What does one have to give for a CB500 nowadays ?

Hello all

I'm considering purchasing another CB500, I had one a few years ago.

What does one have to give for a CB500 nowadays ?

I have been having a look around, there don't seem to be that many about, though my survey is certainly not extensive, mostly facebook and ebay so far, oh and gumtree.

There seem to be a variety of ranges of prices, some have been reduced.

I like fixing things, so I don't mind a project, even a non-runner, though of course the price has to reflect that.

I live near Portsmouth, so ideally something relatively local would be good, my experience of buying remote items via e.g. ebay and "taking a chance" haven't been very fruitful, though I appreciate that some people strike it lucky.

Also, if I can't find a CB500, I was starting to wonder about an SV650 (mk 1), or perhaps the old air-cooled Yamaha Diversion 600, if anyone would care to express any opinions / experience of those, or make any other CB500-substitute suggestions, they would be welcome / of interest.

Attractive as they are, I don't think that it would be sensible to get some 4-cylinder fire-breathing dragster type of thing, not least as I imagine that they will cost more to run etc.

Thanks

Best regards

RB

Hi, and welcome along. Cb prices seem to be all over the place and ebay always has a "project" cafe racer/whatonearthhavetheydonetothat bike, probably best avoided without a good lookover. I've found a couple of decent bikes on gumtree, here and local free-ads. Un-messed around with is the way to go and if the owner looks ok then the bike might well be if they've owned it for a while.

Also, I did have a "curvy" sv, the faired model and its a neat thing. Nose down riding position, knees high up and nice engine, with carbs. Unusually the radiator has to come out to change the front spark plug I recall.

muttley1

another CB500. For simplicity of only 2 cylinders and because they are parallel and not in V.
All in favor of CB500.

Hello Muttley1

Thank you for your reply, and the information, thanks also to Burudi.

Apologies for the delayed response, family crises etc.

What's the spares situation ? Is it worth considering a non-runner (i.e. are sufficient parts available at a reasonable cost to make fixing one up a realistic proposition) ?

Best regards

RB