So.. How fast is a 1974 CB450 Honda... really

[Paul Smith]

I have been working on a CL450 fir 8 months. Got it from a friend who got a divorce in the early 1990's and never looked at it again.  Got it running, but seemed down on power. Leak down showed leaking valves so 4 new valves, new pistons, rings, timing chain, etc, Pamco electronic ignition, New coils, new Gel battery, New plugs, tires, O Ring chain, rebuilt carbs, and still it seems down on power.

snappy throttle, starts pretty easy, and runs smooth, idles all day.

But, it has 17/34 sprockets (stock is 15/34) so it is geared "tall". Still... in 4th gear, flat out, she will get to about 85 (8000 Rpm or so, no not red-lined)  At 60 mph, it is loaping along at just under 4000#, and even a slight head wind and it is struggling...

so, can anybody tell me if I am asking too much?

Seems a little more power than my 350 Four, but WAY down from my GL500.  I am thinking about like my KLR650

[Bob Burns]

When you did the top end work did you inspect, replace, etc. the torsion bar valve "springs?" Those are known to go bad. Wouldn't surprise me if one went bad after holding a valve open for 20 years.

--
++++++++++++++++++
Ricktor is back. Get me if you can host
 
Wed Nite Garage:
 
Dec 2nd = Jason in Bridgeport
Dec 9th = Stan at Moto and Motor in Northbrook
Dec 16th = ChiVin holiday party at Ken's Sports Car Store on Rockwell.
 
Jan 27th = Joe Ryan in Evergreen Park
 
FOLKS, this Anarcho/Commune doesn't run itself. VOLUNTEER to host garage nite. If YOU don't, no one else will.
 
Check out the ChiVinMoto Virtual Garages
http://bit.ly/ChiVinGarage
 
To UN-Subscribe from this group, send email to: ChiVinMoto-...@googlegroups.com
To post to this group, send email to ChiVi...@googlegroups.com
To visit on the web: http://groups.google.com/group/ChiVinMoto?hl=en
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "ChiVinMoto - Chicago Vintage Motorcyclists" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to chivinmoto+...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to chivi...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

--

-Bob Burns

[YMRacing]

What Bob said and that's a lot of gear for that bike to pull. Will it pull to redline in any gear?

[Paul Smith]

I sent the head to a Machine shop, 4 new valves, springs were good, Valve lash set, new valve seals, etc.   (also sent cylinder and pistons and them honed and checked)

It will pull to redline in any gear but 4th or 5th.

I think I may be expecting too much...   I see post from others on chat rooms that say these bikes will do over 100 mph, but I think they are modified, or something.

I plan to ride this bike to Oklahoma this spring for a "4 states tour" (bunch of old bikes, 500CC or smaller, hit AR, OK, MO, and KS, all in one day)

Last year was my 350 four, I trailered it...  The year before was my GL500, I rode it down and back, 3 days round trip.  I plan to ride this one down and back, but it looks like I may stay off the Interstates (My GL500 did fine at 70mph all day, just HOT)

[YMRacing]

Go to 16t on front.  See what that does as far as redline in 4th.  BTW, lots of older bikes were faster in 4th.  5th was overdriven for cruisin'.