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Doing... did ... the ton on an 81 GS450E

  • Thread starter Thread starter Blue Falcon
  • Start date Start date
B

Blue Falcon

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Well.... I got the testicular fortitude to try for a ton today. With everything dialed in ( valves adjusted, carbs cleaned and sync'd, fresh oil, etc ) everything but the hood meter cover (Thursday get new one), new sprockets and chain and new chain guard/cover (expected Monday) is completed on the bike. So I decided to see what she would do. Previously the best I could do was around 85-90, I had to have someone follow me to help me on the speed. So today on a clear Florida back road, I attempted and did THE TON at around 8700-9000 RPM's in 6th gear for about 5 seconds at the most, just long enough for the person following me to confirm at/over 100, I still had a little room on the throttle but was not willing to push my luck. Bluetooth helmet was a plus as I could get real time speed. Yes, a 36 year old bike will still do it. The first and only time I will have my 450 at/over 100mph. If I were to do it again, it would be with video...but I don't see a need, my curiosity is satisfied.

The 450 is running the best it has since I bought it. Everything is tuned... now she just needs a bath/degreasing and a wax job before the bike show.

I will have a "FOR SALE" sign on my bike this weekend at the Vintage Bike Show in Eustis, FL... ambitiously asking $2000 and will see what kind of offers I get. I may be moving up... if that is the case, I will be looking for a vintage GS650-GS1000.
 
Blue Falcon said:
Well.... I got the testicular fortitude to try for a ton today. Yes, a 36 year old bike will still do it.
Click to expand...

I don't think age vs 100 mph is the point here. My 35-year-old Suzuki does the ton nearly every time I ride it. (I think it would do the buck-and-a-half if I had the fortitude.) I think the point is that our aged bikes are performing as claimed when they were brand new.

My third-hand '71 CB350 (325 cc) indicated 96 mph until I bored it to 435 and installed the most extreme cam available, at which point it developed extreme throttle-response characteristics (nothing, nothing...BAM!)

I think the point is two-fold: how far the state of the art had advanced by the early 1980's, and good on you for the good maintenance. Keep it up! :cool:
 
Congrats to the ton!

Coincidentally, it's the quoted top speed of the 450, right?


Referring Rob's 1000E;
Rob S. said:
(...) (I think it would do the buck-and-a-half if I had the fortitude.) (...)
Click to expand...

...but then you'd be well past redline, wouldn't you?
 
I don't recall anyone ever having the final, definitive, answer to why we do these things, except we want to see IF we can.

I recall doing it on my CM450 Honda for exactly that reason. Actually, the speedo hit 180kpoh/110moh., but I was never sure of its accuracy.
 
Did it the last time my 850 was on the road, most scary bike moment ever, was pretty squirmish the entire bike so I quickly let down and returned to normal speeds. My sv1000s though does the ton with an uncanny calm stature, even pushed it to an indicated 220km/h and not a thing, solid a set rock. Could probably be described as being in the eye of the storm 😄
 
argonsagas said:
I don't recall anyone ever having the final, definitive, answer to why we do these things, except we want to see IF we can.

I recall doing it on my CM450 Honda for exactly that reason. Actually, the speedo hit 180kpoh/110moh., but I was never sure of its accuracy.

My 86, 450 Rebel tops out at 110 as well.
Click to expand...
 
I think that doing 100mph on an under 600cc bike is allot more "exciting" than on a larger more powerful bike because you have more time to think about what you're actually doing. My 1100 will hit the 100mph mark in way less than a 1/4 mile, but doing it on a 250 or 450.. heck a 550cc, requires allot more road, allot more time, and sometimes more technique (laying down on the tank, pulling elbows in, etc). I think its excellent that got out there and did it on your 450!
 
gustovh said:
argonsagas said:
I don't recall anyone ever having the final, definitive, answer to why we do these things, except we want to see IF we can.

I recall doing it on my CM450 Honda for exactly that reason. Actually, the speedo hit 180kpoh/110moh., but I was never sure of its accuracy.

My 86, 450 Rebel tops out at 110 as well.
Click to expand...

my speedometer doesn't hit 100... hence the rider behind me.

we do these things...simply because we can.
Click to expand...
 
