Author Topic: So... I'm working my way up to the "TON" (Read 8816 times)

sixthwisconsin · « **on:** July 31, 2011, 03:57:21 PM »

Disclaimer:
I only do this on a closed course in a very safe environment. Never on a public street or rural road like Hwy 45 south of Milwaukee that was just repaved 2 years ago...

I built this cb550 over the winter.
I have not ridden a bike in my adult life until the 550.
I figured that if I was going to build a bike, I better learn how to ride it safely and enrolled in the certified motorcycle class at the local community college. Money and time well spent.
I have put about 1650 miles on the bike since I put it back in service in late May. In my very legal and safe environment described above, I have had the bike up to about 88 mph and am building up the courage to push it to the TON.

I have to say that the bike pulls strong. I have had experienced riders test it out and they are amazed at the pulling power.

I don't want to be stupid and wanted to shake down the bike for a while before pushing it.
I think my attention to detail with the build has paid off so far. I have had absolutely no problems since putting it back on the street except a broken spoke yesterday during a 130 mile run to an Enfield dealership in northern Illinois. (test drove a military model 500 single, what a gas but I would never buy one. It will vibrate your fillings out! It was cool though!)

Want to hear from anyone that has, legally, on a closed course...
pushed their 550's to the ton...

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #1 on:** July 31, 2011, 04:15:34 PM »

I wouldn't try to pull a ton without some kind of a fork brace on that puppy.

Otherwise find a relatively safe section of the highway without a lot of traffic and pull it, it is not that big of a deal.

crackerbat · « **Reply #2 on:** July 31, 2011, 04:23:07 PM »

Quote from: Industrial-sized Dukiedook on July 31, 2011, 04:15:34 PM

Otherwise find a relatively safe section of the highway without a lot of traffic and pull it, it is not that big of a deal.

+1

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #3 on:** July 31, 2011, 04:31:46 PM »

Quote

I wouldn't try to pull a ton without some kind of a fork brace on that puppy.

+100

If you are as new to bikes as you say, put a front brace or guard on , if you experience a tank slapper on that bike at 100mph it may be the first and last one you ever have. Have you ridden in the dirt or rain without a front guard.?

rbmgf7 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 31, 2011, 04:34:48 PM »

Costs money to go to the track and speeding tickets cost money. At last one shows proof of what an official clocked you at

Open that beast up. I always tried to push my 77 KZ400 to its limits on the road. Highest I got was 90 after adding a tooth to the front sprocket while going downhill

Stev-o · « **Reply #5 on:** July 31, 2011, 04:42:31 PM »

Not to burst your bubble, but most of the old CB speedos are off by about 10%, so you may be farther away from it than you think!

Just enjoy the ride, 100 is just a number...

DJ_AX · « **Reply #6 on:** July 31, 2011, 04:50:15 PM »

1650 miles and no ton yet? I think it was only 200 miles on my 750 (and me) before hitting it.
The first time was a big deal for me. But after a few times it isn't.
I don't seek it out anymore however...
Recently I hit it without even trying (just getting away from traffic) ... it comes up so quickly!

And it doesn't feel that much different than 90 which is pretty much required on some Detroit freeways at times.
120... now that's another story.. only been close once. And honestly I don't feel at all like I need to ever go that fast.

Had the (new to me) 550 only up to 85 so far but I really haven't done anything to it yet.

Years ago I drove a Northstar Cadilac 100 to 130mph almost all the way through Nebraska...
Even stopping to pick up a speeding ticket, I cut off almost 2 hours of trip time. ... No it wasn't worth it.

TrueSpin · « **Reply #7 on:** July 31, 2011, 05:29:17 PM »

It's weird, I think about kicking the ton on a bike and it's kind of scary, but I've done it several cars of several different nationalities...

Most fun I ever had was in an old turbo Porsche, went searching for speed limits to double... highest local limit is 70. Yes, I did. No, I don't condone it.

But on the bike? I think of 100mph as kind of like, a coming of age ritual... and I'm not quite ready to stop being a kid. I've had it to an indicated 85mph, which I estimate is much closer to 77mph... and to be honest, I don't really like fresh repaves. I prefer a road that has had a couple of years of weather to rough it up a bit.

KingCustomCycles.com · « **Reply #8 on:** July 31, 2011, 05:40:18 PM »

Deer. enough said.

tlbranth · « **Reply #9 on:** July 31, 2011, 07:13:03 PM »

Back in the early 70's when I was invincible, I had my 1970 CB750 up to 124mph on a freeway in San Jose

crazypj · « **Reply #10 on:** July 31, 2011, 07:14:34 PM »

See Avatar

Oh, fit a fork brace

Doggie · « **Reply #11 on:** July 31, 2011, 08:14:55 PM »

I was thinking about that "ton" stuff. If the bikes they had back then (in England) then they would have been metric. So if the bike there hit "100" then it would only have been going 60MPH.
Is this right? Or am I missing something.
Doug

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #12 on:** July 31, 2011, 08:30:39 PM »

Quote from: Doggie on July 31, 2011, 08:14:55 PM

I was thinking about that "ton" stuff. If the bikes they had back then (in England) then they would have been metric. So if the bike there hit "100" then it would only have been going 60MPH.
Is this right? Or am I missing something.
Doug

Still MPH there , so it referred to 100 MPH.

