CB500 - I feel like I'm revving the nuts off it!!!!!

[gvhbiker]

I think I'm just just looking for some re-assurance here.
I just can't get comfortable with how much I need to rev my CB500 to get it to perform.
I'm sure the problem is me, I ride an R1200GS, a 66 Bonneville & a 74 Commando & my last Japanese bikes prior to buying the 500 were a CB750 & a Z900 so obviously none of these need the revs the CB500 does, but I just can't get comfortable revving an immaculate 45 year old bike at 6000 revs & above - I'm frightened it'll burst!!!!!!!
Any re-assurance/comments would be most welcome!!
Thanks
Geoff

[hairygit]

That is normal for a 500/550 Honda. The noticeable power comes on quite high up the rev range. If the engine is in a good state, rev it harder in the lower gears and you'll see what I mean. Don't be afraid to rev it quite a bit harder, far more enjoyable to ride. Just because it's old does not mean it's any more likely to burst than anything newer, you're used to bigger bikes, with power from much lower down the Rev range. So rev it higher, keep it serviced, oil and filter especially, and enjoy the sound!

Sent from my X6pro using Tapatalk

[Green1]

Its Japanese rev the nuts off it. My 550 loves a good thrashing its gutless low down.
Age is irrelevant they don't get brittle bones. If it did it in the 70's it will do it now.   

[Johnwebley]

  check the ignition timing,just incase its retarded ,

 but the 500 series thrive on revs,if you feel nervous ,only go to 8,500 rpm,
but these are modded to race by DM engineering,and will go to 12K
check this,a 500 on a rolling road ,

http://d-mengineering.co.uk

  just ensure lots of good clean oil,and should be OK

[Rob62]

Wow the 500 on the dyno sounds awesome!! Great vid...

[Nurse Julie]

That sounds absolutely fantastic, so crisp and sharp. I would love to take that out for a blast.

[Nurse Julie]

Going back to the original question, I think all the 'small' engines Honda's like revs. My CB400/4 performs fantastically if ridden hard with high revs in every gear. It red lines at 10,000 rpm and I'm not ashamed to say the needle goes into the red quite often. Yes, you can also pootle around at lower speed/ revs but she's nowhere near as happy.

[paulbaker1954]

Rev and enjoy the sound —- they were built for it!!!
You are used to bigger bikes and twins that have a lot of low down torque

i remember a Scotland trip a few years back with a bunch of riders that had done an advanced BMW course where one exercise was to ride a route and pick a single gear to use and not change gear.

The lesson is use a lower gear than you would instinctively use and higher revs - result is better engine braking, less gear swaps and believe me a smoother ride.

TRY IT

[Bryanj]

In my callous youth I spent 3 years reving a 500 right through the red in the first three gears trying to make it go bang so i could take it apart, it wouldnt go bang so i took it apart anyway

[gvhbiker]

Thank you everyone for your replies.

In light of all your advice Cheshire will resound to the sound of a screaming 500 this weekend!!!!!

[paulbaker1954]

Where are you in Cheshire?

Interested in meeting for a brew/run out sometime?

Pm me if interested

[K2-K6]

They sound great on those videos John.

Anyone notice the bar graph on right of screen when he's running the 250 up? Looks like air fuel ratio and fluctuates between about 11.0 during max acceleration and close 14.0 as the revs tail off.

[florence]

They don't even start to work until you get them over 6000 rpm.

If you think these are bad, in my youth, my CB125t used to happliy rev to 11500rpm

[deltarider]

They don't even start to work until you get them over 6000 rpm.

If you think these are bad, in my youth, my CB125t used to happliy rev to 11500rpm

That's what I've always liked about the CB500: you have two bikes in one. You can ride it very civilised and in a wellbehaved manner. Where ever possible however and going over 6000 rpm, you have a very different bike.

[Johnwebley]

Where are you in Cheshire?

Interested in meeting for a brew/run out sometime?

Pm me if interested

  I could be up for this,meet at The Raven cafe ,junction of A49 and A41 near Whitchurch for breakfast,up into north wales ,maybe visit
the Ponderosa cafe,run to Bala lake ,then ride home,
I did that a few months ago with some guys from the AircooledRD forum,great fun