Honda CX500 & GL500 Forum

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06-30-2008, 10:35 PM Willj Joined on 03-24-2008 Posts 64 What max speed are you comfortable with? For me it seems 110Km/hr - 68mph is about the maximum thrill I can take. I start getting a little terrified after that. I`m relatively new ( yeat and a half ) to motorcycling so maybe in time I`ll relax a little bit more. Tunnels and going down hill and driving at night at higher speeds seem to be a bit of a challenge too. I find myself holding on to the bars quite tightly and my throttle hand ends up with a cramp. Some days my fear is a little more amplified and some days less. It`s all very exciting but sometimes, honestly, I`m scared shitless!    Report

06-30-2008, 11:22 PM Pooterhead Joined on 06-07-2008 Lakesite,tn Posts 54 Re: What max speed are you comfortable with? Normal riding on the super slab i try to keep it under 95mph indicated. I have had it up to 120mph indicated for 4 miles just to give her a good stress test. Fastest I've ever been was on a 76 kz900. My dad and i built this bike with a Springer front end and amon savior frame. It was eight feet long and i went 160 mph indicated for 2 miles. I'm addicted to speed though. Don't worry about keeping up with others like me if you don't feel comfortable. Riding beyond your limits will only get you and others hurt. It took a 70mph get of for me to realize this. I blew a corner and the rear end let go. Luckily i slid down a muddy ditch and only got a few scrapes. My Cx flipped in the air and came down hard on the asphalt. After realizing i wasn't dead i walked over to the bike expecting it to be totaled. The only damage was a broken clutch lever and bent handle bars. I have now slowed down and save the speed for the track. Don't make the same mistake i did and learn the hard way! 1980 cx500c (fubar) you meet the fastest people on a honda!    Report

07-01-2008, 4:17 AM CXSarnia Joined on 01-11-2008 Sarnia, Ontario, Canada Posts 298 Re: What max speed are you comfortable with? I've maxed out the CX500 in my (and it's) younger days.  On the Km/Hr scale it was reading between 160 and 170.  (Roughly translated, that is the advertised max of about 105 mph).  On my CB750 after a good long winter off, I had to get my "yah yah's" out and broke the 200 Km/Hr (about 125 mph) - What scared me most was that I was only about 1/2 throttle.  Now, to be honest, the question stated not what is your max speed, but "what max speed are you comfortable with".  I feel that both bikes I own have a really nice "sweet spot" of about 70 - 80 mph (110 km - 130 km per hour).  Everything just comes together.  The bike is purring, the road is flying by, and I feel like I've got one foot in paradise.  Eerything that is - except the law!  - here in Ontario, the legal maximum speed is 100 km/h - about 62 mph.  Which on these bikes leaves a lot left over for passing and having fun. 1979 CX500 Deluxe http://groups.google.com/group/cx500-deluxe-restoration-page 1982 CB750K Daily rider 1999 Sept 1982 CX500 Custom - project Originally bought 1982 April reacquired 2006 April http://groups.google.ca/group/cx500-restoration-page    Report

07-01-2008, 5:27 AM lanispet Joined on 10-10-2006 Meggett, SC Posts 206 Re: What max speed are you comfortable with? For me, it kinda depends on the location... on the local (southeastern U.S.) interstates, 80 MPH is a nice comfortable speed (would be more comfortable if there weren't so many (*&#$&^ cops around)... Running across the desert southwest, i was feeling fine at a hundred... Sign says 'next sign 30 miles'... Massively hacked-up '80 CX500C bobber/ratbike- "Doom Cookie"    Report

07-01-2008, 7:12 AM Anonymous Re: What max speed are you comfortable with? Comfort is relative. I've got a sidecar on mine, so my top speed is limiteed to  80 mph. I can get up to 90 with a tail wind. Out in the desert, I'd love to squeeze a little more speed, but on the old mining roads, 35 mph is strictly white knuckle. Mark in Idaho

07-01-2008, 7:14 AM Anonymous Re: What max speed are you comfortable with? PS,   never exceed your comfort level, You'll live longer. Mark in Idaho

