Topic: CB750K4 - new updates 04.18.24 All issues resolved and ready to ride

[nancy]

Gidday Andy,
No test ride yet - but it's drying up outside - might get out shortly. Meanwhile, here is a pic of the RH fork bracket showing the gap at front and I've also included a pic of the RH fender bracket area showing how close the inside of that hose bracket loop is to my tyre. Can u compare to yours for me?
Regards
Mark

[nancy]

Yep - that was it. Bearings too tight. Just had a short squirt around the block - smooth as butter. Lovely. Thanks Andy..

[andy750]

Good news Mark! I am off home now to take a pic of my fender - yours looks way to close!! What size is your front tire?

More soon...
cheers
Andy

[andy750]

Ok so my fender/wheel clearance is similar:

One side:



other side



I dont think I have a gap though...



and



and overall view



cheers
Andy

[nancy]

Thanks Andy - I have 100mm width tyre - so that's OK.
Yeh - your end caps are not on as per HM specs. Suggest they be reversed so you get the rear end to butt flush up on the lower fork, button up the nut and then put on front and button that last to maintain the gap.
Just got back from a 40km ride - beautiful riding now - at least till it dropped at least 1 or maybe 2 cylinders 5km fom home and shat smoke out my RH pipes. Just fuelled up so it's not a starvation issue - I expect plugs have fouled up. Happened 2-3 times before. Clean the plugs or swap with spares and off it goes again. Hope that's all this time!
What luck - just when it was going soooo well!
Regards
Mark
Update: Now OK,..seemed to have a fuel line with a kink in it...plug 3 was fouled. Both RH pipes WHITE! Unbent kink in line, refitted plug. Whoom, whoom...what the..oh well.

[andy750]

Thanks Mark for the tip on the end caps. Ill reverse as suggested.

What plugs are you running? I have the Densos (see HM book) and am very happy with them. And I am running rich!

Kinky fuel lines? What are you doing over there? how are you routing? What kind of fuel line are you using? I just got new fuel line from Yamiya (Hondas own stuff) and very happy with it. No kinkiness here....

cheers
Andy

[nancy]

Plugs are NGK D8EA. I think I am getting an Ok ride with them. The fouling has each time been due to fuel starvation. Twice while running on the highway I let it run out on the main tank and didn't switch over to the reserve fast enough. It wouldn't "spark" back cleanly onto 4 cylinders and run VERY lean on the RH side till I nursed it home. HM makes a reference to this somewhere - being caused by the stopcock and fuel pipe design - making the reserve line typically run lean. I now make a habit of switching to reserve as soon as my trip meter gets to 170KM. I seem to get 170+ Km per 12 litres. Been no probs for quite a while till yesterday. But there was a noticeable buckle in the RH fuel line. I'm using some line I bought in a coil from an automotive parts and machinist - rated for cars. Not the exact diameter I need but close. It's very tight fitting onto the stopcock. Anyway - all seems well here. Vey happy with ride I'm getting now - with new tyres, new rear shocks, new steering bearings..my ride is 100% smoother and safer feeling than a year ago.
How are you planning on getting your K4 to Skootlund? By seafreight? How does this work on cost?
Regards
Mark

[andy750]

seem to get 170+ Km per 12 litres.

How are you planning on getting your K4 to Skootlund? By seafreight? How does this work on cost?

hey Mark

By my calculations you are getting ~33 mpg (170kms = 105 miles; 12 litres = 3.2 gallons). This is not so great and sounds like you are running a tad rich perhaps? I can get 140 miles per 3.4 gallons (225 km/13 liters) and even for me I am running rich! Best I have got is 150 miles/3.5 gallons (yes was on reserve) although others have claimed more than this. However I am a little heavy-handed Anyway just something to think about.

Ill be shipping the bike to Scotland by sea. Takes 16 days from New York and costs $750. That is the plan so far.....(by air its more like $1800).

cheers
Andy

[nancy]

Yes, I know it's poor MPG - I've been trying to improve that. Although, I do a few amount of 2-up riding - maybe 40% of that 170k would be with another body on the back. My outboard cyclinders show nice plug colour - but I always had soot on the middles - so my problem is there. I've checked the carbs and they have near-new jets (by PO) and all the clips are standard 3rd from top setting. I have left my idle screw setting at 1 turn out - I might turn that back half a turn more and see how I do. Petrol is expensive here at NZ$1.79 per litre.
That's a reasonable price to ship the bike - I'll think on that. One day I might do something similar - at least to Australia.
Regards
Mark
PS: What diff did u notice after drilling your rotor - just a water repelling option? Does it improve dry braking any? With 2-up, down a steep windy hill I do find the 750 to be lacking in brakes! May look at dual setup sometime.

