A Japanese Twin with Big - Bike Punch

Annoying vibration
In bottom and second gears vibration is annoying, especially to the passenger who feels it through the seat. But this is much less apparent when the engine is pulling strongly, particularly in the higher rev gears. It is possible and extremely plesant, to push along between 75 and 80mph on the motorway for mile after mile with no sign of stress. When travelling at this sort of pace it is easy to keep the engine on song in the flexiable top gear, which can't be done on the 250 where it is ofted necessary to snick into third to keep the revs up. Only on stiff gradients and in blustery conditions is frequent cog-swapping any real assistance to high speed crusing. Nevertheless, like all Hondas, the test model was happiest at intermediate speeds if frequent use was made of the gear box. The main object is to keep the engine turning over above 5000rpm. Below this the engine is definitely out if its element. The CB77 revs so easily and so reliably that the hige engine speeds are no disadvantage. That is what the OHC engine is built for, an dwhat it likes best. Gear ghange on the test model was lighter and more plesant than is usual with the big Honda twins. Only a slight clunk was noticed when engaging bottom gear from the rest

Isolated fault
One poor feature was a slight roughness in the transmission as the clutch was engaged. However, previous experience has shown that this is peculiar to the particular model on the thst. The machine is slightly overgeared in top. 9000rpm represents 103mph, but patient repetition of electronically timed runs proved 96mph to be absolute top whack under normal conditions. Nevertheless, 96 in not too muck effort for the CB77 and there is a margin for the day when you are going downhill or there is a force 8 gale behind you. Then it is highly likely that you will pass the magic 100 mark.