Hey guys, this is my first time buying or working on a motorcycle, I have a little bit of experience working on cars and engines from taking a mechanics class but I am still in high school. I have already checked the compression on my bike which was fine, I was going to go through the whole list for checking an old v twin but I haven't got to it yet and if the bike is in good running condition I might start my project of turning it into a café racer. It only has 12000km on it but it has been sitting outside in the past, but it runs really well at the moment, one of the first things I would like to know more about is pod filters. I have heard a lot about how it can increase flow and I like that open look, however I also heard it can make the bike run really badly and I am not sure why or if it would on this particular model, I was also thinking of getting an aftermarket slip on exhaust so then I would rejet and sync the crabs anyways which I think would not be too much of a problem. Any opinions on air pods or what I should do first would be greatly appreciated.
New Member - New Project 1982 Honda Nighthawk 450
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Honda designed his bike to run their best as made. Any change in the air filter ,or exhaust will change the air flow thru the carbs and will cause poor running. You can run pods and change the mufflers but buy a box of plugs and a bunch of jets and start doing plug chops till you find the right combination. Good Luck.
Bill H
Bill H
Thanks for the advice, I was also wondering if any of you guys had heard of 6sigma jet kits? I was thinking of getting dna filters OV-5400 pods and possibly a new exhaust to be more free flowing and a little louder but not obnoxious lol. Should I just get a dyno kit? Or try out this 6sigma kit? I know I still might have to plug chop but at least I would have a good base line?
Go on the net and look up Kevin Cameron Explains How to Tune Carburetors. I dont know anything about those kits. You can change to the pods and free flow mufflers. Probably get it to run right but the motor will not run as well as it does now. Increase the flow thru the carbs and lesson the back pressure from the mufflers. You will have to go to larger jets and maybe change the needle position or maybe the needle. You will have a richer mixture but with out higher compression , different cam and hotter ing you are not going to gain much if anything. Its your bike and you want to change the looks go for it. If you do it the knowledge you will gain will be invaluable. I wish you well and good luck.
Bill H
Bill H
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