CB500 HONDA Cafe Racer Fired up with Gas tank back on

It is always a nervous time when you get something ready to ride and has not run in many decades and, it was back in the UK when it did run.  So many things can be wrong with it as no history to compare too etc, but, I fitted the Fiberglass Bimota gas tank and seat, poured in 97 Octane Gas and fired her up.

The Clutch was seized up as I thought it may of, sitting for many years unused will do that, I have had many bikes and cars for that matter with the same issue, I always start in neutral or fire up with clutch in and front brake locked on, just to see if she is seized on the plates etc.

I was super stoked to sling my leg over this machine and wait for the clunk! -As I pushed the rear set into first gear, she pulled away fine and I eased the bike out onto the road and went through the gears, all seems fine, although rear brake needs adjusting quite a bit but front did make up for it seeing it is now a double disc front set up.

I turned the bike around after about half a mile and rode it about a mile up the twisting tarmac to the the junction and pulled over, just to check on things, all was good, so I gave it some beans coming back as I wanted to see if she pulled harder and also, if she took a crap- Well I could roll home on momentum etc.

All was good and I see one clutch cover drip but need to change the oil, even though its clean, I like to know its all gone through etc.

The bike was quite responsive and I am happy with the way she rides, but I’m 50 pounds heavier than I was when I used to ride these back in the UK, although that didnt matter as teenager memories of my early days of Cafe Racer riding flooded back like a burst dam.

The weather was perfect today for riding this 50 year old inline Four and I bonded to this machine right away, laying on the tank was easy as I have my own Belly Airbag now but the feeling of Euphoria was immense as I went through the gears and felt the little 500 pick up speed, as these bikes really are a force to be reckoned with.

A bit more to do on the old Girl, Like New Throttle cables as right now it has just One and the idle will creep up a little and I prefer that snappy throttle with a return cable to be honest, also I want to adjust and Oil the chain and change the oil, it has rebuilt carbs now and New plugs and good gas and a New battery so we should be good.

A happy Medium for now but I will improve a few things later, better looking headlight and signals for sure and I need some bar end mirrors to see if anyone is chasing me lol.  Taking this out for its first time running in the USA was a brilliant feeling, like anything that has never run for years, there is always trepidation but I overcome that by clunking into first and whilst the beads of nervous sweat dribbled down my forehead, all disappeared in a roar of 4 stroke exhaust and I was Barry Sheene Once more.

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