Cb900 cam chain guide advice please

[Sideswipe]

Hi everyone!
As some of you know I'm rebuilding an 81 cb900. Ive read about issues with the cam chains failing on these bikes and I'm thinking of getting the curved guide that sorts out these issues

My question is, as someone who doesn't really push thier bike to redline and mainly cruises from a to b with the very occasional wringing of the throttle (but generlly not to silly kmh on the road) is it really recommended to spend the dosh for this item? I might like to take it on a track some day for some fun, but even then I cant see myself pushing it too hard.

Anyone have any thoughts/experience on how regularly these fail for slowpokes like me?

Thanks

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

 

[cxman]

you confuse me in this post you say you need help choosing hi po carbs that are going to cost a bunch

and that you are going to put fancy pistons

http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=67961.msg784816#msg784816

and then you say its just going to putt around and should you bother putting in new guides?

my cb900c has 19k miles it has stock guides and i adjust them once a year

my cb900f i beat the crap out of it has 23k miles and the motor is out as we speak

i am putting guides and chains in as well as doing the head

 

[barnett468]

.
how much is the special guide?

will you be working on the top end anyway?

 

[Sideswipe]

you confuse me in this post you say you need help choosing hi po carbs that are going to cost a bunch

and that you are going to put fancy pistons

http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=67961.msg784816#msg784816

and then you say its just going to putt around and should you bother putting in new guides?

my cb900c has 19k miles it has stock guides and i adjust them once a year

my cb900f i beat the crap out of it has 23k miles and the motor is out as we speak

i am putting guides and chains in as well as doing the head

which bit are you confused about?

I like having a fast bike/car that runs well, but I'm not going to go racing or speed around town - I'm happy just doing the speed limit and cruising about.

with the carbs I want to be able to support more power if I decide to work the engine, because I like that. but I am unlikely to use all that power (hell, I'm unlikely to use even half of what it has now).

hope that clears up the confusion - I like fast cars/bikes but I don't ride fast personally. may take it for a track day, still wont be that fast.

 

[Sideswipe]

.
how much is the special guide?

will you be working on the top end anyway?

I have the engine completely apart currently, just putting new seals and checking everything - but in terms of power right now only putting on an aftermarket exhaust.

I may in the future decide to bore it, put in a hot cam, and the respective top end supporting mods (new valves, better valve springs etc) but right now I am not.

Like I said above I like fast bikes but I don't ride fast - I also ride more than most (I ride every where, hail/snow would be the only conditions I wouldn't ride in - so all year round). so would conservative riding and the occasional "off the line" blat or rare track day be likely to cause cam chain failure is what I'm trying to determine.

 

[barnett468]

.
well if the fancy chain guide isnt that much more than a stock one i would get it.

also, if you are at 4000 feet or more in elevation, i would increase the compression.

 

[crazypj]

Stock chain guide and tensioner are fine.
The problem is people don't adjust the rear tensioner properly. ( the one under the carbs)
The only way I've found to make sure everything is working right is to remove cam cover and watch the tensioners move (there are two tensioners)
Load reversal is ' A BAD THING' so keep motor spinning, 5~8,000 rpm is good for max engine and component life