07-01-2008, 9:24 AM anoke422 Joined on 05-14-2008 Grand Island, Nebraska Posts 33 Re: What max speed are you comfortable with? I really like about 70 mph.  I'm not uncomfortable going faster, but 70 is just so smooth and I sill get good gas mileage at that speed.  I did a two hour ride last week with my speed ranging from 65 to 70 the entire trip and got about 58 mpg.  Good times! Freedom, not safety, is the greatest good.    Report

07-01-2008, 9:28 AM Nittany Joined on 12-21-2007 Posts 147 Re: What max speed are you comfortable with? I actually feel more comfortable at a faster speed on the 2-lanes than on the interstate. Maybe 70 on a country road is where I slow down. '82 GL500 Bleedin' Blue & White    Report

07-01-2008, 9:42 AM RichNCT Joined on 03-02-2006 Posts 2,148 Re: What max speed are you comfortable with? Mark in Idaho, Is the sidecar on a CX or GL?  What make/model is the chair? Born to be relatively wild    Report

07-01-2008, 8:45 PM Anonymous Re: What max speed are you comfortable with? Mark in Idaho, Is the sidecar on a CX or GL?  What make/model is the chair? The bike is an 83 GL Interstate. The sidecar is a Dneper. I'm told the sidecar is too heavy for the bike, but it will pull 80 mph. Thats enough for the interstate.

07-01-2008, 9:06 PM Blindstitch2002 Joined on 05-16-2007 Greenfield Wisconsin Posts 1,709 Re: What max speed are you comfortable with? I have different comforts on different roads. I like a two lane at 65 when I can get behind someone at a decent speed. It's kind of comforting knowing that your not the slowest one on the road and people behind you cant just run you over because your moving with traffic.  I was on some stop and go 30-35mph roads tonight and everyone seemed to want to go 50 or greater. If I am on a 4 lane or better I try to go 70-75. But I am wierd. I need to know the road to be comfortable otherwise I think I am over cautious. 1979 Honda Cx500 Custom    Report

07-02-2008, 1:10 AM Anonymous Re: What max speed are you comfortable with?  Willj wrote: For me it seems 110Km/hr - 68mph is about the maximum thrill I can take. I start getting a little terrified after that. I`m relatively new ( yeat and a half ) to motorcycling so maybe in time I`ll relax a little bit more. Tunnels and going down hill and driving at night at higher speeds seem to be a bit of a challenge too. I find myself holding on to the bars quite tightly and my throttle hand ends up with a cramp. Some days my fear is a little more amplified and some days less. It`s all very exciting but sometimes, honestly, I`m scared shitless! Ride where you feel comfortable and no faster dont worrie about how fast any one else can or does ride it dont matter, what does matter is you if you dont feel comfortable at 68 slow down try 65 or even 60 it's much better to get where your goin and enjoy the ride than how fast you get where your goin I been riding for a few years now and sometimes I enjoy a 45mph cruise more than running 65mph if you arent enjoying it then slow down and enjoy life

07-02-2008, 5:35 AM MildGL500 Joined on 01-19-2008 Guelph, ON, Canada Posts 101 Re: What max speed are you comfortable with? I find I like to cruise at 85-90kph on country rides, 115kph on 400 series highways. I generally won't go past 120Kph unless there is a real good reason to.    Report

07-02-2008, 11:01 AM Randall-in-Mpls Joined on 07-06-2007 Minneapolis, MN Posts 1,113 Re: What max speed are you comfortable with?  Blindstitch2002 wrote: ...otherwise I think I am over cautious. On a bike, you can't be overly cautious. I prefer smaller highways at 55-60mph.  When I've done 70 on the interstate, I experience a lot of buffeting.  I'm not very aerodynamic. R '78 CX500 - The Black Maggot My mid-life crisis has two wheels. CX500 Factory Service Manual (Downloadable by chapter)    Report

07-02-2008, 11:29 AM NstyDevil Joined on 05-20-2007 Toronto, Ontario Posts 208 Re: What max speed are you comfortable with? as stated before, it's what your comfortable with, heck with everyone else. city streets - about what others are doing, around 50-60kmh highway - around 120-130 kmh winter riding - city streets-30-40kmh highway - 80-90kmh corners... realllllly slow. country riding... depends on the wind. if it's a crosswind, then the "Kiting" is really bad and always slow down. __________________ '80 CX500 Deluxe approx 80k on the odometer    Report

