Motorcycle Repair: GL500I Engine straining, head gasket problem, caliper pistons

Question
Hi Bill,
Glad your available, Here's the issue; My engine seems to be straining in 5th gear at about 50mph likes it's waiting for a 6th gear. I thought it was my front brakes because they were sticking and the tail light was almost constantly on, I would get the brakes to unstick by pumping the front brake handle. When it freed it seemed to have run fine. I had them work on the front brakes and had new fluid installed by a Honda dealer. Yet I'm still having this issue. It seems like it's winding out way to early in each gear. I can't really go over 50mph without it sounding like the engine is going to explode, not to mention that it was close to running in the red on the temp gauge. Any help on this issue will be well appreciated.
Thank you,
Jeff

Answer
Jeff, certainly any excessive rotational drag is harmful to the engine and the bike and maybe you if the brakes seize up while driving.

Brake drag is either a product of sticking caliper pistons, due to piston seals swelling up in the caliper bodies because of corrosion buildup... AND/OR the tiny bleed hole in the floor of the master cylinder is plugged up. Make sure that both items are addressed before you continue to ride the bike.

I have had both 500 and 650 CX/GL models and the 500s were short geared and always winding high at freeway speeds.

In order to ensure that the engine is running properly, you must adjust the valves, check compression, have a completely clean fuel system from gas cap vent to float bowls.. top to bottom.

Assuming that you don't have any ignition timing/coil/pulse coil issues with the sparks, then all that is left is the rolling chassis resistance to contend with. You probably could swap in a GL650 final drive to reduce the rpms on the road.

Running near RED on the temp gauge while on the highway can indicate that there is a head gasket problem, thermostat/water pump/radiator issue or it was struggling due to brake drag problems. When the brakes drag the rotors overheat and can burn the pads. The rotors will warp and then you have a new set of problems.

Bill Silver