Topic: A glutton for punishment... 1973 CB500 resto-mod

[bwaller]

I smell another BOTM nomination!

No, thats me. Just had my once-a-month shower 

We'll call you Mr. Clean. 

[calj737]

I smell another BOTM nomination!

No, thats me. Just had my once-a-month shower 

We'll call you Mr. Clean. 

It won't last... Already need another after working on replacing blown head gaskets on my buddy's nephew's Toyota 

[Scott S]

 Because of work, getting sick, etc., I've managed to put a grand total of about 13 miles on this bike since finishing it. 

 Initial impressions:

- The R6 front end, iKon shocks and Avon tires give an AMAZING ride and really good handling.
- The jetting is really close, but I think I can get it better. I'm trying to schedule some dyno tuning.
- The reproduction style 14mm master cylinder has a somewhat soft feel at the lever, but the brakes are really, really good. I'm talking two-finger good. EBC pads up front, EBC shoes out back. Drilling that hole on the brake arm for better leverage is noticeable, too. Very good brakes all around.
- The pipes aren't as loud as I expected, especially after hearing Flatlander's review. Nice growl, rips alittle at higher RPM.
- It's comfy. The NOS seat and 400F bars give me a nice riding position. Especially with the nice suspension. In the past, when I've seen pics of me on a 500/550, I've always thought "Gee, that bike doesn't feel as small as it looks in that pic". The Honda middleweights really "fit", to me.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Scott,

This is a nicely sorted bike.  I bet that R6 front and brakes provides a hell of an improvement to modern stopping power and much better handling.

[Scott S]

 Out and about. Getting closer and closer on the carb tuning. First tank got me 40 MPG, which isn't bad considering all the fiddling I've been doing with the carbs. Picked up a new timing light and double checked the timing. It's dead on at full advance on both coils. Got the mixture screws back out to closer to where they should be. Running pretty good, too!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Looking good!

[flatlander]

good indeed. sounds like you are very close to having it sorted. are you still planning a dyno run?
i am having a bit of a time-out now. will be in spain and greece while the poor bike is waiting back in amsterdam for jets to arrive from cal.

[Scott S]

 Yes, I figured I should take it easy on her for 500-1,000 miles before thrashing her to redline. It runs good now, with just a few spots where it could be better, but I'm keeping the revs reasonable. I've also noticed that it doesn't like being lugged. I guess maybe the porting has changed some of the low speed characteristics. But a quick tap down to keep it above 3,400-4,000 and it runs great. The mid-range is excellent.
 I didn't do a proper plug chop, but I did pull one plug out of curiosity. Just rode it home like normal and pulled a plug. Still rich (black and dry on the electrode), but some color on the ceramic. Still see a tan/coffee color there. I figure that the jetting is safe for now and I'll continue breaking it in properly.

[bwaller]

Scott take a ride without the filter to see what it does. Better still if you have new plugs put them in to see.

[Scott S]

 Installing the new EMGO filter helpe. I picked up a used UNI for, like, $5. I took out the old foam and installed some new UNI foam that I had and lightly oiled it. It runs better on BOTH of those filters than the old stock paper filter.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Any minute now, you'll be asked to "accept" a nomination for BOTM July 2017.   http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,166177.0.html

[Scott S]

 Rode it up to Cyclemania - Charlotte today. Took the back way in and put another 100 miles on her. Ran great. It has a really nice mid-range and pulls well at 4K and above. I took it to 7k for a couple of quick bursts on the way home. I still have just under 300 miles on it so I'm gradually increasing the revs.
 I haven't looked at the plugs yet, but it seems to run well. I got about 37 MPG on the last fill up, which isn't too bad. Could maybe be a little better. Haven't looked at plugs again. Gonna let her cool down first.
 Speaking of cooling down, as soon as I hopped off and removed my helmet and gloves, I hit it with the IR temp gun. I'm getting about 235 on the cylinders, 260 on the head and the exhausts were 385-400 right at the exhaust port and the bend. I've found that bend is always the hottest part on any bike. Just a few inches down the headers and the temps drop to 350-365. I don't think that's bad, seeing as I just rode it an hour home and it's not exactly cool out today.

 Parked next to this nice CB750. Is that any of you guys?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

No but for a second there, the color reminded me of my 550!   

[grcamna2]

Scott,
Those R6 front dual calipers look nice on it,they must be 'the balls' for doing a stoppie 

[joeyvans]

Hey Scott.... After you got the lag sorted out.... what is your take on the Speedhut tach/speedo combo?

I really like the look and simplicity of those.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I have a clean '03 R6 front stashed away for a rainy day build.

[Scott S]

Hey Scott.... After you got the lag sorted out.... what is your take on the Speedhut tach/speedo combo?

I really like the look and simplicity of those.

 It's really nice. The filter Speedhut sent cured the lag. Installation of the gauge is reasonably simple. I have the hot start feature wired up but sometimes​it still takes a few seconds or a hundred yards or so to acquire the signal. The turn signal indicators are hard to see in full sunlight. Overall, big thumbs up. And Speedhut was a pleasure to deal with, everyone involved.

[RAFster122s]

Slip a bikini fairing over to shade the gauges and it would help give you visibility of the lamps...feedback to Speedhut might yield a mod to future models or revision on later models to yield a light sensitive indicator where it is dimmed at night and blazing bright in strong light settings.  Photosensor and some  circuitry could choose alternate or multiple leds to illuminate as long as it was not a liquid crystal display doing the illumination.

Love the clean look, surprised Honda didn't use a scheme like the silver and blue in US market..

[Scott S]

 There are actually settings to change the intensity of the backlighting for both day and night. It's just the tiny green LED turn indicators that are hard to see in bright sunlight.

[bwaller]

What about the signals themselves, visible in sunlight? Man that's what I dislike about a lot of the stuff available, I use arm signals all the time also. I was following a friend one time who had changed to aftermarket tail light business. It was dangerous, brake & signal in the same tail light.     

[Scott S]

 Yes, signals are fine. I can easily see the left side. The master cylinder reservoir partially blocks the right.

[RAFster122s]

Whose build used the blaze pin signals tucked under the front corners of the tank.  Very bright and visible as long as angle  of point of view was obscured by trees, etc.  Wish the stator was a high output with plenty of headroom for accessories and more lights for a improved light footprint to make bike more visible.  Power transitors can be used as long as they aren't greedy on power...  but you have to pay for it one way or another...

Discussin for another place.

[Scott S]

 Swapped out the aftermarket mirrors for genuine Honda. MUCH better as far as vibration, and the actually sit lower and slightly wider, which really cleans up the lines too, IMO.



 Also added a little HRC "bling".



 Just love the way it turned out, if I do say so myself.

[RAFster122s]

A fun one to enjoy...just have to scoot over to the Smokies to enjoy the cool mountain air and trees and wildlife, except for the bears...they are not fun to be around while on two wheels...not knowing what they will do.


The Baren Napoleon mirrors are nice lo/no vibration mirrors with coated optics, the stock Honda stuff of the day really had many design features that were built in which makes them the way to go when replacing parts.  Now if we could get them to make all the length cables or mirror designs or other parts like a boutique builder it could be a treat.  A custom shop at your beckon call, guess we would need to be rich too.

[flatlander]

Just love the way it turned out, if I do say so myself.

you may say so!
don't know if you noticed but i'm using the stock mirrors, too and am happy with them. i found some little rubber bushings that reduce vibrations even further, keeping them more clear at high speeds.