[andy750]

PS: What diff did u notice after drilling your rotor - just a water repelling option? Does it improve dry braking any? With 2-up, down a steep windy hill I do find the 750 to be lacking in brakes! May look at dual setup sometime.

I have drilled disks now on both the K2 and K4  -done for looks really but may also reduce brake squeal and improve braking..however I also upgraded to stainless steel brake lines which really do help with the braking and Id recommend this before you do anything else. My K2 has excellent brakes now (and its not a dual set up).

cheers
Andy

[andy750]

So the K4 is getting prepped for a long distance trip and considering luggage options. I want a hardcase topbox and maybe also hard luggage (still not sure on this though) ...here is one item that came today...a pelican storm case - im2200 size that I want to use as a top case.

Looking for feedback...

What do you think? Small topcase  - too small? or sidecase? Or  both

Also how best to fit to the rack (as topcase or sidecase - need ideas!)

Also need to attach bungee loops up top to strap stuff to top of case - thought about using drawer handles with rubber washers to keep it watertight. Thoughts?














Idea here is NOT to overload the rear end  - too many reports of rear shocks blowing on rough roads...


thanks
Andy

[nancy]

Well, I'd go for a top mount - at a guess, that'd be safer. Using them like side fitting panniers as you've shown, will create more of a sail effect in wind and will become offset weights to L or R of bike's natural centre..perhaps. Also looks better on top!
I do not trust stretchy cords wrapped over boxes like that - and I'd consider spoiling the box by drilling into both sides and fitting a hook or latch so that shorty cords could hold down with no risk of slippage. Also these bungies cause body damage if they let go as u release them. So bigger longer jobs wrapped right around are to be avoided for meine bot and meind.
Regards
Mark
PS: Have left the carbs to doze on the workbench and have sucked off a beer and a G&T. There's always tomorrow..

[andy750]

Ride to Winter Harbor, Maine/Campobello Island/Deer Island this weekend - 850 mile round trip. 40 miles per gallon averaged. Speeds around 60 - 75 mph and usually in the 5000 - 6000 rpm range. Bike performed amazingly well.

On the highway - for 5 hrs (280 miles) at 5000+rpm on the Friday going up.

On dirt roads..









At ferry terminals



and it looked good at docks



Next to consider....fairing and side panniers.

cheers
Andy

[andy750]

One more...owner and bike on ferry to Deer Island, Canada

[knowsnothing]

Haha, Andy you almost look short in that photo 

[andy750]

Today I painted the army box I had bought - this served two purposes - it looks better in black and I wanted to see how an aluminum box might look on the back compared to the pelican case (see above).

Here it is...







Also I had my first tire changing experience today.I had a spare front wheel I used for practice. I had 3 tire irons and even though getting the tire off was a bit of a struggle, getting the new one on with new extra thick inner tube (2 mm more than usual) was much easier (used windex). Here is the Dunlop K70 mounted and compared to the BT-45 that is on there now...wheel was "balanced" using Ride On tire sealant which Im using for the first time.








Let me know what you think of the black box in the back - I think I prefer the Pelican case - Ill be returning the small one I got and getting the next size up - the Pelican 1500 (or im2300) - 20 liter capacity. Will also consider it as a side case.

cheers
Andy

[nancy]

Andy - I don't like the look. Too big and high. Go for a revised Pelican.
Whatz with this tyre balancing stuff - is it a squirt into your tube deal?
Mark

[andy750]

Yeah I agree with you Mark and will be changing to a larger pelican this week. The tire stuff is called Ride On tire sealant - more info here:

http://www.ride-on.com/

cheers
Andy

[andy750]

I bought a set of lever guards this weekend from Twisted Throttle in RI:

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/

Very helpful guys and they fitted the guards while I was there to make sure they fit - they did and I actually like them! They will be good for the winter - for the deflecting cold air off the hands and handy for off-road riding if/when dump the bike.










Comments (good or bad) welcome

cheers
Andy

[nancy]

Hmmmmmm...

[rangelov]

Kind of interesting.  How much did they cost?

I guess you can also carry spare levers.  But there is always the chance that something may crack.   The handguards will help there.  Wonder if they will help stop the handle bar from bending?

[andy750]

They cost $60. It was more for the lever guards than anything else but the wind deflectors will also be handy in the cold.

I dont think they will help with bars getting bent but they do help with vibrations. Bars are original K0/K1 bars so a little more solid than cheaper bars.

cheers
Andy

[fergie]

I'm not a huge fane of that look for a sohc honda. They are very functional though, I have a set on my klr650

[andy750]

I know what you mean Fergie and this is really a case of function over form.

[fergie]

I see in the background of one of your pics there is I believe a vstrom 1000.  Is that yours? if so why would you want to use a classic bike like the cb750 for backroads?