Topic: Give me strength!

[BenelliSEI]

A club mate has decided to sell a bike I have lusted after for many years. Never sold in Canada….. only a few here. 1989 Honda GB500. If you’ve never seen one, Google it.

A complete stranger called a few days ago telling me he is looking for a 1978 cb750K8 like the one he had from new. He’s coming to look at one of mine Saturday. Perfect timing?

[RAFster122s]

If you are used to the 750's power you won't be impressed with the GB500's power delivery. If you aren't expecting rocket ship but a nice bike, if a little bit quirky. Then the GB might be the fun you seek.
It is funny how Honda often is 8-10 years ahead of the curve on what will become popular...
The Transalp and Africa Twins were before their time, no not the latest versions, the originals.
They have many examples of styles or types of bikes that were well before their time that never really caught on. It makes for some interesting collectibles if you are into collectibles.

[carnivorous chicken]

If you are used to the 750's power you won't be impressed with the GB500's power delivery. If you aren't expecting rocket ship but a nice bike, if a little bit quirky. Then the GB might be the fun you seek.
It is funny how Honda often is 8-10 years ahead of the curve on what will become popular...
The Transalp and Africa Twins were before their time, no not the latest versions, the originals.
They have many examples of styles or types of bikes that were well before their time that never really caught on. It makes for some interesting collectibles if you are into collectibles.

CB400F, anyone?

I rode a GB500. They are pretty bikes but not gutsy, for sure. but they also did go up a ton in value.

[grcamna2]

A collector's bike.

[BenelliSEI]

I appreciate the valid points and they are not cheap. All good reasons to pass; and I probably will.

It is such a darn fine looking machine!!

[Old Scrambler]

And the dark, dark, DARK GREEN is gorgeous

[Stev-o]

I appreciate the valid points and they are not cheap. All good reasons to pass; and I probably will.

It is such a darn fine looking machine!!

I recall a buddy was looking a one a couple years back but ended up not buying it.  I'm turned off by the large clunky fuel tank but I'm sure it's a good bike.  There is one for sale in Cali for $7K, appears slightly modified...

https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/1989-Honda-GB+500-5027103656

[ekpent]

I had a chance at a green one once but did not buy it. I thought at the time the price was kind of high but not as high as they seem to be now.
  There was a GB400 advertised recently around here and I think the add said they were never imported into the USA.

[BenelliSEI]

I appreciate the valid points and they are not cheap. All good reasons to pass; and I probably will.

It is such a darn fine looking machine!!

I recall a buddy was looking a one a couple years back but ended up not buying it.  I'm turned off by the large clunky fuel tank but I'm sure it's a good bike.  There is one for sale in Cali for $7K, appears slightly modified...

https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/1989-Honda-GB+500-5027103656

That’s actually a pretty fair price. They have appreciated greatly. I rode one a few years ago and they are fun. Very rare in Canada and the guy selling here knows it. He’s asking Cdn.$11,500 so unless he is very “flexible” I’ll just stick with my projects!

[seanbarney41]

looks like the engine was loosely XR based...interesting that few of those were considered sluggish.  Gonna have to assume that the sluggish reputation comes from Honda's love of conservative gearing and that it would be easy enough to swap the highway cruiser sprockets for some rowdier acceleration ratio wheels..  Or maybe transplant a later CRF450R engine that made 63hp! with water cooling.  I had an '07.  What a monster.  I sold it before it freaking killed me.

And Steve-O...that big tank looks gorgeous

[grcamna2]

looks like the engine was loosely XR based...interesting that few of those were considered sluggish.  Gonna have to assume that the sluggish reputation comes from Honda's love of conservative gearing and that it would be easy enough to swap the highway cruiser sprockets for some rowdier acceleration ratio wheels..  Or maybe transplant a later CRF450R engine that made 63hp! with water cooling.  I had an '07.  What a monster.  I sold it before it freaking killed me.

And Steve-O...that big tank looks gorgeous

CRF450R power-plant in that GB500 chassis    Yeah,that's what I'd call a sporty,classic Honda !

I hear of way too many bikes sitting in a warehouse/garage because they're 'too collectable to ride' 
Save the original engine,etc. for later.

[BenelliSEI]

If I get it, it will get used. My wife has been complaining since I sold the 400F. She took one look at the GB500 and smiled!

[grcamna2]

If I get it, it will get used. My wife has been complaining since I sold the 400F. She took one look at the GB500 and smiled!

