Riding on the interstate question about power

I just picked up a 80 650 a few weeks ago and put a couple of hundred miles on it so far. I got on the interstate for the first time on it and it seemed to struggle to make it over 75 mph. I was running into a headwind but I feel the bike should not be at full throttle at 75. Is this normal for a 650? The bike runs well otherwise. It starts first try gets about 42 mpg accelerates well and no smoke. It has been about 36,900 miles.I will try the interstate again but it seems that it should have more power to accelerate above 75.
Thanks for the help.
Lee

 

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your new purchase. A few things that you may want to look at right away:

- Check your valve shim clearances
- Do a compression test only after the valves are in spec.
- Get the carbs cleaned, synced, and fine tuned only after the other two items have been done.

If you are having issues after that it will be easier to troubleshoot the issue, other wise you will be shooting in the dark and chasing your tail.

Does you bike has the original exhaust and air box?

Cheers,

 

All that, and I wouldn't be surprised if the brakes are hanging up a bit too....

 

Thanks for the info. The exhaust and airbox are stock and the filter is clean. I haven't checkedthe valves but I replaced the front brake master cylinder and checked the rear brake
Thanks
Lee

 

Thanks for the info. The exhaust and airbox are stock and the filter is clean. I haven't checkedthe valves but I replaced the front brake master cylinder and checked the rear brake
Thanks
Lee

 

Follow the advice you were given, plus new spark plugs.

Once it's sorted out you'll feel like you're reining it in to keep it below 75.

 

what other bikes have you ridden ?

 

Carl's right.

A healthy 650 should easily top 100mph, headwind or not. I know a healthy, fairingless 550 certainly will.

The bike needs work. Start with your valve clearances, since you can't properly set up the carbs until they're in spec.

 

there's no frame of reference, maybe his 650 needs tuned up or maybe he has a R1 in the garage.......?

 

Also how much do you weigh ?

There was a guy who rode a ninja 500 around here he was 375ish I can say my rebel 250 with me on it was a heck of a lot faster.

 

My 650 maxim loved to roll about 75 all day long. Could easily do 90, and then drop to 4th gear and unwind into the power band.....

Yep, once she's dialed in, hang on.

Dave

 

Or wish you had!! :twisted: 8)

Ghost

 

I'll try the valve adjust and carb sync next weekend. Sadly there is no r1 in the garage but there is a honda xr400 and a ninja 650 twin in there. I weigh in at about 230 so no lightweight but not morbidly obese either. The bike has performed wonderful so far that's why I was surprised with the interstate performance. The headwind was pretty strong so it may have been a combination of tune and wind. I willfind our after the tune up. Thanks for the help!! Also I do not know why I am double posting....mobile phone maybe?
Thanks,
Lee

 

My wife's 650 has no problem running 75+ even 2 up. In fact we can easily run away from the father in laws 750 shadow. Like these guys have said check your valves, do a compression test and a general tune up.

 

Great advice from the folks in the forum. Carbs cleaned and valves adjusted, my 650 Seca will roll at 80 all day with power to spare.

 

Dude I live in one of the windyest places in the US.... That isn't it. Once you have your valves in spec then sync and color tune your carbs. I bet that this makes a huge difference. My 550 gets up to 75 in 3rd gear. Your bike should hit 75 with no problems so there is an issue somewhere...

 

I just realized I never replied back with the solution I found for this problem so when it is searched you have an answer. It turned out that my plug wires for cylinder #1 and #4 were slightly cracked on the plug end causing the m to arc when I was over 4200 rpm intermittantly. New wires and 2200 miles later it is running great!

 

I find that it feels like we need a 6th gear myself. At hwy speeds 65+ i am turning 5k it just feels like there should be another gear there.

 

That's becasue you are used to a low revving engine. 5k is midrange for your bike, and that's where the best combination of power and fuel economy can be found at highway speeds.

 

Get a 550 they have a 6th gear.

 

Yeah, was just about to say what k-moe said first.

Actually there was an identical comment about 6th gear a few years ago.

I remember thinking that would be nice for interstate cruising, until my riding buddy and I swapped bikes on our first weekend ride together.

He has a VStrom, and 6th gear is completely useless. Once you get fast enough to lock it in, the bike has no steam at all - you're basically able to keep the momentum on a strait stretch with no hills or wind. The moment you need to rev to pass/change lanes/pull out of a curve, you practically need to drop to 5th, then 4th to get the torque back

 

I guess I just got used to the rpm's on the highway. As a matter of fact, all three of my bikes sit 'high' in the rpms on the highway. Keep in mind, these are NOT America's favorite V-twins. I felt a bit unnerved the first time I took my 1400cc V-twin on the highway. At 60 mph it stays at 3100 rpm. My XJ is at a smooth 4800 at the same speed. Both bikes are only at 50% rpm to thier redline. And believe it or not, both get above 40mpg.

 

I can agree with that. I will admit that at HWY speed I still feel like I am only half way through the power band. Which is great for passing or otherwise getting out of the way of the clueless.

 

At HWY speed, you're probably only half way TO the powerband!!!

Dave F