What to look when buying a cb500

hi I am looking to get a cb500 for commuting and the odd weekend pootle.  What should I be looking for when buying one?

Thanks

Hi,

Welcome onto the forum there's a few similar topics on the link below but the main point seems to be that you should pay more attention to the condition and servicing of the bike opposed to the mileage of it - that said I'd always go for the lower of a narrowed down selection

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Apart from that give it a good check over for rust aswell as worn bits like forks, shocks and headstock bearings (which are a REAL pain to change)... ride a few and make sure you get it above 5/6k to feel the best from the engine.

Dan

Thanks will bear those in mind

I'd personally check the paint on the engine as it's common for these to bubble a little. Look for agile/green in the very bottom of the clock faces and this will tell you about where the bike has been kept. Check the chain and sprockets, if it's a bike with less than 30k on the clock does the rear sprocket have the rubber on it if it has then it's the oe honda sprocket and the milage would be more likely to be genuine. If it's been changed ask why. 

Look at the wear on the foot peg rubbers does the wear seem reasonable with the milage, same with the handlebar grips unless they've been changed to heated grips. Check the reg on totalcarcheck and it'll tell you some pretty good info about the bike (without having to pay) such as milage on previous mot's when it was last mot'd and if the bike is stolen. 

Check the V5 against the frame and the engine number, if it doesn't match the engine again ask why. 


Check how clean it is on the front of the engine where the sump is, on the inside of the swingarm. Check the blobs on the end of the pegs for scrapes. Is there any scuffs from when its been dropped and check the sidepannels under the seat for any cracks and if the plastic lug is there (if pushes into the tank)

buy it with your eyes not your heart or money restraints if you feel its not right walk away there are plenty for sale

Depending on where you are you could bring a club member with you.

Have a good look at the radiator and see how clogged with dirt it looks. Rev the engine and check that the lights brighten noticeably as you do, as if they don't the regulator is defective.

Put it on the centrestand and get someone to put weight on the rear to the front wheel off the ground. Move the steering from lock to lock, feeling for any notches or lumpiness in the steering head bearings.

All good advice here, which I'm not going to repeat, so I would say this:

The youngest CB500 is now verging on 13 years old (2003), the oldest is 22 years old (1994) - so you are not looking at buying a 'new' bike. There will be a consequent premium to pay for cosmetically 'nice' looking bikes, which may also be had to find (most CB500s do not look good, most look used!).

So you probably need to decide how important cosmetic appearance is to you - as I think this will probably influence the price you pay more than anything else. If you can stomach getting a 'shitter' and doing it up while you use it you will get a much better deal.