Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Really? I feel like consequences are greater on the freeway but since you're all moving the same direction at the same speed it'd be safer than city traffic... SF is bike-friendly but intersections are where most accidents happen! That said, I'm planning to stay off the freeway for a month or two. Am I being naive about this?

Maybe this is a question for the technical boards too but what else should i be worried about on a 40 year old bike? Am I going to want to do a brake upgrade and a brighter headlight right off the bat? Should I be worried about riding a bike that's not fast enough to accelerate away from trouble on the freeway?

anticoriolis wrote:Really? I feel like consequences are greater on the freeway but since you're all moving the same direction at the same speed it'd be safer than city traffic... SF is bike-friendly but intersections are where most accidents happen! That said, I'm planning to stay off the freeway for a month or two. Am I being naive about this?

No. I was on the highway within a week. It's significantly safer. Much fewer opportunities for accidents, and, if you do go down, much less other motionless stuff to hit (curbs, light posts, parked cars, etc).

anticoriolis wrote:Maybe this is a question for the technical boards too but what else should i be worried about on a 40 year old bike? Am I going to want to do a brake upgrade and a brighter headlight right off the bat? Should I be worried about riding a bike that's not fast enough to accelerate away from trouble on the freeway?

Nothing you wouldn't be concerned about on a 10 year old bike. Tires, wiring, wheel bearings, tires, rotors, brake lines, etc.

And no you should not be worried about the speed of this bike. It's faster than most cars.

anticoriolis wrote:Really? I feel like consequences are greater on the freeway but since you're all moving the same direction at the same speed it'd be safer than city traffic... SF is bike-friendly but intersections are where most accidents happen! That said, I'm planning to stay off the freeway for a month or two. Am I being naive about this?

No you're not being naive,

It's just all about what you feel comfortable with really. I'm just making the suggestion to stay on the local streets until you feel comfortable with all your maneuvers.

You want to go out and hit the highway up on your first day that's up to you.

I just don't think your helping yourself because your not practicing any skills. I know everyone says going straight blah blah blah, I understand that and it's just my opinion that on the highway if you make one mistake or can't react in time you'll be in serious trouble.

The danger from riding around locally comes from another driver smacking into you (which can ALSO happen on the highway). But the rest of the stuff you are doing is low speed maneuvers and if you make a mistake it has far less serious ramifications.

That's just my evaluation of the situation.

So, this guy is trying to tell me now that the bike will only hit 55mph! What should I make of that? He says the bike doesn't leak or burn oil, which should indicate good enough compression that it's not running at 50% performance... if it would hit 100mph new? Maybe he's just being ginger with it?

anticoriolis wrote:So, this guy is trying to tell me now that the bike will only hit 55mph! What should I make of that? He says the bike doesn't leak or burn oil, which should indicate good enough compression that it's not running at 50% performance... if it would hit 100mph new? Maybe he's just being ginger with it?

Tells me it might be running on only one cylinder. Or he's used to big American V-twins and doesn't like the sound when it's cranking at 7000 RPM (although it's perfectly happy at that speed).

Might be a cheap fix, might not be.

anticoriolis wrote:Really? I feel like consequences are greater on the freeway but since you're all moving the same direction at the same speed it'd be safer than city traffic... SF is bike-friendly but intersections are where most accidents happen! That said, I'm planning to stay off the freeway for a month or two. Am I being naive about this?

Maybe this is a question for the technical boards too but what else should i be worried about on a 40 year old bike? Am I going to want to do a brake upgrade and a brighter headlight right off the bat? Should I be worried about riding a bike that's not fast enough to accelerate away from trouble on the freeway?

Statistically, there is very hard evidence that riding on the freeway is much safer than local roads.

That being said you have some interesting problems/choices.

1) You still have to ride local roads getting on the freeway.
2) If you have cloverleaf's to get on/off the freeway - you really need your cornering capability to be practiced and up to par
3) You should really have practiced the breaking while leaning - or straighten and brake for those on-ramps.

I just finished the BRC and got my M endorsement. I face a similar problem.... And haven't made any choices yet. I plan on practicing in parking lots for a while - doing figure 8's, practicing quick stops and turning quick stops. Will have to ride some local roads to get to the parking lots and there is a nice big park that I am going to ride around in circles a bunch of times (on the road, one hopes).

Then I want to rack up the miles riding on the freeways in the early AM and build confidence.

RhadamYgg

I've got an 84 CB450Sc. If that 450 is anything like mine, you won't have any problems going fast enough. Might have a problem going slow enough, though .

jonnythan wrote:

anticoriolis wrote:So, this guy is trying to tell me now that the bike will only hit 55mph! What should I make of that? He says the bike doesn't leak or burn oil, which should indicate good enough compression that it's not running at 50% performance... if it would hit 100mph new? Maybe he's just being ginger with it?

Tells me it might be running on only one cylinder. Or he's used to big American V-twins and doesn't like the sound when it's cranking at 7000 RPM (although it's perfectly happy at that speed).

Might be a cheap fix, might not be.

I'd say the running on one cylinder theory is pretty sound. When I got my Nighthawk it was doing that. It took me forever to figure out what it was: The float in the right carb was put on upside down, and wasn't letting any fuel in. All I had to do was flip it over, and it ran great.

You also may be right about the revving. A lot of people (including myself) get nervous when they hear the engine wind up that fast, and let off the throttle because they think they're hurting it. I took me a long time to get over that. In fact, I was in the twisties last night staying around 6k rpm, and up to 9k coming out of the turns.

Hmm... wonder if I should be holding out for an 80's 450. Did they update the motor? Surely it can't be the same design from '65, torsion bar lifters and all...

anyone know how they compare?

My guess would be that they're similar, but not the same. They probably redesigned the engine, but carried over most of the parts and concept from the older engine.