| Author | Message | ||
     The4ork |
hey i was wondering if any of you guys have ever rode a mid-70's Honda CB360 or CB550. i have been thinking about picking one of these up as a second bike and build it from the ground up as a cafe bike. i'd like to know how the two bikes would compare to a blast as the only thing ive ever rode is my blast. (Message edited by the4ork on June 14, 2009) | ||
| Garlic_sauce |
I've never rode one but I have been planning the same thing. I am looking for a 70's Honda cb400 four. Fastfromthepast.com has pretty much everything you need to caffeinate a Honda(among other bikes but NOT a blast). Also Caferace.com has cafe tails and lights and stuff. (Message edited by garlic_sauce on June 14, 2009) | ||
| Thumper62 |
Any of you know about how hot the Blast's engine gets? | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Rlm, your question has been moved to the primary drive and transmission section: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/201 64/165289.html?1244953624 Anybody who can answer your question will have seen it here first  | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Th62: oil temp? cylinder temp? head temp? | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
"everything you need to caffeinate a Honda""ever rode a mid-70's Honda CB360 or CB550. "  ...and the cycle continues. Honda put out a retro cafe bike in the 80's and the cafe bikes were originally British (or European) and any Honda will be even more of a knockoff of the 'real thing'. The Blast is much closer (in spirit) to the originals anyway, so my feeling is that a Honda is a step backwards. (did anybody not see this coming from me!) Yes, my first DMV licensed motorcycle was a CB550. With a 9000rpm redline (appx), it will pull the front wheel off the ground (with work) and is considerably faster than a Blast. It handled well enough for its day (lets just say I had it sideways more than once in the dirt and the rain). I sold it after a year because a) I could no longer live with myself. b) after looking into rims and seat etc., I realized that if I wanted a Harley, I should just buy a Harley. Being poor at the time, I opted for a 'basket case' Triumph, 'finished' it and rode that chopper a year or so until HD started working with Ford credit and that made HD's much easier to buy Now you know the rest of the story... | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
My opinion (as if we hadnt had enough of it already) is to keep the Blast as your second bike to "caffeinate" or customize and move on to your 'next' bike, whether that means one with more power, better handling, touring, etc. The Blasts pays dividends on the right treatments, whether its power, handling or looks (and you'll get way more looks and compliments with Buell on the gas tank than Honda). | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
PS That retro Honda was the GB500. What do you think the GB stands for? LOL! (GB=Great Britain) | ||
| Garlic_sauce |
I just like cafe bikes. Maybe because I'm younger it doesn't matter to me who makes the bike, JP, UK or USA. Meaning I wasn't around when the "original" cafe bikes were. To me, if I look at something or ride something and like it, it doesn't matter who makes it and especially doesn't matter if it's a "knockoff". No offense to anyone of course, that's just the way "I" am. I will always love my BLAST and It's continuous evolution(by me of course) but I would also like to have another project to work on. A project that doesn't NEED to be done by tonight so I can ride it to work in the morning. | ||
| The4ork |
yeah im on the same boat as Garlic_sauce, i dont really care who makes it, especially when it comes to bikes. ive always been partial to european cars, so naturally i wanted a triumph, which turned me to a cafe bike, but lets be honest, i'll have just as much fun on a cafe honda as i would on a cafe triumph... actually i'd probably have more fun with alot of readily available parts, that are CHEAP, the bikes are cheap to buy... now it wont have authenticity cool factor but i like the look, regardless of branding. i dont think i'd ever buy a jap car tho, especially new. thats just me tho. i'll keep my blast as more of a daily with some light mods... im planning on a custom intake, 1" hole-saw to the stock muffler, rejet... as for the outside, new blinkers, led brake light/blinkers, crosshair headlight with HID, taller tire up front, wider in the back. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
I wasnt around when the original 'cafe' bikes were built either, but I was around (barely-almost missed it) when every other brand of motorcycle was disappearing due to the influx of cheap Japanese bikes. With Chrysler and GM in serious trouble (not forgetting all the other auto brands that have disappeared) you may get to see the last gasping breaths of those two. Dont forget to take your Spanish lessons, Chinese lessons and 'Indian' lessons. They'll come in handy. Offended-no. Saddened-yes. Archaic idealistic point of view-probably.  Two used motorcycles to upkeep will keep you busy. You wont transfer your obsession to the 'new' used bike, you'll just obsess on both. One new and one used is much easier (and probably cheaper). Food for thought. | ||
| Gussie |
