CB500 winter bike...

[Serendipity]

...but it’s too nice to be classed as a hack.

I sold my Fireblade a few weeks ago because it was on the verge of developing some expensive engine problems. The buyer was fully aware of the issues, so no guilt.

Once I had the cash in my pocket I happened to be in a local showroom when I caught sight of an old, but tidy looking CB500 parked up outside. I enquired if it was a customer bike or up for sale and found out that it was a recent part exchange.

I looked over it and it was a 1995 N reg with 89,000 on the clock so I was preparing to walk away when I did a double-take and saw it was actually 8,900 miles! It was up for sale at £1295, but I was in a position to haggle so I went in with an offer of £950 and they ripped my arm off. I should have gone in with a lower offer, but considering the low mileage and excellent condition, I’m pretty happy with that price.

It came freshly serviced and MOT’d, but developed a misfire problem on the ride home. The dealer did a full carb strip and clean as well as replacing the plugs and caps. All under “warranty”. Now it runs perfectly. Still looks a bit grim inside the tank, so I might pop that off and give it a clean.

It came with a full Wingrack II system, but no cases. I looked on Ebay for cases, but can’t justify the cost at the moment so, instead, I picked up some original CB500 indicators complete with brackets for £10.50 and returned the rear end to standard. Looks much nicer I think. The Wingrack is hanging in the garage for future use. Even without the cases it weighs a ton and the bike seems to feel more nimble with it gone.

With the huge rack:

https://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd227/serendipity_uk/CB500/IMGP7397.jpg

...and after removal:

https://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd227/serendipity_uk/CB500/IMGP7401.jpg

This shows the replacement exhaust. It’s all stainless steel, but sadly finished in finest fake carbon and appears to be missing any sort of baffle. Rack still on in this shot.

https://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd227/serendipity_uk/CB500/IMGP7399.jpg

And one from the right with the rack removed:

https://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd227/serendipity_uk/CB500/IMGP7403.jpg

I’ve done a couple of hundred miles on it this week and it’s impressed me so far. Firstly because it’s done that mileage on one tank. I’m used to the Blade sucking the tank dry in under 100 miles so getting 208 miles before it goes to reserve is a pleasure. It does have a big tank though.

The tyres are a vile mix of squared-off Pirelli MT08 rear and Continental Conti Avenue on the front. I haven’t checked for date markings on the tyres, but both models appear to be out of production now so I assume they’re fairly old. The worn out rear makes the bike flop into slow corners like a cruiser, but it’s ok once you get it leant over. It seems that Bridgestone BT45s come highly recommended so I’ll fit a pair of those as soon as I can afford it.

The exhaust is cataclysmically loud, but apparently road legal since it keeps passing MOTs. It’s quite useful for filtering because the cars certainly hear me coming.

I kind of always wanted a CB500 ever since they came out while I was still a learner. I ended up with a Diversion in the mid nineties because it was cheaper than the CB.

So there you have it. It’s the lowest mileage bike I’ve ever owned and even though it’s fifteen years old it’s still the youngest of my three bikes.
____________________
2016 CBF1000F - Commuter heaven | 1994 CBR600FR - Awaiting defibrillation

[Whosthedaddy]

Looks good apart from the gash stickers.

Get a little half fairing and Bobs your uncle, got a nice winter bike there.
____________________
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

[ms51ves3]

Bargain!

[Serendipity]

[craigs23]

Not bad for the money.

You could always go all arty with high-contrast greyscale photos, would mask the pinkness somewhat...

[Billing]

I know a bloke with some bridgestones for a cb5, i think they're 090's and the rears are unused, if he has any fronts they'll probably be race scrubs
____________________
'84 TS50X, '91 TZR125, '89 CBR400RR, '91 VFR400R NC30, '98 R1
"Hey copernicus! Why don't you navigate yourself to the back of the line with your feet and stand there with your shit."
BCF Eastern members map here ---> g.co/maps/2tm8b PM me to be added to it!

[Whosthedaddy]