CB500 Questions...

lightfoot256 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 12 May 2005 Karma :

Heya,

I'm kinda interested in "modding" my bike a little, I've started doing a lot of motorway work (only had the bike a week and i've clocked up over a thousand miles :-p).

I'm looking for some sort of full fairing, I really dont like the look of those fly screens. I saw a bike exactly like mine parked up in barnsley with a full fairing but the guy didn't know much about bikes and had bought it with it already on.

Just wondering if anybody else has had a CB500 and gotten a full fairing for it. Mines a 94 model... also wouldn't mind seeing what it looks like with a half fairing (including head lights) and a nice belly pan or something...

I've had a look around alot of the bike shops and they just sell standard parts, is this how it works and you have to bend/shape it to your own bike?

Cheers,
Chris

Inspire · Nova Slayer Joined: 06 Nov 2004 Karma :

You might be able to fit on a fairing from a CB500s perhaps?

craigs23 · Mr Muscle Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Karma :

I think Inspire's right, the Honda fairing would look the best - I've seen Powerbronze-like full fairings on similar bikes and they look very 'aftermarket'. If it was mine, I'll probably keep it standard unfaired for best cosmetic looks.

lightfoot256 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 12 May 2005 Karma :

Yeh, i love the naked look, always have. Just today i cought a glimse of the bike in a reflection while riding to work and i thought, "wow, that looks so cool" :-p.

But after a couple hours on motorway, especially when its really really windy, its real hard work on my back and neck... it doesn't bother me to be honnest, i get used to it. Its even more fun when you come off the motoway and theres no wind, my heads almost like im falling asleep cause my neck is still used to pushing forward so hard.

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

Full Powerbronze fairing on my old CB...

https://www.evilbendy.co.uk/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal_2003_0119_041702AA.jpg

Damn me, it kept the wind and rain off well. You could have had tea and buns on the tank while sitting on the motorway at a ton. Mr. Green

lightfoot256 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 12 May 2005 Karma :

Had my bike a week now, and i'm constantly going into reserve and having to frantically find a petrol station. I've been used to a fuel gauge for soooo long that its just wierd not having one anymore and it's cought me out every time.

Is it possible to get a guage for these, or even rig something up to put a little light on when im getting low (40-50 miles left in tank) as its starting to worry me when i go out for long rides.

I've managed to get about 200 miles out of £15... which is quite good.

Also, what type of clocks/watches can you get for bikes, and where abouts do you find them?, I wouldn't mind having the time displayed somewhere on my handle bars just so i dont havta stop and have a look at my watch.

lightfoot256 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 12 May 2005 Karma :

Bendy, oooh, cool. The picture is at a wierd angle there... i tend to prefer bikes looking from the back to the front.

I like how you've positioned the tax disc too... might try and move mine. Curreently stuck out near the front head lamp. Looks a mess...

How easy are the fairings to install? Do they just bolt straight on there?

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

lightfoot256 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 12 May 2005 Karma :

My mirrors wobble anyways... since i did my practical test i tend not to trust them anymore and spend a lot of my time looking over my shoulders before changing lanes to judge - for real - how far away they are before i move into them while they accelerate towards me (damn Audi's and BMW's...)

I wouldn't mind them being a little more sterdy... although i dont see how its possible without rubber mountings of some sort...

My bike tends to vibrate in certain gears really badly (1st, 3rd, 6th), i think this is probably down to them being so worn?... next question (lol), is it possible to replace certain gears or is that a silly question?

1st gear is really bad... although the bike is 10 years old, i find i tend to get out of it straight away, straight into 2nd and work from there... it'll do about 40 in first getting ready to fall over the red line but dies when i change to second (possibly due to restrictor kit), but rest of gears seem fine working through them...

6th gear tends to vibrate _a lot_ and i just sit in 5th for most of the time as its just extremely smooth once im passed 6-7k revs...

I'm not sure if its just me getting used to a bigger bike with an oler gear box or its just realy badly worn... It has gotten a lot smoother since i got it (it'd been stood for almost a year), so im hoping its gonna free up a lot more.

Before this i had a brand new bike, so im putting it down to the fact that i've gotten used to a brand new gear box...

Trixie · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Karma :

One option is to fit a CB500S fairing. It comes in 3 parts (sides and front), but the major snag is you have to replace the whole headlamp and dash assembly.

When I had my CB (500S), I rode many motorway miles and the fairing ensured that I reached my destination fresh as a daisy! Laughing

The powerbronze fairing above looks very good, and if you currently have the CB500 model (as opposed to the CB500S), then I'd go down that route. You could always opt for the bikini fairing rather than the full fairing if that's a viable option.
____________________
Dead nobodies in company cars...

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

I've got some pics of the fitting process if you do consider the Powerbronze option, it'll show you want you're gonna have to do.

AcIdBuRnZ · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Jul 2003 Karma :

Regards your fuel problem.

After a while with a bike you get to know how many miles a full tank will get you (you've already said 200miles). So everytime you fill up, just reset the trip counter on the clocks and you'll know when you're about to run out.

Simple Thumbs Up

____________________
Past: Honda NSR125R >> Kawasaki ER-5a2 >> Kawasaki ZZR-600e1 >> Suzuki GSXR-750Y >> Honda VTR 1000 Firestorm
"Chickity China the Chinese Chicken..."

lightfoot256 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 12 May 2005 Karma :

Yeh, i spose I'll get used to it... i managed to get along without one before my last bike...

It's just that i've started going out on longer trips (because i can), and i'm just not used to how varying engine speeds burn off more/less fuel although i do love sitting on 8,000 revs, it feels so much fun blasting from 70 to 90.

On avergae im getting about 150 miles per fill up, but i've started going to the petrol station after 150 miles as apposed to waiting. Somtimes its more than a tenner, sometimes its less... but atleast im not having to switch over to reserve now.

I fill up about twice a week now as apposed to about 5-6 times when i was on my 125 :-p

Flip · Super Spammer Joined: 28 Feb 2004 Karma :

https://glenshiel.co.uk/acatalog/Catalog_CB_500______275.html

Looks better standard IMHO. Thumbs Up