Topic: Would any of you recommend doing distance on your CB's?

[c_kyle]

100 miles is nothing, just 1.5 hours of riding through horse country, here in central FL.  I haven't gone on any long distance trips with my 650 yet, but I've easily done 6 or 7 150 mile trips in the last 4 weeks; and that was with a f-ed up charging system.  Once the fork seals are replaced, new cables installed, and the front brakes rebuilt, I'll be putting some miles on her.  From what I've experienced so far, my CB650 runs like a champ, and really does well at 55-75mph.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Well, what parts, tool and supplies would you carry to perform roadside repairs on your NEW bike? 

- $100+ electronic ignition instead of points & condensers.  You can leave the points file behind, I guess.
- no need to bring the tube patch & tire leavers because a popped tubless tire means you'll be using the cell phone and Visa card looking for a tow to a repair shop that won't be open until Monday.
- Depending on the primary drive type of you new bike, you may not be able to repair a broken chain roadside, so that's 2 more pounds saved.
- since you may be limited on timing and fuel mixture adjustments, you don't need to inspect your plugs daily, but I'd still pack a wrench and fresh set of plugs anyway. 
- Certainly no changes to the pre-trip todo list or the daily inspection list.

Other then that, I don't think you would want to change your roadside kit by much.  Guess you could dispense of it all and depend on the kindness of strangers to get you back on the road. 

The point being that, as is anecdotally evidenced by the earlier replies, these bikes are VERY reliable, despite their age.  A well cared for CB is a true road warrior! 

My contention is that these bike are simple to fix too, and you have a better then even chance of fixing it roadside and won't be left behind in the parking lot of a closed repair shop waving to the rest of your travel companions as they continue the trip without you.

Besides, you don't have to be the only one to carry the kit.  Just make sure you have your bike-specific parts & supplies and that at least someone in your posse has the tools.  Think of the respect and addoration you will earn if you happen to be carring the one tool or part needed to repair a buddy's bike and salvage their trip!

[ofreen]

- no need to bring the tube patch & tire leavers because a popped tubless tire means you'll be using the cell phone and Visa card looking for a tow to a repair shop that won't be open until Monday.

I'd rather pick up a nail with a tubeless tire out on the road than a tubed tire.  Way easier to deal with.

[andy750]

I picked up a nail on the rear wheel as I was leaving a gas station in Baja and about to cross the Central Desert. It was Sunday, my first day in Mexico and I spoke no Spanish and I was in a little village with 10 houses. Lucky for me a local came by just as I was acting out the motion of "flat tire" to a tire-repair shack at the side of the road. He motioned for me to follow him up some rutted unpaved backroads riding on a flat rear tire. Lucky for me I saw the old orange CB550 in the garden of the local "mechanic" and who it turned out local "drug dealer". 1hr later the tire was fixed and I was speeding across 125 miles of desert  . Clearly if I was skilled in roadside tire repair I could have done it myself but i wasnt. Still I wouldt let that stop you taking a trip. If you are going to take a trip on a 30+ year old bike then you have to expect some adventures along the way. Probably also applies to modern bikes as well.

Supplies I would NOT take (personally speaking)
- oil - pick up oil at any gas station in the world if you dont mind using 10W-40 car oil (as I do) - if you are going to put gas from a big open barrel (some "gas sations" in remote places in Mexico where simply barrels of gas)  in your bike why not car oil ;-)

- oil filter - again any auto store has these and unless you are going over 1500-2000 miles why change it?

- brake fluid - rarely goes down over thousands of miles and if it does you have bigger troubles.

- tube patch kit - GOOD idea if you can change tires.

- 2-3 cans of SeaFoam  - if you need to use this then your bike wasnt tuned up properly before hand. I guess one would be handy for emergency's.

I do agree with OldSchool about taking a good selection of tools (8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm and 17mm, screwdriver, spark plugs) on a regular basis. These are the heaviest items to carry as spare cables dont weigh very much.

cheers
Andy

[ieism]

I do 1000 mile trips on my 550 a few times a year. I used to take parts and tools, but now I just take the stock toolkit that's under the saddle 2 extra sparkplugs and some oil and chaingrease.
I wouldn't dare drive that far without tools on my much newer Moto-Guzzi.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

OK, maybe I'm wrong on the tube vs tubeless tire.  And sure, you can plan to pick up the consumable supplies along the way.  But my point still holds, I think, in that you stand a better chance of repairing a CB roadside then you would a more complex modern scoot.

[mrclyde50]

Can I ask a silly question...WHAT DOES CB STAND FOR??

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Can I ask a silly question...WHAT DOES CB STAND FOR??

Currency Burner??

That's been debated before. 

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=12211.0
http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=2894.msg37988#msg37988

Don't know if we ever found the "official" meaning.

[slarty-bart-farst]

The 750 will see us out! The only time a 750 is going to be unreliable is if it has just been worked on or stored. If you split the engine give it 500 miles shake down to de bug and if you store the bike expect  carb/fuel problems but if its in use all the time it will be fine. I carry spares a.    condensor, a split link a fuse thats it! If you can change a tyre and are going realy far take levers a tube and a repair kit then you need a minature cycle pump or by one of the car 12v accessory pumps and take off the bulky plastic case and tie wrap it under the RH side panel.
If the coils are over 15 years old they can deteriorate but the bike will get you home, sometimes its worth replacing these anyway, the bikes always go better on new coils.
If its run on modern semi synthetic and gets regular changes and filter it will go forever, the only thing that will stop you is what stops any bike nowerdays, a puncture, learn how to fix that and your one step ahead of 99% of all other bikes on the reliability front.

Graham

[Geeto67]

Being that these bikes are 30 years old or older, I would be a little apprehensive to do a trip longer than about 100 miles. 

Have any of you done trips on your CB's? 

My K5 750 is in tip-top shape but I would be reluctant to do a long distance trip on a bike that is over 30 years old!

My K5 will go anywhere with confidence and I don't even have it in a good tune. during the summer she regularly makes the city to montauk trip (approx 100 miles), as often as 3 times a month (weekends) and that doesn't count all the commuting I do with her.  I'm planning to ride her to DC in a week or so (probably Friday night) and that is a 4 hour ride. She's gone to New Orleans and back a few times too.

[sandcastcb750]

Today I broke my first chain on a CB750 K1; 30,000+ mi on many bikes and 27 years ....first experience. My suggestion is by a new/heavy chain for a long trip, even if the chain looks good (my chain had 1800 miles and lubed).

Have not taken off sprocket cover yet to find out if engine cases cracked; I was too tired from pushing the bike home!!

Bob

[Snowdigger69]

If you don't take normal care of your bike all the tools in the world won't help you on a long ride! If you are riding over 1500 to 2000 miles service it before you start! I switched to Dyna electronic ignition and don't even look back! My only failure on my Vermont to Florida trip was a flasher for the directional lights. Do carry the onboard took kit for routine tasks! Moe

[jdpas29]

i rode 100 miles on my K8 not long after i got it running and it ate it up.  no problems at all.  i would recommend taking a few extra fuses, some duct tape, vice grips and a leatherman multi-tool.  and of course make sure your chain is lubed well before heading out.