Topic: 72' CB500 for 16k - fluke or new floor forming?

[Shtonecb500]

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1972-honda-cb500-four-8/#comment-10599585

[ekpent]

Out of control bidding war. That's the interesting thing about the auction style format.

[CycleRanger]

Certainly justifies the expense of repainting.

[MauiK3]

Nice bike!

[Stev-o]

Fluke

[chiefum]

Wow, that's insane.

[Mark1976]

1 + 1 no longer equals 2. I mean,  really.

[richmagee7]

Ridiculous. 

[Shtonecb500]

Im happy to hear some of these responses, as someone who wants to sell one, this result should make me happy. But as someone who slaps them together, how the #$%* does it make sense, lol?


I did a little digging and the only thing I can come up with is "location".

The seller, and 2/3 of the bidders were on the east coast, which makes things a little easier and a little cheaper as far as shipping. The 500 that sold on the 22nd for 7600 was in AZ and made its way to Detroit.

I think the guy who bought it or the guy who he was going against spent 125k on bikes on BAT alone in 2022... so its def a mix of location and the right buyers....he picked up a brown 750 for 20k not too long ago.

[Stev-o]

I did a little digging and the only thing I can come up with is "location".

Doubting location has little to do with a 500 selling for $16K [+ $1600 buyers fee]

Bikes are relatively cheap to ship, unlike a classic car that would cost $1500-2000 to go half the distance of the U.S.

[Shtonecb500]

Certainly justifies the expense of repainting.

thats what I was thinking, if these bikes follow the path of the 750s and march into 10k territory comes Spring time. Repaint for sure.

[ekpent]

Did you happen to notice if the high bidder and under bidder had ever gone head to head before on any other bikes. Might be some bad blood between the two. I am active in the auction biz and have a good friend who has a few people on his list "that will never buy anything cheap when I am there" kind of an attitude. He has the money to back that up if he gets hung with something.  Overall for a well to do collector its very easy to shop and place bids from the comfort of their adobe and have it magically appear. For some these prices may be chump change and a good way to diversify their portfolio.

[Flyin900]

The issue with BAT vs a real multiple style auction where there are hundreds to thousands of bikes available, there are choices in that format. With BAT it is one bike and if two people get carried way then you have $16K as the result. When there are multiple CB500/550's at a large auction, then if it gets silly you can move on to the next one.

As a high level restorer, I see many issues/corners cut in that build that I would have never raised a hand, or pressed send in BAT's case.

[Shtonecb500]

Did you happen to notice if the high bidder and under bidder had ever gone head to head before on any other bikes. Might be some bad blood between the two. I am active in the auction biz and have a good friend who has a few people on his list "that will never buy anything cheap when I am there" kind of an attitude. He has the money to back that up if he gets hung with something.  Overall for a well to do collector its very easy to shop and place bids from the comfort of their adobe and have it magically appear. For some these prices may be chump change and a good way to diversify their portfolio.

I didnt see them going head to head in other auctions, no. They seemed very polite to one another in the comment section tho.

[C317414]

I did a little digging and the only thing I can come up with is "location".

Doubting location has little to do with a 500 selling for $16K [+ $1600 buyers fee]

Bikes are relatively cheap to ship, unlike a classic car that would cost $1500-2000 to go half the distance of the U.S.

The BAT buyers fee is 5%... $800 in this case.

[Little_Phil]

Cap head bolts all over engine. Some light pitting in evidence, look at the horn. Lots of bolts could do with better finish. Rusty/discoloured area top of No 4 muffler + small repair at join to down pipe. Incorrect dust cap on slave cylinder. 17mm oil filter bolt. And as for the mirrors.
Did the 72 K1s have the set back clocks or was that just K2s in the US?
Be happy to get that for mine.

[69cb750]

I did not see them going head to head in other auctions, no. They seemed very polite to one another in the comment section tho.

Rich guys buy what they want, you see this on bat and mecum.
Old bikes are worth whatever someone will pay, guys with money will pay more then market price.

