Touring on an 89' CB1-400

[djez]

I plan to take my CB-1(got it last winter) and take it from toronto to tour Pensylvania.
Anybody have done long rides on this bike.
How is the experience?
Aything I need to look out for aside from the usual stuff?

My usual tourer is a 650bandit fully equiped with heated gear, tall windshield, highway peg.

[ptlcb1]

How long of a ride is that?

[clarkdw]

I have done up to 10hrs in a day and the only suggestion I have is to wear ear plugs. I find that the wind noise and buffeting will fatigue you quickly without the earplugs. Other than that go for it. Not much fun on the 400 series highways but 80 - 90 km/h roads are as much fun at the end of the day as at the beginning.

[a_morti]

How long of a ride is that?

Depends what kind of tour is planned but Maps tells me it's @300 miles each way. I moved house to Germany on a CB-1, that was 425 miles in a day with 3x50 litre boxes and a big camping bag tied to the rear seat. The bike and I both did it fine, but a bigger bike would have been more comfortable.

As above, ear plugs are essential. I would say you will get fed up first by the CB's tank range, then by the short distance from the seat to pegs, unless you have short legs.

[djez]

I always wear ear plugs specially with the Kerker exhaust,
I do 1800kms - 3000km weekend trip almost 2 times/month since June to Hershey PA, NYC and  DC but on my Bandit.

Longest I went with this CB-1 is  a trip around Algonquin Park (900km round trip). and was sure exhausted at the end of the day. Definitely missing the windshield and keeping up with the group at 10000rpm all day will lost its excitement after 4 hrs.

I know the range will be a problem I get at most 90-100miles before hitting reserve .Ran out of gas once (forgot to switch back to on).

My main concern is I'm riding a 21 yrs old bike.Maybe just being too paranoid of it giving up on me.
 
Chain, sprockets and breaks were changed when I got it last winter, as well as fork seal and oil.
Only thing I didn't change is the coolant. Should I be concern in changing that?

I will be prepping it with fresh Oil later and adding plug for my GPS and Ipod.

This will be an exciting and rewarding trip for me and the bike, I will sure post Pics.

[djez]

My route this weekend is about 1600 kms. Toronto to Hershey PA. Going thru some nice roads of PA.

[a_morti]

I always wear ear plugs specially with the Kerker exhaust,
I do 1800kms - 3000km weekend trip almost 2 times/month since June to Hershey PA, NYC and  DC but on my Bandit.

Longest I went with this CB-1 is  a trip around Algonquin Park (900km round trip). and was sure exhausted at the end of the day. Definitely missing the windshield and keeping up with the group at 10000rpm all day will lost its excitement after 4 hrs.

I know the range will be a problem I get at most 90-100miles before hitting reserve .Ran out of gas once (forgot to switch back to on).

My main concern is I'm riding a 21 yrs old bike.Maybe just being too paranoid of it giving up on me.
 
Chain, sprockets and breaks were changed when I got it last winter, as well as fork seal and oil.
Only thing I didn't change is the coolant. Should I be concern in changing that?

I will be prepping it with fresh Oil later and adding plug for my GPS and Ipod.

This will be an exciting and rewarding trip for me and the bike, I will sure post Pics.

You don't need to worry much about a CB-1 mechanically, though it would be a good idea to take apart the regulator and alternator plugs, clean, grease, and refit. Then remove the regulator, clean the back of it, smear with computer CPU heat transfer paste and refit. Then get a thick bit of wire and run from the mounting bolt straight to the battery. Ideally you would take the two DC leads from the regulator and go direct to the battery with thick wires but that is a little more involved as a job. What I am saying is that if anything will let you down, it'll be the charging system, but these few tricks should see you right.

Fit a flyscreen. I had one like this on mine, they make a real difference to cruising speed and comfort, and are cheap too.



I would also think about fitting some manner of baffle to the exhaust. Will it tae a universal dB killer? They are available cheaply off eBay and will just take an edge off the noise. Handy for not alerting the cops 2 miles before you reach them, too.

If you are mainly riding highways, you should consider fitting a 37T rear sprocket. Considering you just got a new chain, it'd be cheaper and easier to fit a +1 front sprocket instead, and give about the same effect. 100mph becomes 10k rpm instead of 11k rpm.

Enjoy your ride

[djez]

Thanks, I think I did the wiring cleaning when I went over the bike prior to puting it on the road last winter so thats covered.
 
The most highway I will do is only from Toronto to border (200kms) plus about 20 miles in the states, all the rest of NY and PA will be in 45-55 roads only.

Im getting more inlove with this bike and after this trip I will surely know if its my keeper.
Also bike already has 56K miles on it , I got it with 52K.

