Opinions on your restricted bikes please :D

[skyremote]

Basically I have my Mod 2 booked, so I need to find a bike that suits restriction well.

I've seen the ER-5's and CB500s mentioned as first 'bigger' bike, but wasn't sure if this meant restricted or not.

Anyone owned one of these and restricted it, or any other restricted bike for that matter, and what was it like?

Thanks

[Frost]

The 500 commuter bikes take very well to restriction. Rode a restricted CB500 once, think it just had a throttle stop to limit it.

[charlie123ree...]

hi mate, i have a restriced gsxr600 srad and its ok tbh, can get into tripple didgits fine and still smokes cars, i was shocked at how fast it still goes form 100bhp down to 33 but great as a first " big bike"

[skyremote]

Good to hear frostyone I suppose the CBF500 would be the same?

And nice one Charlie, gixxers are beautiful

[Ingah]

Ride a restricted CB500. It's a solid choice for restriction, handles it well. Although i can't wait to be able to take the restrictors out in a couple of months time. Currently, it pulls very well up to about 70 (exceptionally scary power for a good few months after buying it, after upgrading from a CG125), when the restrictors begin to take effect as acceleration starts to drop off (as unrestricted it is said to "pull like a train up to 100"). Fuel consumption isn't as good as i'd expect (it's meant to be very good), and i blame the restrictors as it's been well serviced by me. It'll reach 100 restricted (not up-hill!), but not with ease. This is against the 120 it is said to do unrestricted. So therefore the restrictors only really spoil things on the motorway, but there's no way around that as that's what 33BHP is i think. Restrictors in mine are from Honda and it is achieved via a jet change (from #122 standard jets to #125 jets) and a couple of metal inserts for the engine manifolds to reduce air-flow into the engine. The bike also crashes well (with things like a steel tank etc it's unlikely to shred to ribbons), especially with engine bars (modification).

GS500 and GPZ500S are also the same class.

Based on reviews i'd say GS500 is the cheapest but naffest one, then ER5, and then i'd say the GPZ500S and finally (but disproportionally more expensive to buy) the CB500 (which never seems to have any complaints, bar those from people who expect it to be as fast as a sports 600 - which is clearly not happening).

Edit: On re-reading the above, i don't think i made it properly clear - the best value for money bike out of the 4 is probably the GPZ500S (only complaint being poor brakes on older models). However, the outright "best" (i.e. no complaints - and as reliable as possible) is the CB500.

Personally i don't think the commuter 500s are for really me though - i want a lighter bike - they're too heavy for my taste (NB: They're no heavier than 600s - possibly lighter, it's just that i suspect i prefer lighter, smaller bikes. And that i live in South Wales, so slopes and uneven ground is everywhere!)
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-- Ingah

[skyremote]

I'm liking the love for the CB500 so far, thats what my pa wants me riding either way - he used to courier on one

More experiences/opinions welcome.

Ingah - very helpful - ty

[Pickledswede]

Yeah I have a CB500 aswell and have much the same to say as Ingah, it's a 1994 bike and has had 9 owners, so old and well used. Bit rusty round the edges as it's ridden all the time. Agree that the fuel consumption isn't as good as expected and I think this may be due to the restriction. Find I can get 80-90 up hills if I go well up through the revs and don't change into top (seems to be a bit of an overdrive gear). On a long downhill(ish) section of motorway you can reach 100, but no, don't expect to be seeing it very often!

Not the prettiest bike but it's grown on me, I love how the exposed engine and big tank make it look beefy, a bit like a KTM 990SM looks. Has a good mixture of crawling around nicely and then getting a bit of a sportsbike scream when you gun it. Have found it's quite lumpy below 4000rpm though and sometimes you will find yourself stuck between a short jerky 1st gear and 2nd gear where you might not have quite enough revs. Seems a bigger gap between these two gears and it's awkwardly right at the speed you are at crawling through traffic!

[skyremote]

Awkward at traffic-crawling speeds? Then you must find yourself simply forced to do some high speed filtering! Shame

[bhinso]

Personally I'd go for something like an SV650 or even better a moto x style bike, which are great for getting in and out of traffic, and good at 33bhp generally. if you live in lincolnshire like i do, then you need the getting in and out of traffic bit round lincoln!

[Pickledswede]

[crowe]

The bike in my pic is my ER-5...i've ridden it restricted and also de-restricted. Initially i wanted a CB500 as it is a very similiar bike BUT i just could not find one anywhere near me, and to be honest i'm glad i didn't wait to find one!!

There is a pleasing increase in acceleration when you de-restrict your ER5 but that does not mean it is sluggish restricted. It is a great bike as it has a nice upright seating position, it's a piece of cake to ride and it's also good on fuel. An ideal first big bike and great commuter and it is fairly simple to de-restrict the bike when the time comes.

Top speed i've had is 110mph, it does approx 150 to a tank (before reserve) and it's cheap, cheerful and has good support: https://www.bikersoracle.com/er5/forum/

I'd go with the ER5

[steppen22]

Depends what you want.

I have an er5, 33bhp.

It is quite swift, but it's no rocket.

If you ride it like an idiot, you can leave traffic in dust - on ocaasion, I've accelerated hard and up to 40, 50mph before the other traffic seems to hevae moved. However, it's not really designed for that sort of launch and I'd imagine you'd do harm if you kept it up.

My Er5 33bhp gets to 90 fairly easily (there's a sweet spot btwn 30-70mph in 4th where if you pin it you're left feeling "fuck, it shouldn't be that fast") but there's not much after 90. I've had it at the 97mph mark (off road, obviously) but there's not much point going past 90 really as the bike, restricted, hasn't got any treats in store.

Restricted petrol on my bike is rubbish. 40-50 mpg. on others it's not so bad. the Er5 is really just a grandaddy 125cc - it's aint nothing special but it does the job.

Would I recommend it? If you find a cheap hack, yeah. But I wouldn't spend top dollar - I think the Sv650 would be a better bet.
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[adama]

[transporter]

I have a CBF500 with a Fi 33bhp restrictor on it,all the restrictor is on mine is a throttle stop that limits revs to 8000rpm,it goes like stink and will reach nearly 100 mph so i am very happy with the bike restricted. As the restrictor is a throttle stop it doesnt mess around with the fueling at all and rides just as a CBF500 would if you where only using up to 8000rpm which is plenty for me.

[transporter]

I have a CBF500 with a Fi 33bhp restrictor on it,all the restrictor is on mine is a throttle stop that limits revs to 8000rpm,it goes like stink and will reach nearly 100 mph so i am very happy with the bike restricted. As the restrictor is a throttle stop it doesnt mess around with the fueling at all and rides just as a CBF500 would if you where only using up to 8000rpm which is plenty for me.

[transporter]

Sorry doubled up there

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

OT as mine isn't restricted
I will miss riding my 250.
It is light, slim, agile, nippy and i can use all its power.

Pat
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[Paulington]

My SV650 is dire with the restrictor in.

It takes form of an air inlet restrictor and throttle stop, so tops out around 95mph.

However, it just takes a long time to get to any speed, and I can top the bike out in 3rd gear so 4th, 5th and 6th are effectively useless unless I am trying to conserve fuel.

But this is just because I'm used to a much faster bike. Would be okay for someone who has known no different. .
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