Thinking of XBR500

[RhynoCZ]

Hi, are here on the forum any owners of this bike? I was thinking of getting one, just got a opportunity to get one in nice condition for reasonable money. It's '86 model, stock.

My question is, is the bike worth it? I know it'd be reliable, since it's a Honda, but what about MPG, some specs from real life, Thanks.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[doggone]

They are all getting on a bit but they were always a chug around type bike so must be some low mileage examples which have spent long periods with little use.
The mpg is pretty good around 60.

I had C reg one when it as about 5 years old and sold it for more than I paid after two years.
It was easy to work on even the more tricky stuff like valves with there being only one cylinder.

[Richy CB1000]

I've thought about these but haven't seen anything decent enough to part cash for.

All except one I saw at a meet last year, he wanted £3000 for it an absolutely immaculate example and totally original including the rear seat cover bit.

Doubt they're worth anything like that although the owners may ask.

A quirky little machine that I quite like the look of to pop into town on...

[cb1rocket]

I had one, albeit a poorly abused one, good bikes, original exhausts prone to rot esp around the headers. Handling is top heavy, likes to tilt easily but doesn't have the grip unless good tyres. Good on fuel, 55mpg.

Price wise are over priced, they are from dealers and dealers are easily wanting 1500 quids mark ups. Real value is about 1500 to 1800 for mint ones
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[Robby]

Values are going up, and the most valuable bit by far is the engine - very popular for slotting into CB250RS frames, so make a CB500RS where the brakes are shockingly inadequate.

Simply bikes, but they need to be looked after. Steel frames will rot just below the swinarm pivot, but it's steel so you can cut out the rot and weld in fresh metal.

Frequent oil changes are vital to protect the top end.

Expect chains, sprockets and rear tyres to wear out more quickly than expected - it's a big single with big power pulses and not a lot of refinement.

Don't expect a great deal of power - last dyno test I heard of for a mildly fettled one came out at about 35bhp. Nice to plod, though.


If you really want one, get one, but bear in that they are desirable, so prices are higher than expected - you don't necessarily get what you pay for. If you're into big singles, also consider off-road style machines like the XL600R so a similar engine, but long travel suspension.

[twostroketit]

This is the XBR's sister bike.
The GB500 a very cool looking machine...
https://www.wctc.net/~cmakynen/GB500.jpg
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[woodyfjr]

XBR's are going through the roof on price last one saw at a decent price was £680 most are over a grand. The GB is the one to get but fairly rare.
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If you have to rev it! Don't Buy it!

[RhynoCZ]

Wow, what a response, thanks lads Next week I'm gonna try to sell my NC27 and then I'm gonna go and take a look at that XBR.

The GB500 looks great, but last time I saw one, it was for 3-4 times more than the XBR

About the XL600, I don't want to go off road + it looks a bit tall. I like when I go fast close to the tar

He asks about 915GBP, he says it's stock except the ignitech ignition, here are some pics:

https://img.motorkari.cz/upload/images/bazar/2013-02-3/1885398.jpg
https://img.motorkari.cz/upload/images/bazar/2013-02-3/1885401.jpg
https://img.motorkari.cz/upload/images/bazar/2013-02-3/1885400.jpg
https://img.motorkari.cz/upload/images/bazar/2013-02-3/1885402.jpg
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[numpty2]

I had one from new for around 3 years. Did 24k on it.
It was nice to ride but being a big single it ate chains, sprockets & rear tyres. Fit the best chain & sprockets you can get.
Mine wore out the swinging arm bushes, and I heard that this is quite common.
I also had an issue with the camshaft, it wore through the hardened layer on one of the cam lobes. I had changed the oil very regularly so I was a bit annoyed, but it was easy to work on and to replace the camshaft.
All in all, a nice machine, but somewhat overpriced secondhand.

[andys675]

have a look at SZR660, ugly and cheap at the moment, dump the fairing and fit a race seat, excellent alloy chassis, USD forks reasonably wide rims, can be picked up for a lot less than an XBR and more powerful
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[doggone]

[spnorm]

[numpty2]

My camshaft failure was simply wear through the hardened layer on one of the lobes. The top end became noisy, in effect I was running with an excessive valve clearance. Could have been more dramatic.
I do wonder whether big singles are inherently shorter lived engines. All that pulsing is presumably not so good for bearings etc.
I know some of the old British singles lasted a long time, but they had big flywheels so perhaps that smoothed everything out.