Topic: Buy 78 CB550 or 75 CB500T?

[Vhonda]

ok looking at:

78 CB550 condition 8 needs basic brakes, tune-up to make road worthy, and excellent stored barn find.

75 CB500T condition 7 needs replacement stuff like brake and clutch levers, tune up another barn find stored indoors.

Both same price.

my dilemma is that the 550 has more power and I currently own 2 (73 CB500 and a 76 CB550), which I love. I want a 500T because I don't have one but here is my list of doubts.

BAD:
1. Heard the 500T is not balanced and vibrates a lot.
2. Spongy rubber joints including handlebars
3. Down on power from the 550k setup, 34hp vs 50hp
4. I love the two 500 and 550 I currently own.
5. Not as reliable, crappy reviews.
6. Want a black 500T not brown

GOOD:
1. Twin (look and sound)
2. Tank

[pekingduck]

Will the CB550 will replace one of the others?  Sometimes it's hard to pass up good deals, even if you really didn't want them.
As for the CB500T - a good deal on something you don't want is not a good deal.

[Vhonda]

No I am keeping both 73 cb500/76 cb550, if anything the yamaha may go if I decide not to do anything with it

I would take a CB Supersport over both (cb500t and 1978 550) but haven't found one in the same barn find range

Pictured below is 500T (brown) 15k miles , 550K (black) 9k miles.

[seanbarney41]

Twins are fun.  Totally different power delivery than a 4 so basic hp number comparisons do not tell the whole story, and yes they ALL vibrate a lot more.  That said, I think Honda got it wrong with the 500T, both the engine and stylistically, especially all that brown.  I am not a fan of brown.  If you want a great Honda twin, wait around for a 450.

[Vhonda]

seanBarney41: Thanks I have never ridden a CB Twin so having your insight on Twins and hp delivery is what I was looking for.

I do like the 50 lbs less weight and 45hp vs 34hp of the 450T

[BenelliSEI]

Those look very nice. Package deal, take them both home and then decide? Good way to end up with one “free bike”…….

[MauiK3]

I've always like the look of the 450 dohc twin motor.

[HondaMan]

Something that can make up MY mind about the 500T is:
if the stock OEM airfilters and cross-connect seals are missing, walk away. It will never idle, won't have any low-RPM power to speak of, and is almost impossible to start when hot if these critical parts are missing. Many are. It would take a long post to explain WHY, but when they come here for help, all I can do is to literally silicone-seal something together for the owner as no parts are available, and they MUST be in place for the bike to run when hot. With pod-type filters, they barely will even run.

[carnivorous chicken]

Twins are fun.  Totally different power delivery than a 4 so basic hp number comparisons do not tell the whole story, and yes they ALL vibrate a lot more.  That said, I think Honda got it wrong with the 500T, both the engine and stylistically, especially all that brown.  I am not a fan of brown.  If you want a great Honda twin, wait around for a 450.

This. Them 500Ts are uuuuugly and piggish. Except maybe the tank (if you repainted it).

[bryanj]

Both of those have absolutely terrible carbs and neither like to be stood anything over a couple of weeks, twin is worse to get parts for and don't think ever came in black, starters rarely work and can destroy generator rotors.

Personally I would walk away for both unless free

[HondaMan]

I've always like the look of the 450 dohc twin motor.

The 450 DOHC was/is a terrific bike, and my favorite twin. Honda did something really nasty to make it into the 500T. I never figured out 'why', either?

[BenelliSEI]

Counter point. My 1978 cb550K was my first SOHC four Honda and I rode it for many years. One of my favourite bikes.

[jonda500]

My cb450 was one of the most reliable, powerful and favourite bikes I have ever owned. It had pod filters and two car coils for the whole time I owned it and always ran very well with no carby issues in the ten years I had it for.
John

[bryanj]

The 450 was better but still had, i think, 3 big carb mods

[Vhonda]

WTH guess I had to 

[pekingduck]

The CB450 wasn't super-smooth, but the CB500T was rougher, less revvy, probably because of the stroker crank.

[BenelliSEI]

WTH guess I had to 

Good call! That bike looks to be in excellent condition! Congrats.

[MauiK3]

More photos when able, nice bike!

[Stev-o]

Twins are fun.  Totally different power delivery than a 4 so basic hp number comparisons do not tell the whole story, and yes they ALL vibrate a lot more.  That said, I think Honda got it wrong with the 500T, both the engine and stylistically, especially all that brown.  If you want a great Honda twin, wait around for a 450.

Solid advice here from Sean, except color, that is subjective!   My buddy bought a 500T for his girlfriend, was not a good bike.

If you want a twin, get a CB450!  That's what I did...

[CycleRanger]

Imho, the CB500T gets more hate than it deserves.
However, I have to admit the brown seat is a real turn-off.

The Black Bombers are truly iconic but not my style.
If I was going to get a 450 it would probably be the later 450's like a '72 or '73.

Glad you got the 550, that would have been my choice.

[jlh3rd]

king of the road in my world in 1972

[rotortiller]

500T is cool with torsion bars for valve springs.  People do not seem to collect them much but who cares, it's a change, they ride fine and they are under-appreciated.

[HondaMan]

WTH guess I had to 

Wow, in that light it looks brand new!

[carnivorous chicken]

Twins are fun.  Totally different power delivery than a 4 so basic hp number comparisons do not tell the whole story, and yes they ALL vibrate a lot more.  That said, I think Honda got it wrong with the 500T, both the engine and stylistically, especially all that brown.  If you want a great Honda twin, wait around for a 450.

Solid advice here from Sean, except color, that is subjective!   My buddy bought a 500T for his girlfriend, was not a good bike.

If you want a twin, get a CB450!  That's what I did...

If only black bombers were as cheap and easy to find as CB500Ts...

[HondaMan]

Twins are fun.  Totally different power delivery than a 4 so basic hp number comparisons do not tell the whole story, and yes they ALL vibrate a lot more.  That said, I think Honda got it wrong with the 500T, both the engine and stylistically, especially all that brown.  If you want a great Honda twin, wait around for a 450.

Solid advice here from Sean, except color, that is subjective!   My buddy bought a 500T for his girlfriend, was not a good bike.

If you want a twin, get a CB450!  That's what I did...

Now, THERE's a bike! One of those taught me that I had arthritis in my back at 22 years of age.
They are a road-rocket, though.