GB500

[jedd_imp]

Hey guys:
I came across this bike for sale in my local CL:
Austin CL





I never even knew Honda sold one of these cool looking bikes.
It's f/s for $8950...don't know if that's the going price on one of these.
What do you guys know about them?
Anyone here who onwed one, ....what's the word on this?

 

[the Ferret]

jedd it's a 4 valve 500 single cyl Honda made in 89-90 for the US (other sizes available in Europe). Never sold well. Americans just weren't into 500 singles for the street. At that time frame they were also not into retros resembling Manx Nortons. Talk about left overs lol.

Gosh you are pushing my memory but I think they sold new for $3500-$4500. Have no idea what one might be worth now.

 

[Capo]

Old pic, but Just so happen to have one in my collection. 500 original miles, likely one of the nicest ones left. I do a few 50 mile jaunts each summer on it. It is a 'momentum' bike, not much of a performer, but a lovely machine. Meant to evoke the memory of Brit cafe bikes, but 10 years ahead of the retro curve.

Not unlike the CB. Beautiful, finished to a high level, good but not great performance, overpriced when new, left to flounder by Honda 'marketing' and cheap as chips used. But, hopefully alike for the CB, now regarded as a minor classic and inching up in price.

If I didn't have a bunch of bikes I'd mod and ride it, but it's just too low mileage to do that. I bought it from a guy who had it in his living room, so at least I've given it company in the garage. I've seen one still in the crate go for $12k.




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[Carguy1959_imp]

Single cylinder and dual pipes out of head, very cool

 

[jedd_imp]

I noticed that, after Ferret mentioned that it's a thumper, i said what the???. two pipes! Thats Freakin' cool as can be.

Capo,that's a gorgeous toy you have there, you lucky guy. such a
luxury to own a classic beauty w/ only 500 miles.

 

[flynrider]

I noticed that, after Ferret mentioned that it's a thumper, i said what the???. two pipes! Thats Freakin' cool as can be.

Capo,that's a gorgeous toy you have there, you lucky guy. such a
luxury to own a classic beauty w/ only 500 miles.

That wasn't the first time they did that. The '82 FT500 Ascot was a four valve 500cc thumper with the same configuration.

 

['64]

Hey guys:
I came across this bike for sale in my local CL:
Austin CL





I never even knew Honda sold one of these cool looking bikes.
It's f/s for $8950...don't know if that's the going price on one of these.
What do you guys know about them?
Anyone here who onwed one, ....what's the word on this?

I did have one of these in Spain, the European Honda XBR500, that I bought in 1996 -already a classic model from the late 80's- and sold before moving to the US in 2003. The original black color was quite faded, so my mechanic of the time talked me into the yellow custom paint. I never thought that the comstar wheels were appropriate for that bike but there was no spike wheels option at the time.

Like Capo mentioned, it did not have a stellar performance, but it was so low, light, easy to ride and reliable (even kick starter available), that I would have kept it if I could. The sound of that engine was like a little farm tractor, and I never had any mechanical issue with it. Oil, filters and checking the valves from time to time, that was it.


Perfect for the city traffic, the best possible alternative for a scooter that I can think about. With the late comeback of the cafe-racer-mania, I suppose that is a very sought after model. I don't believe that is a valid reference anymore, but I sold/gave away mine with 25 thousand Km. to a guy from Barcelona for 1800 Euros. I will buy it back if I could .

 

[Elipten_imp]

The GB500 is a cult classic and prices are high.

 

[LongRanger_imp]

I occasionally see them on eBay for $6000-$7000. Really cool bike, ahead of its time for a retro IMO. White Bros made a big bore kit for these, which helped performance. I periodically toy with buying one, but haven't. Carburetors are a bit of a non-starter for me anymore.

 

[Capo]

I occasionally see them on eBay for $6000-$7000. Really cool bike, ahead of its time for a retro IMO. White Bros made a big bore kit for these, which helped performance. I periodically toy with buying one, but haven't. Carburetors are a bit of a non-starter for me anymore.

8 years of ownership. Each spring, I air up the tires, open the petcock, hit the choke, press the button, and it starts up and runs perfectly. Same as my Bonneville. The fear of carbs is vastly overstated. Ask any KLR650 rider.

 

[rboe]

Living in Arizona, with a XR650L (basically the same motor) the fear of carbs is very well founded. I had to buy a another carb to solve a problem I couldn't sort on the original carb.

I test rode one back in around 91 or so. Thought it was a bit vibby (I thought it was a twin - what did I know? I had been out of motorcycles for ten years), very pricy for the size and power offered but knowing what I know now I would have waited till the prices drop and bought a couple. It's a huge reason why I got the CB.

Being cheap I can't justify one now unless I got it for a reasonable price; but it would be a very cool bike to have.

 

[LongRanger_imp]

Not so much fear as reality. I live at 8000' and frequently ride at 10,000 - 12,000'. Fuel injection seems to handle the higher elevations better than carbs. I sold a perfectly good, carbureted SV650 because it struggled with the elevation.

 

[flynrider]

Not so much fear as reality. I live at 8000' and frequently ride at 10,000 - 12,000'. Fuel injection seems to handle the higher elevations better than carbs. I sold a perfectly good, carbureted SV650 because it struggled with the elevation.

That's a big deal at your altitude. Manufacturers used to sell jet kits to retrofit carbs that lived above around 5k ft. CV carbs could compensate a little better than the old slide carbs, but neither compares to fuel injection.

I've only had issues with carbs on bikes that sit for long periods. The carbs on my CB750 (which is ridden regularly) haven't been touched since they were new over 20 years ago.

 

[the Ferret]

Being in the midwest carbs ( including motorcycles) can get iffy during particularly harsh winters with many snow days. It WAS an issue before I discovered Seafoam. Not since then. All my carbed stuff gets a Seafoam treatment when not being used, sometimes for months on things like chainsaws or mowers or weedeaters, and never a problem when they need to be fired up again.