engine braking on the cb500 compared to other bikes

by trevor machine Tue 04 Apr 2017, 4:12 pm

I like slotting back into traffic after overtaking, without having to use the brakes (though I dare say it would help those behind if I at least made the brake light come on so they knew for sure I was slowing down. I like coming into bends without having to worry too much about using the brakes because I know the bike will scrub off a goodly amount of speed of its own accord. I also like town riding with less braking - little bursts of acceleration that quickly burn off if a traffic light changes, or whatever.

I assume this is part of the "character" of a twin - but it's a long time since I've ridden an IL4 and I can't really remember precisely how different they are when it comes to losing speed simply by throttling off.

So I'm asking this question to those who either run a four cylinder bike alongside their cb500 or just to those who know and can remember the extent to which the 500 differs from any il4 bikes they've owned.

by Jameshambleton Tue 04 Apr 2017, 10:59 pm

My cb400 is terrible for engine braking, can't even get the back end sliding when dropping it into 1st gear unlike the 500.

There is a reason why my cb500 does over 1k miles a month and the cb400 only gets used when the 500 is off the road.

In all honestly though I've never been particularly keen on inline 4's so how I've ended up with 2 of them I'm not sure... Love my cb500 and my vfr750 as they both have the 180 crank oh and the sound Twisted Evil

by trevor machine Wed 05 Apr 2017, 4:07 am

Good point - the sound. That low note - the boom and rumble, and the whip-cracking overrun. I think, in time, when more used examples show up, and as they get more and more affordable with age, I'd be into getting a MT07. Nice light bike that by all accounts seems pretty lively - and bucking the trend for bigger, heavier and dearer bikes. Then, after that, somewhere further down the line - and if I can stomach the potential for bullshit electricals and what-not - the old tuono v-twin (factory, baby!).

by Jameshambleton Wed 05 Apr 2017, 7:50 am

The vfr feels very smooth because of the v4 engine, very much so like the cb500 only without the lumpiness at sub 3krpm.
My 400 on t'other hand you need to rev the nuts off it to get anywhere because well... that's what inline 4's do, top end power with poor low to midrange.

by trevor machine Wed 05 Apr 2017, 8:37 am

I did used to really fancy a vfr and in fact very nearly bought one last year - but in the end preferred the idea of something lighter and more nimble, which I could make better use of on tighter more technical roads. I'm simply not good enough to make a bike like the vfr ride well on those kinds of routes. I do love the idea of smoothness under 2-3k though.

Getting back to the 07 for a sec, when you compare the price of one of those second hand against a decent vfr750, the latter is half the cost. I mean, 2 grand, two and half grand, will buy a lot of vfr. Whereas you're looking at 4k for the 07. Sure the latter is new and the vfr is 20++ years old - but damn it they're one of the best bikes ever made. It was this line of thinking that led me to a protracted bout of indecisiveness, ending in bike-buying stalemate. I.e. no purchase made. : - |

That's okay - another year or two on the 500 is fine with me.

by wornsprokets Wed 05 Apr 2017, 9:27 am

Cb a great as you know trevor ,ive two now...i also would like a vfr 750...maybe it a age thing.. engine braking on fireblade to cb.... hard to say as its totally different from fireblade....but i know gearbox way smoother than cb... i dont think cb that light either as i droped cb while ago at stand still

by Beresford Wed 05 Apr 2017, 10:52 am

wornsprokets wrote:i dont think cb that light either as i droped cb while ago at stand still

LOL Been there. Done that.

by **stormbringer** Wed 05 Apr 2017, 1:25 pm

Beresford wrote:
wornsprokets wrote:i dont think cb that light either as i droped cb while ago at stand still
LOL Been there. Done that.

I'll second that. In my own driveway with the engine off. I took a somersault, instinctively holding on to it as it keeled over to the far side.

Still, I find the CB small enough to get away with sticking it in the parking area where scooters and pushbikes are put. Much to the envy of big-fat-bike-riders attending the same cafe as I am Smile

What good is it to ride a cafe racer if you can't park it at the cafe?

by **eternally_troubled** Wed 05 Apr 2017, 10:47 pm

trevor machine wrote:I like slotting back into traffic after overtaking, without having to use the brakes (though I dare say it would help those behind if I at least made the brake light come on so they knew for sure I was slowing down....

I can't help with your question (I only have properly ridden singles and twins) but I certainly agree that I use the engine braking on the cb500 in a very similar way.

by skyerae Wed 12 Apr 2017, 6:28 am

I have a VFR800, the 5th generation - with gear driven cams and they are excellent. Endless torque and so much fun on the twisty roads. I ride half an hour each way to work and avoid the rat run road, I use all the back roads and have a blast. I equally use the CB500, more so in fact as I use it all weathers and love it as well. The VFR needs the rear brake sorting and using the CB now after overhauling the front caliper.

by trevor machine Wed 12 Apr 2017, 7:49 am

Interesting - how does the vfr's engine braking compare to the 500?

by ZekeVal Wed 12 Apr 2017, 9:39 am

Your guys will have to stop talking about that Viffer in such a good way, I've already been trying to stop looking at used ones here; I've seen almost pristine examples (with some miles ofc) below the 1500€ mark Rolling Eyes

