Doing the same thing over and over expecting different results

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
07/30/2019 at 09:52 • Filed to: None

This is, I am told. The definition of insanity. So let’s do the same thing again and see if it works this time.

My 1980 and 1981 Honda CX500s with bad engines with to a guy in Missouri who wrecked his brother’s CX500 and was looking for a clean bike to put his brother’s engine in. In exchange I got this.

1983 Honda Shadow VT750c. A 1-year oddity in the US. 750cc 45 degree v-twin with a split-crank system to soften vibrations. Other odd features:

Two spark plugs per cylinder

6 speed transmission (in 1983 on a cruiser? Unusual)

Slipper clutch

spring-loaded input shaft gear to reduce drivetrain slop

Shaft drive

Hydraulic lash adjusters in the rocker arms

Hydraulic timing chain tensioners

Two fuel tanks with an electric fuel pump

Redundant dual CDI units

A t-shaped battery

The Shadow 750 was Hondas second go at making a V-twin after the CX500 and of course they just couldn’t do it the same as everyone else. The 750 makes 68hp and 50ft-lb of torque and weighs in at 490lb wet. Quarter mile happens in 13.17 seconds and it tops out around 137mph.

This particular bike is given to me in rough-ish shape with all plastics intact, a dent-free tank, with a totally shot battery, leaky carb bowls, and the promise that it ran when parked. A new battery and carb kit was $70 and gets here this weekend. The plan is to get it running and then bob it somewhat.

Something like this but I intend on retaining a passenger seat.

DISCUSSION (15)

Michael > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/30/2019 at 10:06

Pics of a “T-shaped battery” please

shop-teacher > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/30/2019 at 10:10

Good luck with this one! Eventually the universe has to run out of cartoon anvils to drop on your vehicles.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/30/2019 at 10:22

I just want to say I love how Honda made more power from a V-twin with just 750cc than Harley was doing with their 883 and I think the 1000 too.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > shop-teacher
07/30/2019 at 10:38

I think Jake needs to inspect all his vehicles carefully for anything made by ACME corporation.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Michael
07/30/2019 at 10:41

Yuuuup.

Kinja'd!!!

Pickup_man > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/30/2019 at 10:42

I’ve rebuilt one of these that a friend of mine has, great bikes! Much faster than one would expect for a 750 V-twin, and it revs crazy high for a narrow V-twin . The soften vibrations thing is BS IMO, the 750 S hadow is the single worst bike I’ve ever ridden when it comes to vibration.

Hopefully this one works out good for you, but I’ve got some experience with these if you ever need to do top end work on it.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
07/30/2019 at 10:43

“was”

...

“still is”

The sportster 1200 makes 59 hp, 67lb ft, and only revs to 5400rpm or so compared to the 8000rpm redline of the Shadow.

Michael > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/30/2019 at 10:43

As described. A+

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/30/2019 at 11:20

It’s almost like they learned nothing from the tariff years...

I still want to bring a magna V60 to a harley drag night and crush everything with impunity.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Pickup_man
07/30/2019 at 11:24

Vibration is lame. I’d like to do some highway cruising.

Pickup_man > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/30/2019 at 11:28

Maybe yours is fine, I’ve heard that they aren’t all that bad, all I know is that the mirrors on my buddies bike were worthless because they vibrated so bad.

M.T. Blake > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/30/2019 at 11:59

There was so much automotive engineering speak back there that my head and hands are hurting from thinking about diagnosing those redundant and antiquated systems.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > M.T. Blake
07/30/2019 at 12:08

lol wut?

M.T. Blake > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/30/2019 at 12:16

Exactly!

pip bip - choose Corrour > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
07/31/2019 at 04:58

good luck