Newish Biker!

Deryn · L Plate Warrior Joined: 19 Sep 2013 Karma :

Hi all, I started biking in the mid 70's on a Honda SL125. Good days. Sold for £150. I didn't return to biking until dispatch riding on a CB550 four until the late 80's. Rode it into the ground. And nothing since. Now in my mid 50's I'm looking to return to biking.

After dismissing the classic bikes of the 70's and 80's as too expensive I've been looking at more modern bikes. Well, modern bikes in the range up to £1000. In the 400-600cc range. One bike in particular is the Honda CB500 twin. Seems a good all rounder and quite reliable.

I guess my first question is, any suggestions with £1000 to spend on a 400-600cc?
Any views/experiences with the CB Honda 500?
What do you think is a good average mileage for bikes of this age?

Thanks guys.

-Matt- · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2013 Karma :

My best mate had two of these 30k and 25k mileage IIRC in the years after he passed his test. Rode them 24/7 all year sun or snow. Stood up to everything and very reliable and easy for parts n repairs. Had a few short rides on them and obviously nothing mind blowing but do the job and feel fast enough for general use, good workhorse id say Thumbs Up

Deryn · L Plate Warrior Joined: 19 Sep 2013 Karma :

Cheers Matt, that goes with most of what I've read about the bike. A good all rounder. Most bikes I've seen at my price range are around the 40.000 mile mark. Parts might also be reasonable. The 550 four I had cost quite a bit when it came to 4 sets of piston rings e.t.c.

Have you had a bike in the 400-600cc range? What are you riding now?

Deryn

trevor saxe-coburg-gotha · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :

CB500 is a faithful little grunter, but what about the Hornet? Might have to up the budget slightly though. A grand will get you a perfectly adequate CB5, ER5 or GS500 - but you might have to wait a bit longer to get one of the 600s, be it a Hornet, Bandit or ER6 etc.
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

-Matt- · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2013 Karma :

Im on a 636 zx6r now, coming up from a 125 so quite a change but i ride fairly relaxed and take it easy and have yet to have any issues or dodgy moments, touch wood Razz

I wouldnt be too worried if theyre in 40k range so long as it all seems to be in good order they regularly go into the 60-70s without problems if maintained reasonbly well.

Deryn · L Plate Warrior Joined: 19 Sep 2013 Karma :

Hi Trevor, just looked up the Hornet and yes a cool bike, but it looks as if my search will be restricted to 400-500cc now after checking out prices. I want to stick at up to £1000. I then might have enough to add any mod's e.t.c. to suit what I want. I'll check out ER5 and GS.

Deryn