hey Gear, EZ or one of you guys. nice long rides lately but on the way back today the speedometer started fluxuating. Don't have the manual yet. Is something loose I can check. Put 2000 miles on it since logged on last time. Didn't ever think this little booger would be this much fun? | ||
| Thumper62 |
Head temp, trying to figure out if a high heat paint will work or not.... | ||
| Gussie |
vance & Hines first, ear plugs second! | ||
| Fast1075 |
As a former Honda mechanic in the 70's...here is some real good advice...stay away from a CB350/CB360..in the time that bike was built, getting much over 10K miles without catastrophic engine failure was rare...valvetrain/cam/camchain failure was built in.. The 4 cylinder engines were much better with their plain bearing cranks and full pressure lube systems...I know several bikes that went 50-60K miles with nothing beyond normal maintenance, and several of the 750's I serviced went well over 100K (fighting oil leaks all the way). The CB400F was the king of small 4 stroke bikes in it's day...bested only by the RD/RZ 350 Yamahas which were way lighter. On the Cafe' thing...I WAS around...In my opinion, a Cafe' bike needs to be a thumper...slim and light...The Triumph/BSA twins were real popular, but turned into hand grenades when wicked up enough to run with a Norton single...or a heavily modified and equally delicate 441...throw in the "King of Darkness" Lucas electrics and you have a once a month bike...that needs a drip tray to keep the oil off the floor... The Blast is a great starting point..it has the "right stuff" for a classic style thumper Cafe' bike...with all the modern touches such as reliable electrics and electric start...for those that never owned a big kickstart single..sometimes you ran out of leg before they felt like running...a single stab of the starter button summons up the fire on my Blast every time. | ||
| Rainman |
Kick start a big single: That phrase reduces my 76-year-old dad to tears.... | ||
| Fast1075 |
Rainman, I had a Honda XL350 with a stroker crank and bore kit that literally was a bone breaker...a friend broke 2 bones in his foot when he didn't kick it hard enough and it kicked back...he was wearing tennis shoes...after I bruised my foot from kicking it in tennis shoes, I took to wearing combat boots with the steel instep...another buddy said that his old sportster was easier to kick...it was a freakin riot to ride though. | ||
| Aleutian1 |
Two questions. #1: How far can you go once you hit reserve? #2: How much air should I have in my Perellies MT75, my weight being 140lbs. | ||
| The4ork |
 | ||
| Ezblast |
100 to 120 miles - 30 psi front and rear/ EZ | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Head/cylinder temp: 220 is about normal, but 300F would not be unrealistic. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
80 before reserve (used to be 100). 30 psi as EZ says is good, but the manual recommends 36psi front & rear- all conditions. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Gussie:It could be a loose wire or you started the bike before the speedo 'powered up'. There could be other reasons (like a bad speedo or dirty sensor), but speedometer problems are not my forte  | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
The4ork and Garlic Sauce: My apologies to you both. You asked a simple question and got a speech from me instead. PS The4ork: Can I delete your photobucket post? It doesnt seem to serve any purpose as the photo is gone. | ||
| Aleutian1 |
Let me rephrase that. After you switch to reserve how far can you go before you completely run out of gas. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
DOH! (ala Homer Simpson). At the last SLO ride a bunch of us tested that out (LOL!). I got 30 miles, but I was near dry, others werent. Reserve is .55 gals, so 20 miles should be easy (but stressful). | ||
| Thumper62 |
LOL. Ok so gear, i would be able to paint everything with paint that holds up to 1200 degrees, right? | ||
| Krjoseph |
Anyone ever tried the screamin eagle performance exhaust gasket , part number 17048-98? I saw it on the XR1200 accessories page and was thinking it might work. The descriptions say, "The exhaust gasket is a flat-woven stainless steel design that does not compress into the exhaust port, improving flow out of the head into the exhaust header pipe" and it fits "Evolution-equipped 1340, XL models, XR models, and '99-later Twin Cam equipped models" so I'm guessing it will fit all Buells too. | ||
| Garlic_sauce |
No problemo Erik, I can respect all points of view. Your preference (or lack there of in my case) Is up to you. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
th62-you'll be fine! Krj-Yes, it will work. Basically any Buell/HD engine gasket that is the 'woven compressed steel wool' type will work. They do make solid "race only" gaskets and these should be avoided as they dont leave any room for installation error. The Screamin Eagle gaskets dont leave as much room for error as stock type gaskets. So, if you have a well fitting exhaust then go ahead and use the SE gaskets. If your exhaust leaves a little to be desired in fitting, then stock style gaskets will give you more room for error or 'wiggle room'. The SE gaskets arent really necessary though for the extra money in most cases, but some have their preferences and they may actually be necessary on some aftermarket exhausts. |
