SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550

What length chain do you CB500 owners fit: 98 or 100 links?

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Oddjob:
Easy enough to test though. Mark a link and a tooth on the rear sprocket and see if it lands on it everytime. Get someone to test the 550 and see if it does it on that.

I had a test lined up Bryan to test your theory. Unfortunately my illness meant it has been delayed until I can get back to working on the bike. What I intend doing is fitting a 500 clutch basket on my 500 as standard, do some tests on revs versus speed etc, maybe mpg and then replace the clutch and primary gear with one off a 550. I have a 550 rear gear on a 500 basket so it’s a simple swap, same engine etc so no bias should be apparent. Then do the same tests and see how they compare.

As you know it’s not possible to fit a full 550 clutch on a 500 engine due to crankcase differences. Hence why I designed the test this way.

Bryanj:
Sounds god Ken, i was working from the workshop quoted figures

deltarider:
Johnwebley came closest. I am well aware of the differences between CB500 and CB550 transmissions.
Please do a test by marking, but I predict that with a final reduction of exactly two, which is what you have with a 17/34 teeth configuration, the same link will always land in the same spot of the sprockets. That's why it is best to have a 98 link chain on a CB500. Over the years I had to persuade a seller sometimes to shorten a 100 link chain to a 98 one.
What is nice about the CB500 set up, is that in top gear 5000 RPM equals 100 km/h, 6000 120 km/h, 7000 140 km/h, 8000 160 km/h, 9000 180 km/h and 9250 a theoretical top speed of 185 km/h. The circumference of the tyres fitted - both by size and wear - play a role however and will lead to some deviation.

mickwinf:
Am I missing something here? If the 500 with standard sprockets needs a 98 link, then the 550 uses a bigger sprocket on the rear and all other dimensions are the same then a longer chain is required due to the bigger diameter? Also the amount of adjustment available is a factor.

Johnwebley:
Just to complicate matters slightly,

When I started fitting modern tyres, the rear only available as 4.00 width, it also had a larger diameter and circumference

So I reduced my gearbox sprocket by one tooth



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