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Difference between revisions of "Honda CB550SC"
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The engine is designed to be compact. It is narrow, the alternator mounted behind the cylinders, overdriven off the crankshaft by a link-plate chain. It is short; the transmission shafts staggered vertically instead of laying one behind the other. It's also designed for low maintenance. The hydraulic lash adjuster automatically take up clearance between valve stems and [[rocker arm]]s - meaning no valve adjustment is necessary - and pump down if the engine is over-revved, increasing clearance and reducing the chances of a mis-shift bending the valves. The transistorized electronic ignition is not adjustable, and has electronic advance. The hydraulic clutch, like hydraulic disc brakes, is self-adjusting. | The engine is designed to be compact. It is narrow, the alternator mounted behind the cylinders, overdriven off the crankshaft by a link-plate chain. It is short; the transmission shafts staggered vertically instead of laying one behind the other. It's also designed for low maintenance. The hydraulic lash adjuster automatically take up clearance between valve stems and [[rocker arm]]s - meaning no valve adjustment is necessary - and pump down if the engine is over-revved, increasing clearance and reducing the chances of a mis-shift bending the valves. The transistorized electronic ignition is not adjustable, and has electronic advance. The hydraulic clutch, like hydraulic disc brakes, is self-adjusting. | ||
Low maintenance doesn't mean low performance. The 550 has the same cams as the 650, and, used with the smaller engine, those cams are closer to the high-performance grinds sold by aftermarket engine builders than are most stock camshafts. The four [[Keihin]] CV carbs have oval throats, 26.8mm at the [[venturi]], 30mm at the throttle plate, with lightweight throttle slides and thin | Low maintenance doesn't mean low performance. The 550 has the same cams as the 650, and, used with the smaller engine, those cams are closer to the high-performance grinds sold by aftermarket engine builders than are most stock camshafts. The four [[Keihin]] CV carbs have oval throats, 26.8mm at the [[venturi]], 30mm at the throttle plate, with lightweight throttle slides and thin [[diaphragm]]s for instant throttle response. Combine the cams and the carbs with the lighter crankshaft and you've got a quick-revving, free-winding 550 that feels faster than anything in the class. | ||
It feels fast because it has a big jump in horsepower and acceleration at 7000 rpm, gaining engine speed from there at an astonishing rate right up to the 10,000 rpm [[redline]]. It pulls well from 4000 rpm, well enough to leave lights quickly and have fun gaining speed, but then there's that kick at 7000 when the Nighthawk comes on the cams, and off it goes. There's nothing to distract the rider from that magic rush of the tach needle toward redline, since the rubber-mounted engine is one of the smoothest ever put in a motorcycle. That glass-smoothness adds an eerie quality to the soaring tach and the kick-in-the-pants acceleration. | It feels fast because it has a big jump in horsepower and acceleration at 7000 rpm, gaining engine speed from there at an astonishing rate right up to the 10,000 rpm [[redline]]. It pulls well from 4000 rpm, well enough to leave lights quickly and have fun gaining speed, but then there's that kick at 7000 when the Nighthawk comes on the cams, and off it goes. There's nothing to distract the rider from that magic rush of the tach needle toward redline, since the rubber-mounted engine is one of the smoothest ever put in a motorcycle. That glass-smoothness adds an eerie quality to the soaring tach and the kick-in-the-pants acceleration. | ||