GB 500tt review from 1989

[ICE180]

a old review re published

http://www.cycleworld.com/2014/03/17/1989-honda-gb500-riding-impression-by-peter-egan/

306237

[unstuck]

Liked it's look, but found it uncomfortable to ride personally. Would still own one though.:Punk::Punk:

[BuzzardNZ]

Best looking commuter ever made IMO. Awesome bikes and very comfortable :yes:

[unstuck]

Best looking commuter ever made IMO. Awesome bikes and very comfortable :yes:

Thats cos your a woman.:innocent:

[BuzzardNZ]

Thats cos your a woman.:innocent:

luckily I'm under 150kilos, so I'm not your type ;)

[nudemetalz]

I always thought the GB400TT2 was better looking with the half fairing.

[DamianW]

A mint GB500tt recently sold for US$8k in the US. Surprising since they weren't a big hit when first sold over there.

[nudemetalz]

The Honda RC31s (Hawk GT in USA ) or 650 Bros here......are becoming collectable there now too.

[avgas]

Liked it's look, but found it uncomfortable to ride personally. Would still own one though.:Punk::Punk:
I found the single seater uncomfortable - but the twin seater pushed your bum forward enough to get comfortable. The corbin streetfighter twin seat you could get for it was AMAZING!

IMO the silver was nicer than the black too.

I would own another one. Previously owning 3 of them is a very odd number. Need to remedy that some day.
Only honda i really loved to be honest.

[Murray]

GO THE 400

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/classic-vintage/auction-811755262.htm

Looks like the wife's bike

Or this looks like a nice bike - wonder what bidding will end at??

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/classic-vintage/auction-813366353.htm

[BuzzardNZ]

I found the single seater uncomfortable - but the twin seater pushed your bum forward enough to get comfortable. The corbin streetfighter twin seat you could get for it was AMAZING!

IMO the silver was nicer than the black too.

I would own another one. Previously owning 3 of them is a very odd number. Need to remedy that some day.
Only honda i really loved to be honest.

Yeah, I can't comment on the single seat, as I had 3 400's also. Compared to the SV seat though, the GB one is like sitting on a lazyboy.
I never saw a silver 500 or a non-silver 400

[Paulo]

Nice bikes I've had 2, the cafe racer thing has rekindled peoples interest in them, I sold my last one for twice what I paid for it after putting 30K on it. Mine went for $5600 NZD and I saw a very tidy one go for 6k on TM the other week. I was surprised what people pay for them, I'd rather have had the mint V11 sport that went for 6k the same week.

[nudemetalz]

Funny you say that, Paulo,...you can see some styling similarities between the two. That's why I love my V11 Sport

[Paulo]

Funny you say that, Paulo,...you can see some styling similarities between the two. That's why I love my V11 Sport

I love your V11 sport too, great looking bikes, I took a tidy one for a test ride and loved it, It had all the Guzzi character (and sound) but the handling was years ahead of my old 79 SP1000, There's been a couple of nice ones come and go on TM lately, I'm not allowed a new bike unless I get rid of one and I'm not quite ready to part with anything. sigh.

[nudemetalz]

Ha the big word from the Missus, huh. Yup I know that feeling.

[Blackbird]

IMO the silver was nicer than the black too.


It was a brand new 1987 naked GB400TT which got me back into motorcycling (I think it was $3700). It was midnight blue metallic and I've never seen another one in this colour. After a couple of years, I wanted to fit the half fairing but they were horrendously expensive so got a full fairing made in Hamilton, based on a modified RZ350. Even with the purchase price plus having it sprayed to match and the signwriting, it was still cheaper than the half-fairing from Honda. Sold it to a chap in Hawera years ago.

[Murray]

It was a brand new 1987 naked GB400TT which got me back into motorcycling (I think it was $3700). It was midnight blue metallic and I've never seen another one in this colour. After a couple of years, I wanted to fit the half fairing but they were horrendously expensive so got a full fairing made in Hamilton, based on a modified RZ350. Even with the purchase price plus having it sprayed to match and the signwriting, it was still cheaper than the half-fairing from Honda. Sold it to a chap in Hawera years ago.

You sold that???? WHY???

[Blackbird]

You sold that???? WHY???

