Topic: Didn't honda make a sweet retro bike in 89 or 90?

[Brent C.]

I think it was a 400 or 500 single? can anyone help me locate information on one? I need....errr my wife needs one, ya my wife!!
 any pictures or such would be helpful!!
Thanks guys!!

[Brent C.]

Never mind...after further research I found it!!! it is the GB500....now I just need to find one for sale!!

[Brent C.]

Here is one on ebay

I thought they would be less....oh well.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-GB500-Tourist-Trophy-Honda-GB500-1989-Motorcycle_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6708QQitemZ200097406365QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[Chris Schneiter]

Whoa Baby! What torture!

[Uncle Ernie]

There are many examples with under 15K available, and yes- they go for twice what Honda was finally bombing them out for.  Nice examples go for around $4500 to $5000.  They are on Ebay fairly often.  Also check bradsbikes.com and the GB500 owners group at Yahoo.
I have used Eagle One Express for shipping door to door (as long as your street is big enough to accomodate one Big-Ass truck).
Small, light, and great handling with electric start.  You really need to add the cost of a rear stand for oil changes and chain adjusting.

[Brent C.]

What bars do I need to buy that would look similar?

[Slapguts]

What bars do I need to buy that would look similar?

Clip ons.

[Uncle Ernie]

Yeah- they come stock with clip-ons. Very purpose-built bike.  I put Telefix on mine to get me up and back about an inch.  Younger more flexible folks might not need to do that...
Why do you need to buy bars for it? It comes stock that way.

[putnaja1]

Nice looking bikes!  What speeds are they comfortable doing?  My morning commute needs a bike that can do at least 75mph, with power in reserve to get outta the way of the tailgaters..  My 550K has just enough power, but one of these days I might try to trade up to a 750...

[Shenanigans]

Why were they not selling?

[Uncle Ernie]

They'll do 75 fine, but it takes a little while to go faster, top speed being under 100mph.  Singles don't have high redlines.
GB500, MZ Scorpian, Yamaha SR500, Buell Blast were the main singles of the last 25 years, and they just don't sell.  The MZ used a Yamaha 660 engine and was a great bike.  The SR handles great, and has terrific bottom end (and makes a great cafe racer)- it was kick-start only, but still...
The GB is a purpose-built bike, and frankly is uncomfortable for many people on long rides.  It's not for touring.  The bars are low and it has real rear-sets; some folks complain about their wrists, and some about their hips/knees.  Also, a lot of people were irritated that it was a blatant imitation of an amalgam of British singles with "TT" on the side.  In other words; blibbity blop.     Smaller bikes are appreciated in countries where riding skill is important, yet borders are closer together.  Here in the states, there are roads you can't see the end of and "we've" been raised on "bigger is better".  It doesn't take any skill to navigate a 6 or 8 lane freeway.
Or, smaller bikes are considered beginner or girl's bikes.   People used to hammers have a hard time negotiating a scalpel.

[Brent C.]

..... People used to hammers have a hard time negotiating a scalpel.

Too true!! Could not have said it better!.......too many beginner yuppies on 800lbs big inch Harley's here......just a fashion accessory to them.

[ieism]

I love those bikes, but they were never imported here so all the good ones are too expensive for me. There's also a darkred (almost black) Japanese version of it that's even cooler.
I think the market for big singles has been a bit difficult the last decades, exept for maybe offroads. Most people think: "Why buy a thumper when you can buy 2 or 4 cylinder for the same price? "

Look at Yamaha's MT-03. A great bike, but nobody buys it. 50 years from now it will be considered a collectors item, just like the GB500.

[gerhed]

Great motor !--4-valve, magnesium cases, dual carb, dual exhaust-----SINGLE !!
I have the same motor out of an '83 Honda dual purpose bike
stuffed in a CB360 frame.

[Uncle Ernie]

Gerhed, talk like that without pictures is a very serious offence.

[Jeb]

Single?!

[gerhed]

Gerhed, talk like that without pictures is a very serious offence.

Trust Me!
At the moment the bike is somewhat inaccessable in the back of the shed.
I put it there because it's kind of dangerous to ride due to gearing being too low and
the rear swingarm seems to "articulate " at speed.
I will take some pics or dig some up.--This engine is 583 c.c., I think.
Dual carbs were for one year only.

[Brent C.]

I had an 85 XR350, I know its rare and should have kept it , But it was the same architecture as the 500, my 350 was INDESTRUCTIBLE!!, man, I miss that bike.......