Is this what it is supposed to feel like?

[hmenzies]

Hey all. I've recently completed a restoration of a 1974 CB550. I've put years and thousands of dollars into this bike. I finally got it rideable and finished a few months ago. But I am facing a huge problem.

I don't enjoy riding it at all. Are vintage bikes supposed to be so slow to accelerate? Its slow and heavy and not exhilerating at all. The handling leaves a lot to be desired. It is just overall not a fun ride. I have to work the clutch to get it moving. Are these bikes supposed to feel like that? Or is there something wrong with the bike still? I know it'll never be like a modern bike.

My other ride is a 1g sv650. But surely theres something good about these bikes because people seem to love them. I'm just not feeling it. Anyone have some insight or advice?

 

[phxtoad]

You've been spoiled by your SV's low end.

Todd

 

[VonYinzer]

Yes. It's a 70s commuter bike. If you restored to factpry specs it is a dinosaur compared to anything from the early 80s on. It can be made to be faster and handle better, but an SV with bald tires and dirty fuel injectors will run circles around it every day.

Unless you want to spend a fortune on a complete engine overhaul, update the suspension, get a proper exhaust, some proper street/race carbs, and upgrade the ignition. You'll still spend a pile of money, but you'll have a more "exciting" motorcycle. And, at the end of the day youll still have a bike that a 550 from the 80s will eat alive.

Enjoy it for what it is or rebuild are you're only real options. Imho, learn to enjoy it for what it is. A really nice, better than most bikes of its day, daily rider. You have the SV to flog on. Take some time to ride the 500 around the back country roads and take in the sights. Learn to push it to its limits, but respect its flaws. Learn to enkoy riding for the sake of riding and not just for the "performance" of a modern machine. If after a few hundred miles you haven't learned to relax and just enjoy the machine for what it is, vintage bikes may not be your thing. Even the fastest mid 70s Honda is still going to be a let down of you compare ot to anything (withing reason) made after it. Gonna have to learn to love it. Sorry bud.

 

[Tim]

I've ridden one bike newer than 1978 in my life - a 2010 or so Ducati Paul Smart something or other. Scared the shit out of me and I went right back to my old slow bikes.

I can cruise at 100MPH all day on my 1975 BMW R75. Not sure why I'd need to go faster, and I'm not dragging for pink slips.

Your 1974 CB550 is one of the nicest of the SOHC Hondas, if not 'the' nicest in terms of handling etc. Thank your lucky stars it's not a CB750. You'd have ghost-ridden it off a pier by now.

 

[hmenzies]

You've been spoiled by your SV's low end.

Todd

Isn't that the truth! The SV is a beast and I ride the damn thing everywhere!

Yes. It's a 70s commuter bike. If you restored to factpry specs it is a dinosaur compared to anything from the early 80s on. It can be made to be faster and handle better, but an SV with bald tires and dirty fuel injectors will run circles around it every day.

Unless you want to spend a fortune on a complete engine overhaul, update the suspension, get a proper exhaust, some proper street/race carbs, and upgrade the ignition. You'll still spend a pile of money, but you'll have a more "exciting" motorcycle. And, at the end of the day youll still have a bike that a 550 from the 80s will eat alive.

Enjoy it for what it is or rebuild are you're only real options. Imho, learn to enjoy it for what it is. A really nice, better than most bikes of its day, daily rider. You have the SV to flog on. Take some time to ride the 500 around the back country roads and take in the sights. Learn to push it to its limits, but respect its flaws. Learn to enkoy riding for the sake of riding and not just for the "performance" of a modern machine. If after a few hundred miles you haven't learned to relax and just enjoy the machine for what it is, vintage bikes may not be your thing. Even the fastest mid 70s Honda is still going to be a let down of you compare ot to anything (withing reason) made after it. Gonna have to learn to love it. Sorry bud.

I have neither the time or money to rebuild the CB with all the fancy upgrades. I like your advice of just learning to enjoy it for what it is. I've only ridden it a few times since I finished it, and not for long. That last time I ended up pushing the thing home. So I think I will do that. I'll spend a couple hours on it at once and see if it grows on me at all. But one thing is for sure, I'm pretty uninterested in owning another bike from the 70s. I have too much fun throwing my SV around. Plus I relied on my SV as my only vehicle for a year. When it didn't work, things went bad and got stressful. I've gotten pretty burnt out on repairing and rebuilding motorcycles in general. I've finally gotten the SV repaired and now it starts and rides like a dream. So I'm gonna take the time to just enjoy riding both machines.

See ya'll on the road.

 

[teazer]

To be honest they were not exciting even when they were new. I recall riding a perfect CB500 in 1975 and was very disappointed at how slow and heavy it felt all the way back then. It wasn't a bad bike, but I expected a lot more.

Compared to my T100 triumph it was totally boring and compared to me CB72 race bike it was a slow as a wet week. Compared to a CB400 Superdream I rode a few years later it wasn't a bad bike but I was happy to give them both back to their owners.