When I upgraded to a BMW K100RS, I let our eldest son use it after he'd passed his test. He then cleared off to what turned out to be a near-7 year stint at varsity and it just sat in the shed along with the Beemer, a couple of trail bikes and a Suzuki X7. Decided to reclaim a bit of space and sold the GB, the trail bikes and the X7. Whilst I'd have liked to hang on to it from an emotional viewpoint, the reality is that only the Beemer would have been ridden with all my other commitments and interests. Sold the Beemer after about 7 years ownership, my Blackbird after 8 and have had the Street Triple for 5 now. Even in retirement, I don't have any more time so there aren't any lingering regrets :laugh: .

It was a nice bike though and thought that the fairing suited it.

[jasonu]

The Honda RC31s (Hawk GT in USA ) or 650 Bros here......are becoming collectable there now too.

Really? I must look into that. Lately there is quite a 2 stroke road bike and older 4 strokes like Z1's rush, not sure if that has morfed into a '80s 4 stroke thing yet.

[ICE180]

one on trade me went for $5800 last night

they were once a cheap bike but not now it seems

[BuzzardNZ]

one on trade me went for $5800 last night

they were once a cheap bike but not now it seems

well good luck to the person that bought it, cause the last 1 I owned ( in 2006 ), I had a hell of a job finding parts for it.

[T.W.R]

Dug this wee gem out of the pile in the shed

Original July 86 Honda sales brochure for the GB

[DamianW]

^^ The guy in the ad looks like a barrel of laughs :rolleyes:

[ICE180]

that's why I have 2 one for Parts and one that will always go

[Yamahardman]

It was a brand new 1987 naked GB400TT which got me back into motorcycling (I think it was $3700). It was midnight blue metallic and I've never seen another one in this colour. After a couple of years, I wanted to fit the half fairing but they were horrendously expensive so got a full fairing made in Hamilton, based on a modified RZ350. Even with the purchase price plus having it sprayed to match and the signwriting, it was still cheaper than the half-fairing from Honda. Sold it to a chap in Hawera years ago.

Holy crap. Im pretty sure by thpse photos that the fairing on my gb is you old fairing, haha. I cant see the pictures clearly, but the profile looks right. was it fibreglass with an air vent on each side? Haha.

[Blackbird]

Holy crap. Im pretty sure by thpse photos that the fairing on my gb is you old fairing, haha. I cant see the pictures clearly, but the profile looks right. was it fibreglass with an air vent on each side? Haha.

If it is, small world! Yep, fibreglass with vents. The inner surfaces were low sheen black and the outside was midnight metallic blue. The sign writing was from laser cut gold sheet. You don't say whether it still had this paint job. I suppose it's possible that the makers in Hamilton made more than one.

[Yamahardman]

If it is, small world! Yep, fibreglass with vents. The inner surfaces were low sheen black and the outside was midnight metallic blue. The sign writing was from laser cut gold sheet. You don't say whether it still had this paint job. I suppose it's possible that the makers in Hamilton made more than one.

It actually may even be your old bike. But its british racing green now.. It was registeted as a 400 but has a 500 In it. Its sadly fallen off the register, but the number plate is 76rti. Its got the same indicators, and I dpnt think theyre standard. Its got a solo seat on it, but still the longer footpeg plates.

[Yamahardman]

It actually may even be your old bike. But its british racing green now.. It was registeted as a 400 but has a 500 In it. Its sadly fallen off the register, but the number plate is 76rti. Its got the same indicators, and I dpnt think theyre standard. Its got a solo seat on it, but still the longer footpeg plates.

Heres a pictire of it in its current form.

306514

[Blackbird]

It actually may even be your old bike. But its british racing green now.. It was registeted as a 400 but has a 500 In it. Its sadly fallen off the register, but the number plate is 76rti. Its got the same indicators, and I dpnt think theyre standard. Its got a solo seat on it, but still the longer footpeg plates.


Hard to tell from the photo. I sold it to a chap in Hawera with a spare single seat I'd picked up as well as the original dual seat. Just looked up some details on Car Jam and the last recorded odometer reading was in July 2012 @ 54,532 km. The Car Jam data still has it listed with the original plate of 8 RHH and here's the info they have. You can do a chassis check, even if the motor isn't original.
Year: 1987
Make: HONDA
Model: GB400FL
Main Colour: Blue
VIN: N/A
Plate: 8RHH
Engine No: 1004760
Chassis: NC20-1004825

[T.W.R]

A little bit extra for a read