[jlh3rd]

Cap head bolts all over engine. Some light pitting in evidence, look at the horn. Lots of bolts could do with better finish. Rusty/discoloured area top of No 4 muffler + small repair at join to down pipe. Incorrect dust cap on slave cylinder. 17mm oil filter bolt. And as for the mirrors.
Did the 72 K1s have the set back clocks or was that just K2s in the US?
Be happy to get that for mine.

It's a nice bike...
obviously, its a partial "restoration ". Original parts , probably irreplaceable, like the fork ears , combined with aftermarket.......such as the brake caliper, left handle bar switch, no numbers on the plug wires, brake and clutch levers, ....and things already mentioned.....
    But the wheels appear original (no stamping) , the tool bag looks original. And the pitting and rust are on original parts .......

Makes me wonder what my mint, original, unrestored ( including tires) 550F would bring.....

[MauiK3]

And you also have a Zundapp! Not many of them around.

[jlh3rd]

no..lol...not mine.....I loaned the bike to a local  museum for display last year.......At first, I didn't catch your meaning...had to look it up...now I see...
    the display was for unrestored bikes.....so I guess that zundapp is unrestored....

[Shtonecb500]

Cap head bolts all over engine. Some light pitting in evidence, look at the horn. Lots of bolts could do with better finish. Rusty/discoloured area top of No 4 muffler + small repair at join to down pipe. Incorrect dust cap on slave cylinder. 17mm oil filter bolt. And as for the mirrors.
Did the 72 K1s have the set back clocks or was that just K2s in the US?
Be happy to get that for mine.

It's a nice bike...
obviously, its a partial "restoration ". Original parts , probably irreplaceable, like the fork ears , combined with aftermarket.......such as the brake caliper, left handle bar switch, no numbers on the plug wires, brake and clutch levers, ....and things already mentioned.....
    But the wheels appear original (no stamping) , the tool bag looks original. And the pitting and rust are on original parts .......

Makes me wonder what my mint, original, unrestored ( including tires) 550F would bring.....

this is up right now
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1975-honda-cb550f-super-sport/

[Shtonecb500]

Cap head bolts all over engine. Some light pitting in evidence, look at the horn. Lots of bolts could do with better finish. Rusty/discoloured area top of No 4 muffler + small repair at join to down pipe. Incorrect dust cap on slave cylinder. 17mm oil filter bolt. And as for the mirrors.
Did the 72 K1s have the set back clocks or was that just K2s in the US?
Be happy to get that for mine.

the 72' cb 500's seemed to get both, I see them all the time with the small gauge faces, with large reflector, and large tail light...then ill see large gauge faces with all the same features...its hard to tell someone their bike "isnt correct" with this model since they came out of factory they way they did.

[Shtonecb500]

someone in the bat comment section said "these are getting harder and harder to find, we can always make more money"....something along those lines. I think thats a good thing to hear for us lol.

[Stev-o]

Cap head bolts all over engine. Some light pitting in evidence, look at the horn. Lots of bolts could do with better finish. Rusty/discoloured area top of No 4 muffler + small repair at join to down pipe. Incorrect dust cap on slave cylinder. 17mm oil filter bolt. And as for the mirrors.
Did the 72 K1s have the set back clocks or was that just K2s in the US?
Be happy to get that for mine.

It's a nice bike...
obviously, its a partial "restoration ". Original parts , probably irreplaceable, like the fork ears , combined with aftermarket.......such as the brake caliper, left handle bar switch, no numbers on the plug wires, brake and clutch levers, ....and things already mentioned.....
    But the wheels appear original (no stamping) , the tool bag looks original. And the pitting and rust are on original parts .......

Makes me wonder what my mint, original, unrestored ( including tires) 550F would bring.....

this is up right now
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1975-honda-cb550f-super-sport/

Very similar to mine....watching

[jlh3rd]

yes.....so my comments...from a "I like unrestored original viewpoint"

the negatives: ....wrong seat coat, wrong headlight, clutch lever, missing airbox....I do not think that is the original speedometer for the bike as the color appears wrong (bluish)...as compared to the tach. Should be green. But camera pics, fading, etc. might be affecting the color....and around the gas cap........numerous blemishes.....some decals....tires of course....
so, it's not mint.........good at least....
However:....assuming the mechanicals are good......and what someone is looking for....