My sister had a newer 450 Rebel than ran like a top. 90 would be a stretch. It takes a lot more to get to 100. I've never seen a 450 GS that would get there. I remember guys with CB450's that claimed an easy 120. I once got an "indicated" 108 on a new XS650, and no 450 twin anything stayed with me back then.
 

GPS Documented -- 1983 GS850 GL with windscreen - (easy for an 850) ;)
IMG_20151101_160249893_HDR_zpsz9qcyzct.jpg
 
wymple said:
My sister had a newer 450 Rebel than ran like a top. 90 would be a stretch. It takes a lot more to get to 100. I've never seen a 450 GS that would get there. I remember guys with CB450's that claimed an easy 120. I once got an "indicated" 108 on a new XS650, and no 450 twin anything stayed with me back then.
Click to expand...

We have a 2006 Rebel 450 now, and agree 90 would be about its limit.

The mentioned CM450 was a 1982 model, and it was decidedly better at high speeds than the one we have now. I say "we" because this one is for my wife.

My old Bandit 1200 would clear 100 in second gear, but it had a few engine mods and would happily pull to just over 11000rpm before the power curve dropped away, really quickly.
 
wymple said:
It takes a lot more to get to 100. I've never seen a 450 GS that would get there.
Click to expand...

Come on down to Florida, we will hit the same road. I ain't skeerd to do it again. You will have to be on a call with me and tell me when I do hit 100, or I could do the GPS thing if I had a GPS.... My speedo is a little short over 85mph. No more tick marks past that.
 
I've topped out the speedo on my GS450 but wasn't near 100mph. Definitely had a little more but at that speed on that bike (at least on my bike) hitting a pebble on the road can give you the wobbles :worked_till_5am::worked_till_5am::worked_till_5am:
 
I had my 81 GS550T up over 105mph, then a glass fuse vibrated sideways and slipped out of contact. Did not know what happened but found the issue very quick and rode on.
No biggie except with the law.
Had my 82 GS1100G up over 115mph last summer no problem, only worried I was close to the bias ply's H rating of just 130mph. Not a limit I wanna explore.
 
"We have a 2006 Rebel 450 now, and agree 90 would be about its limit."

Honda quit making the 450 Rebel in 87, and have only sold 250's since.

V
 
gustovh said:
"We have a 2006 Rebel 450 now, and agree 90 would be about its limit."

Honda quit making the 450 Rebel in 87, and have only sold 250's since.

V
Click to expand...


You are right, of course. It is a 250.

Must go bang my head a bit more to shake the facts back into place. :stupid:
 
wymple said:
My sister had a newer 450 Rebel than ran like a top. 90 would be a stretch. It takes a lot more to get to 100. I've never seen a 450 GS that would get there. I remember guys with CB450's that claimed an easy 120. I once got an "indicated" 108 on a new XS650, and no 450 twin anything stayed with me back then.
Click to expand...
It takes 30bhp for an unfaired motorcycle to do the ton.
If it's geared right, and can't do that, something is out of whack.

Spiff said:
Did it the last time my 850 was on the road, most scary bike moment ever, was pretty squirmish the entire bike so I quickly let down and returned to normal speeds.
Click to expand...
That's not inherently the fault of the bike - worn suspension, wheel bearings, swingarm bearings, forks (sliders, bearings) and tyres all play a part. A GS850 in good order will sit quite happily all day long at 80, 90, 100mph, in a rock-solid fashion - I used to earn a living by sitting at a constant cruise of 85mph for hours on end.
If yours didn't, there's something wrong.
 
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Grimly said:
That's not inherently the fault of the bike - worn suspension, wheel bearings, swingarm bearings, forks (sliders, bearings) and tyres all play a part. A GS850 in good order will sit quite happily all day long at 80, 90, 100mph, in a rock-solid fashion - I used to earn a living by sitting at a constant cruise of 85mph for hours on end.
If yours didn't, there's something wrong.
Click to expand...

Well the tires where new, so that wasn't the problem, bearings where good too, no play in them. Rear suspension though might have been a likely culprit. There was also some rust issues around the sidestand area we discovered when we tore apart the bike so that might have weakened the frame and perhaps induces some frame flex?
 
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