First real run on the 500

[bobv7]

I've just come back from the first mixed town and country run on my 500 Four and thoroughly enjoyed it after being reminded that it needed petrol to go anywhere. It has reinforced my opinion that this bike was never intended to be a sports machine and it has more in common with the Sunbeam S6 and 7 from the 1950s and '60s. It is a gentleman's conveyance allowing one to enjoy the experience of steady riding and the passing scenery. It resists being hurried by requiring two handfuls of throttle to drag those four carb slides open and a certain care in gear changing, although this may be down to weak gear selector springs. Once I'd got my brain to accept that this is old technology, carbs, not injectors, I rather enjoyed the experience of steady progress over neck snapping acceleration. It also comes as pleasant surprise how light it is and how well it handles on modern tyres. The front does squeak a bit but the brakes work very well, again more likely due to having modern rubber front and rear. Had a very nice couple of hours out on the road.

[Bryanj]

Try reving it harder, they go really well. Just into the red is OK but not out the top

[bobv7]

I'm not saying they don't go well but that it's just too much effort!

[OZZYSBIKES]

I love riding my one (550 K3), it's so relaxing to ride, I agree with Bryan that they do go ok but need revving, I love the name "gentleman's express" I think that is a perfect description, even my son (who is pretty quick at track days on a ZX6R) loves the Honda four, he calls it the armchair, great classic bike,

Hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine

[bobv7]

Really enjoying the riding experience but all the while bearing the bikes age in mind. I could ride it fast but that's like asking your Gran to limbo, she could probably do it but it would be cruel and undignified!:D

[Johnwebley]

I'm not saying they don't go well but that it's just too much effort!

Think how it will bulk up your forearms

Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk

[bobv7]

That would make my Betty tattoo look fat!

[SPR]

I'm loving mine .... miles of smiles and it does like to convey the rider in a relaxed fashion .... wind it up though through the gears every once in a while and it does bring a big grin to an already smiling face

[andy120t]

I've spent some time in the sun today re-reading November 2014 Classic & Motorcycle Mechanics where Niall McKenzie rides and rates the 500/4 (alongside a race bike version). It doesn't sound like an S7 in that!

[bobv7]

Ah well, that's why Naill was a bike racer and I wasn't.

[Bryanj]

If your throttle is that stiff your cables need replacing or re routing

[bobv7]

It's not stiff, it just doesn't have a quick action twistgrip so you can't open the throttles in one single motion. My 400/4 was exactly the same and that had a very simple cable operating system. As you know there's a lot of ironmongery involved in operating the carbs including a large return spring and this makes for a quite heavy action. A higher cam profile on the twist grip tube would probably fix it but I suspect it was deliberately designed by Honda to work that way in line with their nice, safe image. It's not a problem for me, I ride slower and didn't buy a nearly 50 year old bike to go ripping around the back lanes on. Like everyone else did at the time I'd have gone for a Kawasaki or Yamaha if I wanted to do that!