07-02-2008, 6:40 PM tntchitwood Joined on 03-02-2008 Pine Knot, KY Posts 509 Re: What max speed are you comfortable with? Like a few have said..ride where YOU are comfortable. I generally like 65-70 mph,but have went 150 on a 1975 Z-1 900 and 120 on my gl 500 chopper on a frame I made! (very exciting). But I am over it now and am just happy to be cruising. '82 Silverwing Chopper '02 750 Shadow http://choppercharles.com/cs/forums/29599/ShowPost.aspx    Report

07-02-2008, 7:38 PM BrianB Joined on 06-05-2008 Honeoye, NY Posts 23 Re: What max speed are you comfortable with? I find that it depends. On the highway I try to go with traffic flow - 65 to 70 mph. On 2-lanes I keep it within 10 mph of the posted speed (but then again I have too many tickets with the 4-wheel vehicles). I have the problem where if I get up to 80 mph the wind funnels into my helmet from underneath and into my jacket and I feel like it is going to literally pick me right up off of the bike. That may be a side effect of the equipment I am wearing. The fastest Ihave been on a bike is 110 mph, but that was as a passenger ona bike my brother had borrowed and ridden over to my place. 1978 CX500 UK 22.2K Miles Daily Rider    Report

07-03-2008, 5:53 AM Anonymous Re: What max speed are you comfortable with? I had my bike running flat out one night when i was out with some guys on crotch rockets,   baaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!   scremin pile right there. had my room mates cbr 600 rr goin 112 and it didnt feel like ne thing,  might have to try that again...

07-03-2008, 5:55 AM Anonymous Re: What max speed are you comfortable with? sorry,  forgot to add my bike is a 82 cx 500,  so i must have been goin around 105.

07-04-2008, 5:55 AM Whiskey Sowers Joined on 01-26-2008 Knoxville,TN Posts 68 Re: What max speed are you comfortable with? with so much construction here in knoxville it is damn near impossible to go faster than 35mph. Plus we have 2 cops for every citizen here to pay for the construction. 1980 CX500C "Big Orange Betty"    Report

07-04-2008, 9:20 PM RustyTec Joined on 08-26-2007 Dallas Posts 299 Re: What max speed are you comfortable with? I did the ton on my bike. I kind of whish I hadn’t. Sometimes, not knowing is better. When I bought mine, it topped out at 75-80. After I got the GL spark advancer freed up, she did all I needed. Cruise at 80 with good acceleration to 90-95. It sure felt like she wanted to do the ton and maybe a lot more. One day I had a GPS running and I found a road that was smooth as silk. Brand new blacktop. Nice and straight with very little traffic. (NW Lake Lavon. NE of Dallas). She got to 95 quickly, but took her time getting to 102.8 mph, that is enough of a redline for me. I felt no discomfort. - Other than losing the though t‘maybe a lot more’ . I was sure that I did the ton on my 350F (indicated in ‘77). I was sure that a 500 of this stature would do more. Oh Well, I’m happy with what I got. Like I said. She does everything I need. Whiskey Sowers – You need to take some joy-rides, outside of the city. Your bike needs a chance to breathe. I bet ya it will improve performance. RustyTec on a ’81 GL500. She’s not my bike. I’m just her current boyfriend. - She gets everything that she needs, and most of what she wants. - Works for us.    Report

07-04-2008, 11:05 PM monki Joined on 05-02-2008 Happy Valley, Utah Posts 62 Re: What max speed are you comfortable with? At the moment?  About 50mph, but I'm new...  I accidently ended up on the freeway a couple of nights ago (without proper gear, scared me half to death) and had Grover up to 70mph. And I was thrilled!  The high rpms make me nervous, even though I know that's what these were designed to do... I just haven't had the bike long enough to trust it.  The biggest problem is that the entire bike starts vibrating horribly at 52mph, but once I reached about 60, it smoothed right out.  '82 GL500i (Grover)    Report

07-04-2008, 11:35 PM George in Indiana