Speaking of small blocks…

[Dirk_S]

I finally got ahold of a V50 police solo seat off eBay to fit onto my ‘16 V7. Left Germany a couple weeks ago, and appears to have already been cleared through U.S. customs and on its way. Looking forward to figuring out how to work it onto the V7, hopefully avoiding any need to chop the seat pan. It’ll definitely require at least some mod, because the V7’s 5 gal tank sticks farther back than the V50’s tank on the SB frame—no wonder I’ve always felt like I was really reaching forward on my v7 compared to other standard bikes I’ve had.

I had read about how some countries foolishly chose to use the V50 and V65 bikes as police vehicles in an era of Ferraris, etc., and I thought to myself ‘well duh, I mean, if today’s V7s can’t even put out 50 hp, I can imagine what a V50 did’. Then I looked at the numbers on motorcyclespecs, and it looks like the V50 not only put out about the same horsepower as today’s 750cc bikes, but they were also close to 75 pounds lighter. They may not have been able to keep up with the sport cars, but surely, they seemed to have performed well for their displacement. Heck, my Kawasaki KZ400 didn’t come near those numbers.

Those of you who own or rode V50s, I’d love to see your thoughts on those bikes versus today. I don’t think enough is shared about those earlier SBs…at least not of late.

[Matteo]

This is my 84 V50III with heads and manifolds by Ed Milich. Not much faster than stock but pulls cleanly through redline allowing better top end.


At 350 lbs it’s a treat.

[malik]

I've ridden with a few of the older smallblocks - they seem to be faster than the modern smallblocks,  but then some of them are Monzas & I've found that Monza riders tend to be faster anyway, whatever they ride.

[SLDMRossi]

I've got a red, '81 V50 set up as a Police bike...solo saddle, with a pair of hard bags tucked in behind on the Police brackets...just behind the rear crash bars. With a Radio Box replica on the rear rack. It's a III, but with early tank and side covers. And of course, Linked Brakes, too...as it should be.

If I could ever figure out how to post a picture on this site I would.

Long story short...the V50 (and V65, too) are under appreciated because most folks don't know what they are.

Steven Rossi

[Scout63]

I would never call my v50ii fast.  The period tests had it right. Whatever power there is lives above 5k.  The sound, however, is magical.



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[wrbix]

Make pretty nice cafe’s too:

[Chuck in Indiana]

The sound, however, is magical.

Ayup.  The Kid has my Monza now.. it's a hoot on a twisty road, but slow as molasses and boring on a straight road. The small block is a sweetheart, though..and sounds bitchin..

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

"Same horsepower". Maybe claimed/brochure hp, but here in the real world, no way. Yes, lighter though. The '13 V7 Stone I owned briefly would run rings around the '82 V50 III I own now. I'm not saying the V50 isn't peppy - it is, much more so than the V50 IIs that I worked on last year. On my 20+ mile test ride today (still working to resurrect it after it sitting for years) it was very enjoyable. Power is adequate, handling and brakes very good, suspension could use a little help.