CB500 Reviews, Views etc?

[iCraig]

Right, after many years of moaning on IRC about my bikes and now is the time I am after a new bike one model has come up time and time again.

The Honda CB500, this time I am listening to the guys in there as they seem to be right most of the time.

So I am in the market for a CB500, and wondered if anything I should look out for when buying one. Things like niggles, problems etc etc.

Owners reviews would be nice also, this bike I shall buy next will stay with me for atleast 2 years I reckon as one of my main bikes.

[Itchy]

did you say CB500 or CBF500?

look out for a super limited grey CB500SS which is a 72BHP monster , which looks identical to a CB500S and is rarer than a problem free day for phanny as regards to his ER5.

on that note rear drums on older CB500s last longer than disc pads , depending on your rear brake usage
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Johnny GSX-R]

My old fella has been around Europe on his AND the Arctic Circle.. Its a 2001 'Y' reg with 70,000 miles on the clock and NEVER needed anything replacing except the usual consumables..
Its on its original clutch, wheel bearings, exhaust system etc.

Here it is, i took this as i was about to board the Ferry from Santander in Spain...... he'd just got off it going to Portugal.

[phantomtek]

[innominate]

They are good.

Mine is going now I have the FJR, but I never had a bad word to say against it. They even bounce off Audi's quite well, with minimal damage
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I, as a responsible adult human being, will never concede the power to anyone to regulate my choice of what I put into my body, or where I go with my mind. From the skin inwards is my jurisdiction, is it not? I choose what may or may not cross that border. Here I am the customs agent. I am the coast-guard. I am the sole legal and spiritual government of this territory, and only the laws I choose to enact within myself are applicable.

[Simple]

More expensive to buy generally than a GPZ500s which is what I chose but in saying that it's a honda so I'd guess (an I am guessing here) it will be less rattly and more confidence inspiring than the GPZ.

The CB500s is alot nicer looking than the unfaired one in my view on asthetics.


One in my local paper for 1.5grand with alot more miles than my gpz I picked up foralmost half that
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Insta - FemFeral

[FreshAL]

Owners club with buyers guide and forums

https://groups.msn.com/CB500CLUB/

[Whosthedaddy]

My bike school instructors used the CB500's, they looked cool with the small front fairing, much cooler then the stodgy ER5 I had to ride
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Wave2k]

It may be reliable, but you have had about 5 500s over the years and they have all pretty much been crap.
sure now you have the CB450 for commuting, why not get something a little more fun rather than another shit bike ?
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Ducati 1299 Panigale
2009 Corvette C6 z51
RS125->CBR400->RXS100->GSXR750K2->Ducati749S->CBR600RR5->TL1000R->DRz400->RSVR1000->Honda VTR SP1->CBR400->GSXR1000K6->Honda H100->CBR600RR3->Ducati1299

[TheShaggyDA]

Had mine a week and loving it

The riding position is more of a lean forward than the bolt upright I'm used to with the Enfield and BMW, but not enough to give my wrists a problem yet.

So far, the longest I've spent in the saddle is 2 hours. The seat is firm, and it was starting to get uncomfortable, but that could be due to the fact I've lost 3 stone recently and no longer have the padding I used to have. Time will tell.

I've never been much of a scratcher, but the suspension & tyres (BT45s) seem very well planted and I'm sure if the urge took me, knee down would be quite achieveable. The bike seems to take what I throw at it without flinching.

The engine is great. It's a bit lumpy below 3,500 revs ("they're all like that"), smooths out at 4k, has a nice flat torque line between there and 8k. Above 8k is the domain of the "more interesting" portion of the power curve, but to be honest, I've not ventured there much yet.

The gearbox is a clunk into first from neutral, another clunk (but not as much) as you go up to second, but the remainder are a nice clean "snick". I've found the clutch optional from second upwards

The gear spacing is a bit weird (for me, at least). First and second are what you expect, then it feels as though there's a gap in the ratios as you go to 3rd. 4th seems close to 3rd, then another jump in ratios to 5th. 6th is more of an overdrive. It will accelerate in top, but it's best to drop down one. Never have any difficulty in finding neutral, and (unlike the Enfield) there's only one of them

Brakes are great. One finger on the front, rarely have to touch the rear. Again, I'm comparing 1950s drum to a modern disc, but it's quite confidence inspiring.

I've (only) had mine up to the ton so far, and to be honest without a screen of any sort I can't see myself being above 90 for any length of time. The bike can do it, I can't. I'm tending to sit on the motorway at 75-80mph, which is the point where the wind blast is enough to keep the weight off my wrists, but not so much my helmet feels like my neck's been broken.

Consumption on my first tank was an impressive 62mpg - 200 miles without hitting reserve - I expected a lot less considering the treatment I thought I was handing out. Apparently I ride like a pussy though, as "normal" riding is supposed to return 55mpg, and "riding properly" returns 45mpg. The reserve tank range is supposed to be piddly, at about 15 miles. Not needed it yet.

Only downside is it's developed a noise I can't trace yet - it might be the speedo drive (hopefully) but it might be as serious as the gearbox output shaft bearing (Oh please God no). Will be looking into it over the weekend.

As mentioned in another post, https://groups.msn.com/CB500CLUB/ is a good source of info, and has some quite knowledgeable people on it.

Shop around if you are not going to service it yourself - An official Honda dealership (swanky showroom, receptionist, posh coffee) quoted £300 for the 16k service, which is just the valve adjustment one, whereas a local small dealer (who has been dealing and working with Hondas for 30 years) quoted £175 + materials for a combined 12k (fluids) + 16k service. I'm have having this dealer do the full monty for me (no, not get naked) so that I know exactly from which position I can start. Eventually I'll get myself some vacuum guages so I can keep on top of the carbs too.

The GPZ I test rode does have a useful fairing, but the engine felt less refined than the CB. Although I bought the naked bike, I'd have preferred the S with the small fairing. I won't mention the Virago I test rode too

Insurance for me was £140 from Ebike, (TPFT, 39, 1 year NCB, 6 points, NN2, garaged, no additional security). Probably could have got it cheaper, but wanted it now, now, now

Hope this helps, it definately gets a big from me
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[Lawnie]

I've got one at the moment. Good amount of power, and nice looks. I would write more but I need to go out!

[iCraig]

[McJamweasel]

[WULFSTAN]

did you end up getting one?
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Your backside is better enough for you to run again, if need be – bristle up the courage of the cornered rat, put on a bold front, and to hell with them. Bluff my boy – bluff, shift and lie for the sake of your neck and the honour of Old England

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Woo, necro resurrection. 5 years, 4 months and one week later, I've still got the CB.
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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[WULFSTAN]

haha am not surprised there great little bikes
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Your backside is better enough for you to run again, if need be – bristle up the courage of the cornered rat, put on a bold front, and to hell with them. Bluff my boy – bluff, shift and lie for the sake of your neck and the honour of Old England

[reddeviljp]

Just missed out on one on ebay which went for £800. Looked very good but I'm pretty sure I'll get one just not yet.

[WULFSTAN]

u can get one for a lot less than 800 mine was 450 an its mint
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Your backside is better enough for you to run again, if need be – bristle up the courage of the cornered rat, put on a bold front, and to hell with them. Bluff my boy – bluff, shift and lie for the sake of your neck and the honour of Old England

[reddeviljp]

I've noticed on Autotrader the CB500s are going for £900+ whereas ebay they're going for half that price. Must be a reason but they don't look any better.