Teds new project a CB500 K1 mostly version 0.5 circa 1972.

[Laverdaroo]

Thats why I did it, for both those reasons. Looks far nicer for a bike of that size and braking is ony going to be improved as a result which just may be the deciding factor in a situation. The speedo drive isnt a biggie once you get your head round it. I had a spare disc floating about so apart from already having that the whole set up stands me at about 70 odd quid. Cheap win really.

I have a spare set of 550 fork lowers, and some 500 sliders that have just been re ground at Philpots and faultless, going on ebay after crimbo but if you need anything you have first dibbs Ted, goes without saying

[Oddjob]

Don't forget you need to space out the caliper bolt on the new side Roo, if you don't the arm sits at an angle and the pads wear funny. It's because the new caliper mount sits ON the mudguard brace whereas the old side it sits under the brace, you also need to ensure the arm sits directly above the disc like the other side does. IIRC you need some washers between the top mount and the brace and a thicker one on the bottom mount bolt. I seem to recall I put the new caliper onto the new arm complete with pads, pushed it onto the rear of the disc not the front as that movable and left the bolts out, swung the arm until it was level with the mounting bolts and measured the gap. I ended up welding the washers to the brace and then having it chromed so I wouldn't lose them if I dismantled the front end.

[Laverdaroo]

Yeah, I'm aware of the need for all that, I was leaving ot to the fitting stages. It'son the list but for the bare bones of the conversion, like yio said, its pretty cheap in comparrison to what you get from the deal. I still have a bench full of bits but I get the frame tomorrow for definite, spoke to the chap today and going over for 3pm tommorow.........whoop whoop!
I have all the 'fitting joy' and thinking time to come. Looking forward to it

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Depends on what you already have Ted, you need a spare caliper and disc, a set of 550 sliders, a longer set of disc bolts and another part of the brake line. Not that expensive if you already have some of these. There's a little work involved as well adapting the speedo drive.

For me it's a good investment, if it stops you quicker it could just avoid an accident and those can be very expensive.

I have no spare caliper,disc or 550 sliders  not too woried about the look / accident risk for the mileage I am likely to cover. The Brembro pads certainly feel good so I'll keep that bit original.

Thinking about improvements / mods from the original  has made me re-think  the exhuast situation. I was minded to fit the original four pipe system to keep the period look and gloss over the cost. That got me thinking about the owners who went from twin pipe  to 4 into 1 systems  as they performed & sounded  better.

Just thought I would put that out there for added public humiliation to add to the Nut Brown saga - I still have regrets about settling for boring black.

[Bryanj]

Wasnt sound and performane in most cases Ted was purely cost as a motad or dunstall was less than half a honda system

[SPR]

Thinking about improvements / mods from the original  has made me re-think  the exhuast situation. I was minded to fit the original four pipe system to keep the period look and gloss over the cost. That got me thinking about the owners who went from twin pipe  to 4 into 1 systems  as they performed & sounded  better.

Just thought I would put that out there for added public humiliation to add to the Nut Brown saga - I still have regrets about settling for boring black.

I think after all the time and work you are putting in .... the original style system would be icing on the cake

[Oddjob]

I’ve had a few 4 into 1 systems Ted, a Piper system that howled like a Banshee having a prostate exam, had to remove it to change the oil filter though and it rusted for fun. A Yoshimura that was much quieter until you wound it up but it didn’t stop you working on the engine etc.

For best performance though the OE system takes some beating, sure the Yoshi performed better but only at the top end of the rev range, it lagged at mid range though, the Piper sounded better but it also had a hole in mid range, the 4 into 4 system looks awesome, it performs excellently and it just suits the look of the bike better.

For me it’s the exhausts that make the 500 so appealing, there’s just something about them that floats my boat in a BIG way.

[Matt_Harrington]

Purists look away now - my DS Chrome finished plastic headlamp bowl & aftermaket rim kit arrived today so I was able to fit a neat Land Rover LED headlamp unit without any alterations.
Thanks for the tip Allankelly & the link. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303960372602

Ted, nice h/lamp option. I want to build a bobber from many old Triumph 3T bits I have and this would fit the bill perfectly. Will look good on your 500.

[Sesman]

Guys, spacing the calliper….I don’t recall having to do that? Do you mean spacing the caliper carrier pivot mounting on the fork bottom mounting?  I found using 2no 6mm washers sorted that. I’ll turn permanent spacers at some time in the future. Apologies if I’ve read that wrongly it’s just that I’ve got eye floaters again.

A work mate back in 1978/79 would give me a lift on his black 500 from York to Leeds. His was equipped with a Marvin 4:1. To my young ears it sounded mint, it really howled at the top end,  though he did complain of flat spots. He eventually changed back to standard. And I agree with Ken, the original 4 pipe appearance is best for the standard bike.
I’d even thought about putting 4 pipes on the F2, but the cost was prohibitive for an uncertain and unconventional appearance. I’ve gone for Dekelvic which is ok, but no substitute for standard.

Speaking of standard pipes, my CB175 pipes rotted out in 1977.  I tried all kinds of arrangements, but in order to make it run properly I eventually had to dig deep for standard replacements.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I guess the market is to small for Dekelvic to make a SS four tail pipe  system.

[SteveD CB500K0]

I put Dunstall “silencers” on my CB175 in 1975(ish).

My mum always said she could hear me from the next village.


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[K2-K6]

It's the long relatively small bore primary pipes that give the engine It's low to mid rpm torque. Mostly removed on 4:1 system, but doesn't need to be.

A friend drag raced a 750 years ago for which we tried sets of pipes, easily the fastest through initial phase and rpm range was a 4:1 with long thin primary pipes into short, stubby big bore less restricted "silencer" this for road orientated motor tune and not a really high revving race motor.
It takes alot of combustion volume/rpm to really make use of big bore short primary "headers" and mostly way outside capacity on bikes of this era.

[Sesman]

I guess the market is to small for Dekelvic to make a SS four tail pipe  system.

Yes, Ted. Too small market for meaningful competition.

[Sesman]

I put Dunstall “silencers” on my CB175 in 1975(ish).

My mum always said she could hear me from the next village.

Yes, I know all about that. I used some cheap reverse cone megaphones from that outfit in Rochdale- Unity Ill equipped or something like that. The noise was horrific. My mum asked me to coast or push the bike the last hundred yards after 10pm. I was able to reach back and place my boots over the ends so rarely bothered.


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[Bryanj]

I had a Marving on my 500 in the mid 70's and my mate could hear it start from 7 miles away, even then i had to pack it with fibreglass to get a test pass