 indicated, but that is probably more like 85-90.  It felt fine at that speed, although the engine was definitely running out of power and rpm.

You might want to verify that rear sprocket.  I think stock was 38.

Camelman

[painters cafe]

i had two of them i ran my bike at 65 a twin has better power. it's a lil guy 65mph was 6400rpm

[fmctm1sw]

1.  What rpm range should I be keeping the engine in while riding? 

 
Really just depends where I'm riding.  Like Gordon said, pretty much anything under redline.  Mine seems to shift smoother at 6000+

2.  At what speed can you comfortably cruise on the highway?

Um, define "comfortably..."

3.  What is the max speed you have had it up to?

 
85 I think out on the interstate.  No crouch though...

[flybox1]

i must first preface this by saying that im 6'5" & 240lbs

1. right in the middle of the power band (5000- 8000rpm)
2. 65-70
3. 80 (guess)