1
CB500/550 / 135 miles in
« on: August 08, 2013, 09:21:38 AM »
Well, here it is:
135 miles on the clock so far, I've put new Hagon shocks on and their progressive springs, also fitted some low rise bars last night, courtesy of Busa, which make me feel a little more connected with the front end. Removed the mirrors also - I'm used to riding without them and i think the bike looks better. Don't those pipes sound awesome!!
I had a problem with the bike running very weak (poss on 3) after getting into the higher rev range, also throttle response was a bit random - thought it was a fuelling thing, maybe picking up some dirt out of the tank so cleaned out the bowls but it made no odds, ordered a new carb o ring kit with the view to stripping and cleaning them, but in the meantime chucked in some new plugs (£6 for 4 from Halfords with my trade card) and the problem is sorted! the old ones must have been breaking down.
Things still to sort are:
Tyres - the front is particuarly bad, in fact the worst tyre I've ever rode, horrible - its a Conti 'super twin' ribbed. It tramlines really badly and i don't like the profile, so i'm planning a new pair of BT45's in the next few weeks
Front brake is also pretty poor - I've had better drums - might pick up some new pads and fluid today from the local EBC trade counter - that should sort it - also there is pretty minimal lever pull - is that normal?
Laquer - don't know what the stuff is on the tank, but i had an issue the other week when i wiped a bit of it with a cloth that had brake cleaner on - immediately melted the Laquer, which i left for a day or so to re-harden, before wet sanding and polishing which restored it, last weekend i managed to splash a little fuel when filling up and got the same reaction, so it looks like i'll have to re-laquer the tank with some petrol proof stuff - my worry is that the new stuff will react with the old so I'll have to do a test piece underneath first
Swingarm bearings - I don't think they are that bad, minimal movement in the arm, but i gather there should be none at all - got some bronze bushes from Germany, but i think that will be a winter job, along with a full carb clean.
135 miles on the clock so far, I've put new Hagon shocks on and their progressive springs, also fitted some low rise bars last night, courtesy of Busa, which make me feel a little more connected with the front end. Removed the mirrors also - I'm used to riding without them and i think the bike looks better. Don't those pipes sound awesome!!
I had a problem with the bike running very weak (poss on 3) after getting into the higher rev range, also throttle response was a bit random - thought it was a fuelling thing, maybe picking up some dirt out of the tank so cleaned out the bowls but it made no odds, ordered a new carb o ring kit with the view to stripping and cleaning them, but in the meantime chucked in some new plugs (£6 for 4 from Halfords with my trade card) and the problem is sorted! the old ones must have been breaking down.
Things still to sort are:
Tyres - the front is particuarly bad, in fact the worst tyre I've ever rode, horrible - its a Conti 'super twin' ribbed. It tramlines really badly and i don't like the profile, so i'm planning a new pair of BT45's in the next few weeks
Front brake is also pretty poor - I've had better drums - might pick up some new pads and fluid today from the local EBC trade counter - that should sort it - also there is pretty minimal lever pull - is that normal?
Laquer - don't know what the stuff is on the tank, but i had an issue the other week when i wiped a bit of it with a cloth that had brake cleaner on - immediately melted the Laquer, which i left for a day or so to re-harden, before wet sanding and polishing which restored it, last weekend i managed to splash a little fuel when filling up and got the same reaction, so it looks like i'll have to re-laquer the tank with some petrol proof stuff - my worry is that the new stuff will react with the old so I'll have to do a test piece underneath first
Swingarm bearings - I don't think they are that bad, minimal movement in the arm, but i gather there should be none at all - got some bronze bushes from Germany, but i think that will be a winter job, along with a full carb clean.