Swingarm bushes, shocks etc

[Ingah]

I've been wanting to improve my CB500's handling for a long time, because to be frank, it's appalling. It goes relatively crazy over any kind of bump, and is generally of very poor ride quality in comparison to bikes like CG125s and even Peogeot 50cc pizza delivery scooters i've used at work. So pretty bad. I've spent mega-money on repairs thus far, pretty much restored it, so i want to finish and then i can finally have a "nice" commuter. I'm planning to keep it indefinitely and refuse to go for anything fancier for commuting (theft risk etc), so investment makes sense.

It's done over 53K and is 16 years old, ex-owned by a riding school, and very neglected, so i can be pretty confident it's never had anything like the swingarm bearings greased etc.
I was wondering if any of you folks had any idea of how much of a difference it's likely to make if i go to the trouble of greasing the swingarm bearings. I imagine they may have disintegrated by now. Or at the very least, seized horribly. This will probably be apparent when i go to grease them(?)

I also want to replace the rear shocks with new Hagon units - and i'm vaguely aware that certain bushes there will probably need replacing too?

Any advice for doing either of these procedures would be appreciated - i'll be using the bog standard Haynes that always seems to assume stuff hasn't seized into place. And anything else i should consider - i want the bike to ride nicely! (already replaced front fork oil and bushes, am considering springs too but i'm under the impression that the rear shock could be more important?)
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-- Ingah

[Robby]

I also have a CB500, mine is 12 years old and has done 30k, so well used but lower miles than yours. It handles very well, so you're not up against insurmountable challenges.

I have Hagon shocks on mine, and recommend them. Will be getting another set at some point though, these have done a good few years work and are a bit bouncy, also I could do with softer springs.

The following things can affect your handling, more in less in order of likelihood/impact on a bike that age:

1. Tyres.
2. Head bearings.
3. Front forks.
4. Rear shocks.
5. Swingarm bearings.

Check your head bearings first. Put the bike on the centrestand and sit on the back seat so the wheel is off the ground, and gently move the handlebars from side to side. If it feels notchy in the middle, you need to change your head bearings.

Front forks always benefit from fresh oil if the stuff in there is a couple of years old. It does get worn out.

Rear shocks shouldn't need any extra bushes if you replace them, the top and bottom rubber bushes are built into the shock itself.

Swingarm bearings are worth greasing, I don't think this bike has grease nipples which makes it a ballache. If they are the plastic type then you might as well replace them, having gone to the trouble of removing the swingarm. If they are needle rollers then they can be cleaned and greased, although personally I would just replace them.

Of course, it will handle like a dog on knackered tyres. When I bought mine it had some very worn BT45s on, with about 10psi in each. The head bearings were also knackered. It hanlded so poorly that I thought the frame was bent. A set of tyres transformed it, then the head bearings helped a bit more.

[Ingah]