I like that !
These bikes are meant to enjoy 

[scottly]

I was working in Gilroy CA around 1992, and while on my lunch break strolled into the local bike shop. I spotted what I thought to be a British bike in the back corner, but it turned out to be a GB 500. (Of course, when I first spotted my Seeley from a distance, I also thought it to be British due to the clunky gas tank, and was disappointed at first to find it was a Honda at heart. ) They didn't sell that well, which is why it was sitting in the corner.
Honda did something similar with the FT500 Ascot (FT for flat-track) in '82-'83, which was based on the '79-'82 XR/XL engine, then confused the issue with an VT500 Ascot with a v-twin motor but similar styling for '83-'84. The FT bikes were a sales flop, and could be bought for $999 brand new in '84. 

[BenelliSEI]

I was working in Gilroy CA around 1992, and while on my lunch break strolled into the local bike shop. I spotted what I thought to be a British bike in the back corner, but it turned out to be a GB 500. (Of course, when I first spotted my Seeley from a distance, I also thought it to be British due to the clunky gas tank, and was disappointed at first to find it was a Honda at heart. ) They didn't sell that well, which is why it was sitting in the corner.
Honda did something similar with the FT500 Ascot (FT for flat-track) in '82-'83, which was based on the '79-'82 XR/XL engine, then confused the issue with an VT500 Ascot with a v-twin motor but similar styling for '83-'84. The FT bikes were a sales flop, and could be bought for $999 brand new in '84.

I’ve always liked the FT and often thought it would be so easy to “cafe” into a GB500 look a like. The engine appears identical.

[simon#42]

the engine appears to be a ditch pump

[Old Scrambler]

.................a really nice looking 'ditch-pump'   Honda is a motor manufacturer. They made pump-motors in the early '60s by eliminating most of the tranny in a C77 motor. A friend in Wisconsin has one with very little evidence of running time.

The Kohler Engine people had one of their engineers acquire an FT500 in his personal name. The motor was taken into work and 'studied' for some time. Around 2010 the motor was returned to the then retired engineer and his son put it back into the chassis. I acquired the bike showing 119 miles and still having the original battery. A charge and some fresh gas was all it took to get running. I already had another FT500 so both bikes went to the Barber Festival and found new homes.

[MauiK3]

Would the GB vibrate a lot?

[RAFster122s]

If the wife likes it, then maybe it is worth considering. If she would ride it, she would enjoy it. Never hurts to have bikes she favors in the garage...

[grcamna2]

Would the GB vibrate a lot?

The engine is essentially a sleeved-down version with the same stroke as the XL600R enduro bike and it has a gear driven counterbalancer.
 I would like to have one and do some performance mods to it;remove the stock engine and exhaust,then build a hi-perf. XL600R engine for it while keeping the same stock 75mm stroke as the XL600/GB500.
The member here 'dunk' has an XL600R that he's done quite an extensive rebuild/mods to in a thread.
I imagine they're aren't many owners that would do this because it would take away from it's collector value of the GB500,but I would love to.   
It would be quite a sweet thumper with the mods. 

I imagine there's a used GB500 somewhere..  that had been ridden(rather than sitting)as a normal bike, or one that was in an accident that could be bought for less $, then a person could purchase it for less $ and fix it up/do what they want with it. The one I describe may take a while to locate.

[BenelliSEI]

Would the GB vibrate a lot?

Not that I recall. It was smooth. Sounded neat too.

The problem is they have become “cool” with people that consider their vintage “collector” bikes an investment. My friend has had his for a while and never rides it. His appraiser knows his stuff, so it’s overvalued and his insurance premium reflects it. So he has a few bikes in his shop with only “storage insurance”. He’s telling me all this and I’m thinking I don’t need another bike. Finish/ ride what you have!

[Stev-o]

Hey Sean...we all have an opinion, I always say it would be boring if we all had the same bike. Wait...we all have CB750's!  Ha

[seanbarney41]

Hey Sean...we all have an opinion, I always say it would be boring if we all had the same bike. Wait...we all have CB750's!  Ha

For sure Steve-O!

[MRieck]

  As far as twins go......the early Kawasaki W650 are really fun bikes. All they need is to shim the needle .020, turn out the mixture screw about 1 turn and go up one size on the main. Completely changes engine performance. They are a blast to ride.

[grcamna2]

  As far as twins go......the early Kawasaki W650 are really fun bikes. All they need is to shim the needle .020, turn out the mixture screw about 1 turn and go up one size on the main. Completely changes engine performance. They are a blast to ride.

I would love to own a 73' Kawasaki W3/RS650 !