Doggie · « **Reply #13 on:** July 31, 2011, 08:33:40 PM »

Ok...Just thought they were metric. What do I know??
Doug

nancy · « **Reply #14 on:** July 31, 2011, 11:09:45 PM »

I've never had my CB750 over about 130kph - but the 1st week I took delivery of my 2nd bike - a British configured, Triumph Sprint 955,...with MPH instead of KPH on the dial.....I pulled 95MPH with the wife on the back seat..on our inaugural outing into town for coffees....I started thinking we seem to be pulling too many revs for this bike at a shade under 100kph... whoops...it gelled on me we were doing 155KPH... I let it go that extra bit to 160k (100 ala TON) before butttoning back. She never knew or found out and commented on how smooth the ride was compared to the Honda.
I never felt the urge to push the old Honda up to 100mph and still don't. It is old and deserving of respect...as my sons say of me.
Mark

RustyJC · « **Reply #15 on:** August 01, 2011, 01:52:23 AM »

About 120 MPH indicated was the most I could ever wring out of the 750 "back in the day", but I had dropped one tooth on the countershaft sprocket.

On the BMW (see signature), 100 MPH flies by awfully fast right after the 2-3 shift at 90 MPH at the 10,200 RPM redline (6-speed with governed 155 MPH top speed, but I haven't been anywhere near there!!)

Rusty

WhyNot2 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 01, 2011, 04:11:35 AM »

I've had my 1975 Trans Am to atleast 135 MPH and still had a VW Rabbit on my tail flashing his lights. This was done on an Autobahn in Germany in 1985.

Last time I went that fast was on my Harley in 2008 (130 MPH) going thru the Okeefenookie swamp in Georgia. I was white knuckled the whole way. Kept seeing vision of a possum or aligator coming out in the road.

Am finished with the high speeds, once I get one or the other of my Hondas on the road. They will be riden with care..........................................

NOT..........................................!!!!..................................maybe.

sixthwisconsin · « **Reply #17 on:** August 01, 2011, 05:10:40 AM »

Many fork brace suggestions here.
What is everybody using other than putting the fender back on?

Steve_K · « **Reply #18 on:** August 01, 2011, 05:24:09 AM »

100 mph is cool. I have done faster on a track(Road America), but not on a Honda. 100 on the street is a bit different. Open country is tempting to do. Even on a modern sportbike stopping from that speed is much longer than at 60. I suggest testing stopping the distances at 60 and then at 100. The increased distance may give you something to think about. I am no angel when it comes to speed, choose where carefully. It is fun!
Steve

WhyNot2 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 01, 2011, 06:06:23 AM »

I'm interested in the fork brace idea too.

andy750 · « **Reply #20 on:** August 01, 2011, 06:12:02 AM »

Hitting the ton (recorded by GPS; stock CB750 speedo is off by 5mph at 100 mph - tested this on 2 different speedos - better than modern bikes!):

CB750K2 post-ton:

Andy

jahmic · « **Reply #21 on:** August 01, 2011, 06:23:47 AM »

I think most everyone gets the urge to do it at least once.

That being said, I have no desire to hit it on the 750, especially without a steering damper. I actually picked up this bike to keep my itch for excessive speeds in check. I've spent plenty of time on the track in the past, and think I've satisfied that urge. Prior to getting into racing, I had an 03 R1 that I dumped a little too much cash into. I hit a gps confirmed 180 on that bike, and sold it 3 months later. I was young and invincible...

If you can go hit your mark, smile and be happy, go for it. Just don't get bit by the bug and keep pushing your luck

sixthwisconsin · « **Reply #22 on:** August 01, 2011, 06:24:37 AM »

So I answered my own question here...
Fast from the Past has one for $99.
#22-0014
Here is the link:
http://www.fastfromthepast.com/servlet/the-480/Fork-Brace-Honda-CB500K/Detail

Andy,
That is what I'm going to do to check my speedo.
I really don't know if its accurate or not but I'm going to find out!

bikerbart · « **Reply #23 on:** August 01, 2011, 10:22:01 AM »

130 mph on a harley,you're dreaming.Unless you had dreaming beagle accessories like exhaust,carb,head etc.(oops,I meant to say screaming eagle)

burmashave · « **Reply #24 on:** August 01, 2011, 10:40:50 AM »

Funny, at least to me, go fast story. Years back, I had my '77 Toyota Celica (remember what POS's they were) completely wound out on a long, long downhill stretch. My buddy asked how fast we were going. I looked down at the speedo and said, "We're going "M". The speedo topped at 80 MPH, and there was no stop for the needle. I had wrapped the needle all the way around to the "M" in MPH -- and almost back to zero.

News:

Author Topic: So... I'm working my way up to the "TON" (Read 8816 times)

KingCustomCycles.com