BTW, Where did you get the luggage rack?

[Samuichris]

I've done 3 trips of 800-1000kms each so far on mine with no problems.
The short fuel range, whilst being a pain is also a blessing as you get to stop regularly & rest a little.
The only drawback is going with bigger bikes running at a fast(ish) pace, but as you say, you're running mostly on 45/55 roads.
Enjoy!!

[a_morti]

Thanks, I think I did the wiring cleaning when I went over the bike prior to puting it on the road last winter so thats covered.
 
The most highway I will do is only from Toronto to border (200kms) plus about 20 miles in the states, all the rest of NY and PA will be in 45-55 roads only.

Im getting more inlove with this bike and after this trip I will surely know if its my keeper.
Also bike already has 56K miles on it , I got it with 52K.

BTW, Where did you get the luggage rack?

They are great bikes, I wish often that I had never let mine go. More info on the rack and a link to pictures here:
http://www.hondacb1.org/forum/index.php/topic,916.0.html

[djez]

MY route: http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=ON-401+W&daddr=42.65958,-78.68314+to:42.425484,-78.61231+to:N+Main+St+to:US-422+E+to:40.436,-77.06986+to:40.56244,-77.26594+to:40.9804481,-77.8175016+to:41.2472422,-78.1533433+to:41.33966,-78.31424+to:Carrville+Rd%2FRegional+Road+73&geocode=FeTXmwIdOmxF-w%3BFfzuigId_GNP-ykdfyJm8gDTiTG8QxI8R1kX0Q%3BFYxchwIdqnhQ-ylhNI1oSljSiTHSULL0cpi52w%3BFSiZfQId-o1Z-w%3BFSCQZgIdRihu-w%3BFSABaQId3AFo-ylB8Iu3HNHIiTEJYrZtcEWuIQ%3BFQjvagId7ANl-ynLIA89OCvJiTGiTWc2jHYlkA%3BFeBPcQIdY5lc-yk7Tuatw5jOiTGc20zgRdYZ3Q%3BFQpidQIdgXlX-ylV0dpPyDPMiTErNrjKvU4_6w%3BFQzLdgIdAAVV-ymr3NDiQLXNiTFFaUlPF85Y8A%3BFW4VnQIdzKlD-w&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=2&mrsp=7&sz=12&via=1,2,5,6,7,8,9&sll=40.974714,-77.86869&sspn=0.100313,0.220757&ie=UTF8&ll=41.426253,-77.750244&spn=3.187672,7.064209&z=7

I left  Toronto at 3pm and treat myself to a scenic route 240.


When I reached Olean the temperature started to drop. Forecast says 15 deg low but it feels a lot colder. Now Im missing the windshield and Heated grips.

Woke up early but it was blooddy cold at 7deg.I take 44 down.


Going home I passed by wycoff run and the river under the bridge to get this photo.
Weather was great for a swim but I didn't bring my swim trunks:)




My bike held well at highway speed and was Uber fun in the twisties.
My speedometer is starting to bog down so It will need reapiring, maybe replacement.

I will go touring with it anytime.

[a_morti]

Great pictures!

It could be the cable, or the "widget" plastic bit in the cable pickup on the front sprocket, or the most expensive and also hardest to diagnose option is the actual speedometer. Take the speedo drive cover off: is the white plastic bit visibly broken? If so replace it, Honda part is still available (might be worth getting two) and be more careful when replacing that cover next time. If not, remove cable and check if it is binding or broken, simply remove the inner from the outer. If it is, replace it. If it isn't, then you might need a new speedometer which isn't so easy to get hold of. Maybe someone on here can sort you out one with a KPH dialset from a Japanese bike?

Widget:
8: JOINT, SPEEDOMETER
44808-MR7-013

[Lyrad]

I've been to Indy last year with a pillion but not bags, 6hrs each way
and went to Dover this year with tents and bags for a night, Only 3 hrs each way, If you do some lower back strengthening it will help on long trips, but the seating position is not bad for my Height 5'9, just take spark plugs just in case. and ear plugs.

[Tweed]

Well I guess I have to build up my endurance!!! frigg my elbows go numb after 80 miles, and can't feel my fingers after 90! I couldn't imagine riding her for more than 3-400miles in a day without a massage therapist waiting for me at the end! It can be done surely, (long distance touring) but at the end of the day like other riders have mentioned, there are a lot more capable bikes for touring, as in the if you can't see one, it's too far gas range, the 10000 rpm "I think I can" scream, or the fright of finding parts for a 20 year old bike almost anywhere but a major center; Just my 2 cents worth but she's amazing at blasting around town, screams for a curvy back road, and begs to be ridden hard, IMHO you're looking for a different lady to go the distance!
Dan