Topic: Was the '71-73 CB500 more of a European bike?

[OldZaskar]

Researching my newly acquired '73 CB500 Four, I keep seeing references to U.K. Even on this site, there seem to be way more CB550s and 750s. Did Americans just opt for the bigger 750 more than the Brits?

Thanks!

[Stev-o]

I wouldnt say the CB500 is more of a Euro bike, they were only imported into America for 3 years vs. 5 years with two models for the CB550 and 10 years for the CB750 SOHC.

However, smaller bikes were more popular in the UK for registration/tax reasons.

And seems Americans always thought bigger was better!

[333]

But even the smaller bikes that did make it to the U.S. were sold for longer periods elsewhere.

And I wouldn't agree on the reason of tax/registration.  That certainly has an impact, but only in the U.S. are motorcycles seen as recreational. Everywhere else in the world they're transportation. Many smaller cool bikes never made it to the States, because the price was too high for recreational use.

[Don R]

 I paid $1539 for a new cb500K2 with a 73 title. People here have mentioned that they were a lot cheaper elsewhere. My brother worked at the shop and got me the employee upsell price. lol. It was a sweet bike, I sold it to my nephew after I got a Vetter equipped 750 and watching my wife ride the 500 a few times. She was an awful rider and refused to take advise. A huge crash was in her future so we (I) agreed to sell it. several years ago I saw one like it in my neighborhood, it got away and I've never seen it since.

[simon#42]

over here it was much cheaper to insure a 500 than a 550 , 500 was also the point where road tax increased . a 550 would have been the same as a 750 or 1000 to insure and tax making the 500 very popular indeed .

[PeWe]

No CB550 to Sweden.  I think I saw a used one for sale end of 1978 when I was looking for a bike. CB500 and 750 rather common.

[Deltarider]

Every country had and has its own legislation on tax and insurance. In those days in Holland, you could, the day after you got your licence, legally ride just any bike, even a 1200cc Münch "Mammoth". Road tax was the same for all bikes. The CB500 was actually quite pricey compared to the bigger CB750. In guilders the CB500 cost ƒ 5.995,- and the CB750 could be had for just 500 more: ƒ 6.495,-. Both bikes were very popular.