CB500 or GPZ500 Whats best?

[pjgaffney1]

Hi all just passed direct access, eventually like to get cbr600f, but am going to start on a 500. Two bikes in mind honda cb500 or kwaka gpz500, as i've heard these are v.good bikes to get a years experience on any advice on which is best much appreciated cheers all.

[arry]

Can't tell you much about the CB500 but I can tell you about the GPZ500

I had one for about 6 months after passing my test, and then upgraded to my current CBR600FW

Things I liked about it:
Comfy, good wind protection, reliable (well, mine was), economical, reasonably sharp handling for the type of bike that it is, good little engine when you wind it up hard, cheap as chips to insure

Dislikes:
The brakes were gash (later ones have twin disc at front, which must be a big improvement), it's rattly at idle due to being a parallel, it wasn't particularly "sophisticated feeling" to ride, the rear suspension especially was a bit saggy and felt detached

Overall for ~£700 you could do a lot worse for a bike, that's for sure.

[Kickstart]

[Ingah]

The CB500S (half-faired CB500) is apparently better than the GPZ500S (half-faired GPZ500), but is disproportionally more expensive. For £700 or so i'd probably pick up a much better GPZ500 than CB5 (i'd go for the GPZ in this circumstance).

The reason i said CB500S was that CB500 vs GPZ500S is going to be a debate of unfaired vs half-faired. They're not really directly comparable, more a case of whether you want fairing.

I'd happily ride either one of them (i only bought the CB500 because i wanted the unfaired 500 that the media said was the best all round). Personally i'd leave it a case of finding the best bike for your money (so either bike), and of course avoiding the GS500 and ER5 as they're the lower-rated, less powerful, more budget, naffer versions, of the 500cc commuter class.
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-- Ingah

[stinkwheel]

Performance is almost identical on paper.

The GPZ delivers the power in a more entertaining manner with plodding torque up to 6,500rpm. A flat spot at 7,000rpm then a reasonable burst of revvy power from 8,000 up to 10,500rpm.

Keep the revs up and they are good fun. Keep them down and you'll do 60mpg.

The GPZ has marginally more sophisticated suspension. The CB has better brakes. The CB is more solidly put together. The GPZ is cheaper.

They are almost exactly the same size and have identical riding positions (even though the don't look like they do).

The CB500S does indeed have a half fairing. It has no belly pan and is still not as much fun to ride as the GPZ.

Not much to choose. It's basically Honda build quality versus Kawasaki power delivery and styling. It'll come down to which is the best example you can find for your price at the end of the day.

Given the choice. I'd have the kawasaki (and did, twice). Given the choice for my girlfriend who rides faster than her experience should dictate and isn't much cop at maintainance, I'd choose the Honda (and did).

As you'll see from this picture I did a while back. They are almost identical bikes in terms of geometry and size:
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/cbontop.jpg
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[el_oso]

have had a fair few problems with a GPZ500 but nothing serious. all stuff that is fairly easy to replace. having said that it has been through all weathers, a quarry and has been down the road a few times with no serious problems + not the best care was taken of it.

as said before the front brake is crap.

it is a really fun learner bike. keep the revs high and you can get over 100mph in no time at all and top speed is over 120mph which to be honest is more than fast enough for roads in this country. It is also quite easy to get very low aswell
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Duke 390
Previous: '05 XR125L | '96 XJ600S Diversion |'05 Suzuki GSXR1000 | '05 Honda CBR125-R | '97 YZF 600R Thundercat | '11 Honda CBR250
Car: Jeep Wrangler 4.0L

[Kal]

As said above they are both much of a muchness and I personally would be happy with either.

I spent the first six months after passing my test onboard a CB500 with an Ark can which gave it a handful of extra bhp and burbled nicely on the over run.

It felt very surefooted almost as if it could be flicked around just by my hips at lower speeds. The power delivery was very linear up to around 10k when it found some enough power from somewhere to put a big grin on my face.

There is plenty of good spares support for the CB500 via David Silver and other suppliers.

At this stage of the game the major decisive factor between examples of the CB500 and the GPZ500s will be the condition that the individual bikes are in.

However you couldn't go wrong with a decent example of either one.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[stinkwheel]

But it should be stressed, go for a later model GPZ (post '96, L-reg onwards) with the 17" wheels and rear disc brake. Not because the bigger wheels handle any better than the 16" ones and the drum brake was actually better.

It's just the earlier ones have the potential for the alternator side of the engine to eat itself in an expensive manner.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[crowe]

Have you considered a Kawasaki er5 ? i know they are slightly less powerful thanthe gpz BUT they are common and cheaper to find. I own one and it's ideal for casual riding and commuting. Plus it has the advantage of being fairly cheap which suits me because it's my first big bike. It's a right little work-horse and i love it (i almost got a gpz but it was a fair few hundred pounds more!)

[bacon]

or just get the cbr600f now?.....

my first bike after das was a year ago was a cbr600fs, my bros first bike after his das was a cbr600f

fantastic bikes mate, very comfy, great wind protection, very fast, great first big bike

[pjgaffney1]

Hi all recently posted cb500 or gpz500 for first bike, and then a cbr600f, got some great ideas then one said just get cbr600f after das what does everybody think cbr600f good for a new rider or too much all answers much appreciated.

[arry]

[mchaggis]