It has: good tank and side covers....headers and muffler are in really good shape (huge)...fenders,wheels, spokes, fork ears, ID#'s, ......all the big, unobtainium parts......

except for the seat coat and headlight, which someone might stumble across an oem honda.....airbox's show up on ebay.....
returning to vintage stock is not unreasonable.....actually, the seat coat might be the hardest.....

edit:...um, wondering if it's a repaint....honda paint doesn't bubble like that around the gas cap....
          the side cover decal, looks aftermarket compared to my original.....so....

Honestly, I wouldn't pay too much......certainly not $16,000....
here's '75 F gauges.....dark green..but they're new....

[jlh3rd]

Cap head bolts all over engine. Some light pitting in evidence, look at the horn. Lots of bolts could do with better finish. Rusty/discoloured area top of No 4 muffler + small repair at join to down pipe. Incorrect dust cap on slave cylinder. 17mm oil filter bolt. And as for the mirrors.
Did the 72 K1s have the set back clocks or was that just K2s in the US?
Be happy to get that for mine.

the 72' cb 500's seemed to get both, I see them all the time with the small gauge faces, with large reflector, and large tail light...then ill see large gauge faces with all the same features...its hard to tell someone their bike "isnt correct" with this model since they came out of factory they way they did.

according to American Honda...which pertains only to American imported...

It is a K1....It is not a 1972 model nor a K2....
K2's had the enlarged and tilted clocks.....

so the add is misleading...not that it matters much.....but the clocks are correct for a K1

[Stev-o]

edit:...um, wondering if it's a repaint....honda paint doesn't bubble like that around the gas cap....
          the side cover decal, looks aftermarket compared to my original.....so....

I would bet it's a repaint, the R side cover is for sure as it was replaced. You'd think he'd take the time to at least apply the side cover decal as they are readily available!

https://4into1.com/tank-and-side-cover-decals-honda-cb550f-super-sport-blue/

[jlh3rd]

Cap head bolts all over engine. Some light pitting in evidence, look at the horn. Lots of bolts could do with better finish. Rusty/discoloured area top of No 4 muffler + small repair at join to down pipe. Incorrect dust cap on slave cylinder. 17mm oil filter bolt. And as for the mirrors.
Did the 72 K1s have the set back clocks or was that just K2s in the US?
Be happy to get that for mine.

the 72' cb 500's seemed to get both, I see them all the time with the small gauge faces, with large reflector, and large tail light...then ill see large gauge faces with all the same features...its hard to tell someone their bike "isnt correct" with this model since they came out of factory they way they did.

according to American Honda...which pertains only to American imported...

It is a K1....It is not a 1972 model nor a K2....
K2's had the enlarged and tilted clocks.....

so the add is misleading...not that it matters much.....but the clocks are correct for a K1

It's the frame and engine #'s that make it a K1.......

[Little_Phil]

I dislike the BAT descriptions, "a two up seat" blarney, blarney, blarney. It's like real estate (or as we say estate agent) speak. Its a 500 four 1972, it's a 550 four 1975, here are some pictures done! Work done and any history on the actual bike is fine.

[Shtonecb500]

I forgot about that, idk why i pay attention to features when i should just reference frame number and motor number to determine model.

[seanbarney41]

I dislike the BAT descriptions, "a two up seat" blarney, blarney, blarney. It's like real estate (or as we say estate agent) speak. Its a 500 four 1972, it's a 550 four 1975, here are some pictures done! Work done and any history on the actual bike is fine.

+1...there is at least one local joker posting on Marketplace with the same annoying description style. 

[ekpent]

Their descriptions are kind of like a form letter all based it seems off the same template.

[Stev-o]

Their descriptions are kind of like a form letter all based it seems off the same template.

BaT has staff that write up the descriptions.   I'm sure they do Internet research on various websites to get the info and specs.   I appreciate the accurate information but don't like the "fluff".   The comments can sometimes be entertaining especially on vehicles that have "creative modifications"!