Valve Adjustment Shims

[LucienLeFranc]

Thank you sir! I will read!

[1973cb750]

Noob question here, quite possibly a dumb one, so apologies in advance:

I seem to remember reading here or somewhere that some experienced folks skip checking CB1100 valves "since they're never out of spec for this precision machine," or something to that effect.

Did I misunderstand that?  Or maybe I generalized one member's extreme minority opinion? Do folks truly not hassle with checking the CB1100 valves, or am I on the wrong track and they definitely need checking per the maintenance schedule?

Thanks in advance for helping the new guy.

all this people i have done flashes for and talked too report most bikes dont need adjustment at all i checked mine at 8k and all were in spec     i have talked to a few owners with 150k plus and theirs didnt need it either a check is not bad to do every 10k or 20k

[dave]

It doesn't matter what you ride (unless it's electric), but all valves will eventually go out of adjustment. I believe that the majority of people who visit this forum ride their CB1100's quit conservatively, and what I mean by that is their bike rarely, if ever, sees redline. I've only had my CB1100 past 6,000 RPM twice since I've owned it. The higher the engine RPM, the more stress on the valves, and the more wear. Some people may choose to never check their valve clearances, and I understand why. It's a PITA if you do it yourself, and very expensive if performed by a shop (do you really trust the shop to work on your bike?). Can someone please respond who has had a recent valve adjustment performed by the shop and tell us how much it cost? As much as I hate checking the valve clearance on my "modern" motorcycles (I can adjust all the valves on my 1976 CB750F Honda in less than two hours), I still believe it is better safe than sorry, so I check mine. The damage caused by an out of adjustment valve (too tight) my appear to happen suddenly, but it doesn't. Excess wear accumulates over the course of several thousand miles until suddenly one day your bike fails to idle smoothly, or fails to start at all. By this time the damage is done, and you're talking a very expensive bill.

[MagnaRider]

I do agree with you Dave, but just to anyone else who comes into this thread I know 1973cb and my CB1100 see plenty of redline or full throttle runs.
I can't say for 1973 but my last valve check everything was in spec at 20k miles two years ago, but I will be checking it again this winter just for the sake of it. Hoping it is just a valve check again as to do the adjustment and pull the cams sounds like less fun lol