One thing we have to keep in mind is that Honda makes superb bikes but they were rarely exciting. They were competent but not enough to get the pulse racing. In a lightened and braced chassis with a hot rod motor that could all be different, but for a street bike they are civilized and competent and a good bike for beginners and experienced riders alike - as long as you are not looking for excitement in great gobs.

 

[imtyson]

Yes. It's a 70s commuter bike. If you restored to factpry specs it is a dinosaur compared to anything from the early 80s on. It can be made to be faster and handle better, but an SV with bald tires and dirty fuel injectors will run circles around it every day.

Unless you want to spend a fortune on a complete engine overhaul, update the suspension, get a proper exhaust, some proper street/race carbs, and upgrade the ignition. You'll still spend a pile of money, but you'll have a more "exciting" motorcycle. And, at the end of the day youll still have a bike that a 550 from the 80s will eat alive.

Enjoy it for what it is or rebuild are you're only real options. Imho, learn to enjoy it for what it is. A really nice, better than most bikes of its day, daily rider. You have the SV to flog on. Take some time to ride the 500 around the back country roads and take in the sights. Learn to push it to its limits, but respect its flaws. Learn to enkoy riding for the sake of riding and not just for the "performance" of a modern machine. If after a few hundred miles you haven't learned to relax and just enjoy the machine for what it is, vintage bikes may not be your thing. Even the fastest mid 70s Honda is still going to be a let down of you compare ot to anything (withing reason) made after it. Gonna have to learn to love it. Sorry bud.

this sound like something in a book. its beautiful. haha

 

[Tim]

I have a 2015 VW Golf. It's an amazing piece of technology. Super smooth, super quiet, sharp handling, incredible fuel economy... etc.

Compare that to a 1970's VW Golf. Same idea - more or less basic transportation. The universal car.

The UJM - CB550 / SV650 are very similar in terms of their positions in their respective markets / times.

Worlds apart in terms of quality, fit and finish, performance... but still the 'same'.

You'll grow to appreciate the simplicity and character of your CB550. It's a bike you have to think about while you're riding, whereas I'd suggest most modern bikes don't require much consideration, freeing up your mind to concentrate on the act of riding itself, vs. giving the machine much thought as you toss it into a corner.

Riding a vintage bike in my opinion will make you a better rider all around. You stand a chance of reaching the limits of your CB550's handling, and therefore experience near loss of control situations, emergency braking, speed wobbles... most of which you'd likely never experience on the SV650 unless you take it to the track or ride well beyond the limits of the public roadways.

 

[Hurco550]

I am loving this thread. Well I'm not loving that you don't like the old 550, but my father and I talk like this all the time in regards to old snowmobiles. We enjoy collecting, restoring, and riding them. Most of what we have was built before 1978 and they run like it. To own/ride them you have to enjoy having to pull the plugs and squirt a little gas down the cylinders to get them to pop off, or even the occasional tow back to the shop. We also enjoy the simplicity. most have 3 wires coming off of the motor and not much more than that across the whole sled. The suspensions are stiff and the handling is bad, but its still what we enjoy. We often will take a half hour or so ride around the fields on the vintage ones maxing out around 35 mph and we have a blast. We can get back and hop on our newer sleds and make the same loop in 5 or 10 minutes going between 75 and 100 mph. As others have said, enjoy it for what it is. If what it is isn't your thing, then lesson learned. I personally hope the bike grows on you =)

 

[Sonreir]

This is totally off topic, but I have a Golf, too. Mine's a little bit different than most, however.

 

[Tifun]

Mmmm. I do love me some black magic pearl .:R's. I have comment to add so I'm only posting so I have a reminder when I have a few more minutes.

 

[Tim]

This is totally off topic, but I have a Golf, too. Mine's a little bit different than most, however.

Looks like it wet itself all over your driveway. Better get it some newspaper.

 

[cklamer]

Unless you have had some major engine work done you are only talking about 50 HP and 37 Ft.Lbs of torque to the crank on a stock CB550.
They have learned how to get more out of smaller engines now similar to cars.
Used to you would be lucky to get a V6 car that could get out of it's own way and now just about everyone has high output V6 engines hitting 275 and 300 HP.

With older bikes you get a utilitarian motorcycle that was made to get you from point A to point B with no fanfare and not much gas.

So just enjoy the riding the bike you have worked so hard on and feel the wind hitting you and get a grin on your face. ;-)

Look I ride a 150 HP Kawasaki Concours sport touring bike and I have a ground up full custom café racer and I knew I would not be happy with what the engine was putting out.
So I had major engine work done and now have a full on race engine that can keep up with most anything else.
She is putting out 90+ HP and over 57 Ft.lbs of torque to the rear wheel from a 1981 CB750K engine.

But that is major engine work from one end to the other.

Good Luck and enjoy.