. Add the sound of that gear-driven V4 and temptation is high Razz

by Jameshambleton Wed 12 Apr 2017, 10:45 am

ZekeVal wrote:Your guys will have to stop talking about that Viffer in such a good way, I've already been trying to stop looking at used ones here; I've seen almost pristine examples (with some miles ofc) below the 1500€ mark . Add the sound of that gear-driven V4 and temptation is high

You mean one of these Wink

?

engine braking on the cb500 compared to other bikes Y4mGFmJ3w11TJ1Hhc4ag9oEyGPZ00c-xyAlV4ii2TJ4x-T5MxUfit7g3sCunb8GMhUejwka94LHxc4hXNontUTyLICGJPZn1NEq93OIGaVDuPfI8uNcuHofub22ynnG1NtH3fiDtiK9OZuuP4ge6gfkgZl75vKWSxkT6hU7LXkRZ8HBzEfPYkzVLqhqOhEwFTSFY9PkvRS57s_XO329_Z_o7A?width=4128&height=3096&cropmode=none

sounding like this?

by ZekeVal Wed 12 Apr 2017, 11:38 am

Ahah, you devil! Twisted Evil

by skyerae Thu 13 Apr 2017, 6:21 am

I feel that the engine braking is even more pronounced on the VFR than the CB, maybe it is only because you are going faster on the VFR..... Very Happy

It is a V4 and it seems to have a lot more compression than a in-line 4 - it has a lot more get up and go as well. I did a lot of research into a bike I wanted and the single sided swing arm, the V4 setup and the gear driven cam (which make the engine sound like a singer sewing machine) mixed over with the lumpy V4 sound all appealed to me. Also I just had to have the fastest colour as well which as everyone knows is yellow of course (for the VFR that is!) It is just superb and I wouldn't contemplate selling it.

by trevor machine Thu 13 Apr 2017, 7:12 am

I fancy a vfr myself one day (have to be a carb'd 750) - however and as I mentioned the other day, I might prefer the idea of that cheap, new yamaha, the mt07. Not because it's cheap - in comparison to a '90s vfr it isn't. No - my preference is based on power-to-weight and also use. So for instance, the 07 seems like a lively little bike whose short-wheel base would probably make for quite a nimble ride. By contrast, the vfr is significantly heavier and 'bigger'. RE use - the 07 is a bike for one or two hours blasting, the vfr is something of an intercontinental mile muncher. True, the refinement and engineering of the honda are almost irresistible - but a light little fun bike is probably better suited to my needs if I'm honest with myself.

by wornsprokets Thu 13 Apr 2017, 7:22 am

Yep nearly bought a mint 93 german import vfr 750 ,i had not got funds that month... if it had been few weeks later Sad

it was sold real quick too

by trevor machine Thu 13 Apr 2017, 2:01 pm

It'd be a pita having the clocks in km though, I reckon.

by Jameshambleton Thu 13 Apr 2017, 2:03 pm

trevor machine wrote:It'd be a pita having the clocks in km though, I reckon.

It's not that bad an in Ireland they use KM anyway

I know these off the top of my head as 2 of my bikes are grey imports.

50km =30mph
65km = 40mph
80km = 50mph
100km = 60mph
110km = 70mph

270km is about 175miles aka petrol station time.

by trevor machine Thu 13 Apr 2017, 3:28 pm

My crm was grey - but Leisure Trail (the Notts-based importers) had put a sticker over the clock and it actually worked very well.

by wornsprokets Thu 13 Apr 2017, 5:16 pm

Its been kms here since 2005, but ive old bikes and car and van there in mph.... not big deal of it made here not having correct clocks. But km/h dials are small so can be hard to see some times. Seriously thinking of selling blade and get 93 to 97 vfr

by Jameshambleton Thu 13 Apr 2017, 5:28 pm

Surprised Badseeds hasn't been here with all this vfr talk... anyway back on topic

What other bikes (that aren't VFR's) can we compare this to?

by Beresford Thu 13 Apr 2017, 7:27 pm

Jameshambleton wrote:What other bikes (that aren't VFR's) can we compare this to?

I'm slightly surprised at the attention being given to the VFR (a fine machine, without doubt) but it is a faired sports tourer and the CB500 isn't.
I would have thought that the bike closest (but MORE) to the CB500 is the Ducati Monster 600, which is light, nippy and affordable.
I hasten to say that I am not a Ducati fanboy and given the choice of a general purpose road bike I'd have a Triumph Sprint ST955i before anything else. They are also very affordable now.

by **eternally_troubled** Thu 13 Apr 2017, 7:32 pm

Beresford wrote:
Jameshambleton wrote:What other bikes (that aren't VFR's) can we compare this to?

I would have thought that the bike closest (but MORE) to the CB500 is the Ducati Monster 600, which is light, nippy and affordable.

I have wanted one of them for a while, but haven't quite been able to find one at a price a like (cheeeeap!). They have their own set of problems - the good thing is that if you get an older one (came out around the same time as the CB500) you can fix most of them yourself.

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