I bought a 98 CB500 in 2006 because I needed a reliable bike to ride to the train station, which is 10 miles away. I looked at the usual comuter options and nearly bought a scooter. In the end I bought my CB off ebay because, although I was never a fan of its looks, they had such a great reputation.
I can confirm that the reputed good points of this bike are all there. The bike feels well made and feels like it will run forever. Mine has 12,000 miles on the clock and feels like new. The engine pulls well from about 2500rpm and has a little power band at the top end. Progress around town is swift with the good bottom and midrange power.
Appart from reliability and a good engine, I think the best feature of the bike is its balance and ease of riding. I personally really appreciate the way Honda often get this right - its the same with my CRM250. The bike stops and turns intuitively which means it's fun to drive and actually feels quite sporty.
You can truck on a bit too and it handles well for a bike with old fashioned things like a steel frame and twin rear shocks. If you push hard it gets a bit loose, but I just don't push hard these days! Pass me the slippers.
There's something fundamental to me about a 500 twin too. It just seems like the ultimate bike - as you thump along at 60mph, you just want to got on forever. I'm not intimidated about servicing it too. I feel I could have the engine out if I wanted to; of course I never will. But I like that feeling; it's relaxing.
The bike is unfared, which has been a problem over winter - freezing. So have put a Givi screen on, which looks a bit middle aged, but then I am middle aged and it keeps me warm. I think being warm is perhaps the most important thing on a cold day.
I'm tempted to do a track day on it this year, which may invovle some fiddling. The Brembo brakes are good, but I may change the fluid and put a new hard hose on the front. I may look for better rear shocks, although the standard ones aren't bad. The pegs as standard go down easy, so need the hero blobs off - I don't really want to raise the pegs unless I have to - comfort being important these days.
I've bought a second hand aftermarket can off ebay, but haven't fitted it yet. I think the bike sounds OK as standard, but sometimes standard cans can be very restrictive - we'll see.
All in all it's a great bike that looks a bit old fashioned. Very old fashined in fact. It's got a sort of retro appeal - just. It's more impressive in the flesh that it looks in pictures, thank God. It does feel like a real bike, not just a little comuter, although it looks a bit stiff parked next to more modern bikes. It's great to ride and reliable. I have been tempted to change it for something with more oomph - TDM900, VFR800 - but so far have resisted. I think it does it's job very well. Also means I can have two bikes, as it was only
Orignal From: Honda CB500
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