 

[coyote13]

I'll throw in my .02 just for some perspective. My first bike, ever, was (is) a 1978 CB750K. While it is PLENTY of moto for my purposes, I have never felt that it was too much, that I would be out of control on it, that it would destroy me. Compare that to a new 750 I4 superbike and they are WORLDS apart. In a word, I feel that these old bikes are....adequate. If you feel the 550 is just too plain vanilla but still want to stick it out in the "vintage" world, I would either recommend pulling the motor for some go-fast goodies and upgrade your suspension, or sell it entirely and move up to a CB750. Even with the 750 you might want to do some upgrades, but it would at least be a little more exciting starting point.

 

[SASO Racing]

With cafe's there a saying, its more fun to go fast on something slow. Something like that. Its not really about the speed, its about taking a 70's bike and giving it new life too.

 

[coyote13]

I think it's "I'd rather ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow"


Or you know, something like that

 

[jetmechmarty]

hmenzies,

I visited your profile and see that you are 20 years old. I'm 56. These bikes mean something to me that they never will to you. I still have the first motorcycle I ever bought. It's an XS650 that has been with me since new. I still love it for all it is, and all it isn't. It takes me back to my time every time I kick it to life. I have a lot of stuff like that, I even push a 1957 Kirby vacuum cleaner around the house. For you, you'll either embrace the old bike for what it is, or you won't. The old Hondas used to be very reliable until you wore them out and threw them away. That's how it was. Try an old British motorcycle. That will keep you busy! They also add a lot of character.

Best wishes!
http://youtu.be/1i-Hc5fqdqQ

 

[Tune-A-Fish]

Slipping the clutch to launch?? are you maybe 300lbs and should be riding a 1000+ cubic centimeter cycle? the Displacement rule is in full effect for choosing a classic two wheeler.

I wonder if the thing needs to be dialed in a bit also, sure no match for modern machines, but the little 550 is no twin CB450, If compression is good and oil is flowing good through the return, work through cam timing, cam chain tension/wear, ignition (I have given into the trigger) points can be simple but can also be manipulated into better performance, when you are sure of the mechanics and electrical, then focus on the air fuel end of things, go back to the baseline setup for jetting and synch there and then if rich or lean baby step up or down. after all is running decent on the stand, start looking at other things, is the chain in good alignment, is it maybe too tight, two fingers of slack on a broke in chain is good for street riding. Basically if you are looking for 3rd gear wheelies it's not gonna happen, but if your looking for a town bike with a nice noise and quick corner to corner (185lb< rider not me) this should fit the bill.

Little dudes go faster on little bikes:

Something tells me you are not squeezing all the juice out of that thing, but that's just my "opinion" lol

RD

 

[Mr.E]

Stab in the dark here, but how do your throttle and clutch cables feel? If they are sluggish, spend $25 on a new push/pull and clutch cable. It can be a night and day difference. And Tim, I haven't ghost ridden my 750 off a pier yet

 

[hmenzies]

Thanks for all the replies everyone!

Stab in the dark here, but how do your throttle and clutch cables feel? If they are sluggish, spend $25 on a new push/pull and clutch cable. It can be a night and day difference. And Tim, I haven't ghost ridden my 750 off a pier yet

The cables are all new and I lubed them myself. Did have some issues with clutch cable binding, but it was just routed improperly.

Slipping the clutch to launch?? are you maybe 300lbs and should be riding a 1000+ cubic centimeter cycle? the Displacement rule is in full effect for choosing a classic two wheeler.

I wonder if the thing needs to be dialed in a bit also, sure no match for modern machines, but the little 550 is no twin CB450, If compression is good and oil is flowing good through the return, work through cam timing, cam chain tension/wear, ignition (I have given into the trigger) points can be simple but can also be manipulated into better performance, when you are sure of the mechanics and electrical, then focus on the air fuel end of things, go back to the baseline setup for jetting and synch there and then if rich or lean baby step up or down. after all is running decent on the stand, start looking at other things, is the chain in good alignment, is it maybe too tight, two fingers of slack on a broke in chain is good for street riding. Basically if you are looking for 3rd gear wheelies it's not gonna happen, but if your looking for a town bike with a nice noise and quick corner to corner (185lb< rider not me) this should fit the bill.

Something tells me you are not squeezing all the juice out of that thing, but that's just my "opinion" lol

RD

I didn't mean that I'm slipping the clutch, and im 160 lbs haha. I just mean that the bike won't get moving until the clutch is most of the way out, and then its slow and with a lot of throttle. Its been dialed in by a trusted vintage bike mechanic.

This was the first bike I bought as well, and I really want to enjoy it. I haven't been able to ride it much lately, so I definitely need to get back on it. I appreciate it for what it is. My girlfriend and I spent months working on it together, so there are great memories associated with it. I taught myself just about everything on that bike, from wiring to painting. After spending so much on it I am just hoping that I'll start enjoying it more. But I do understand that I have to learn an appreciation for it.

Its definitely nothing like my SV, but they are different bikes, 30 years apart so I'm not expecting it to be the same. Also, this is the only vintage bike I have ridden, ever. So getting on it I had no idea what to expect.

Heres some pictures of the SV and the CB!