CBX 550 value

[lb99]

I used to have the 82 GPz550 during the 80s. I've owned 3 of them so far and still have one in the garage. The tests i read at the time indicated that the CBX was a faster steerer than the GPz550, maybe they meant that it wobbled more. my old GPz was as steady as a rock.

Servicing the enclosed front disks can be a nightmare for the less mechanically inclined I understand.

mechanical nightmare yep, sounds like a Honda alright

[moko]

CBX is actually 572 cc,sneaky buggers trying to convince people they could compete with Kawasaki on equal terms.They can have major camchain tensioner problems but if it`s still going it`s probably been sorted by now,also starter`s seemed to fail on these for some reason.In the U.K. you couldn`t give it away as the tensioner and the inboard brakes were too much hassle for most.I dont see how making a low offer for an un-popular bike is insulting the seller,it`s called realism mate.I`d ask him if he`s ever had any problems with the camchain tensioner and also how easy it is to change the front pads,if he dosnt tell you the latter is a total pain in the arse walk because he`s not being honest with you.

[dickytoo]

I read about the cam chain tensioner problems. it's good to get confirmation and that I wasn't giving out false info or imagining it.

The kwaka's had a similar problem with sticky tensioners but if you tapped the tensioner with a piece of wood, you could free it up!

there were two wedge shaped pieces of metal that developed burrs and caused them to stick. I did a lot of work on the GPz550s for other people and there were a few with porous casting in the tensioner body. I still like them though and resurrected one from a pile of rust not too long ago.

[dangerous]

What is it and peoples "thing" about cam chain tensioners and Honda ???
Sure they had a few failers in the 80's due to the tensioners not using up all the free play they had, been there done that (CX500ec) But by now unless you find a 20+ yr old bike with less than 10,000km on it... its not a problem.
Same goes for the VTR1000 cam chains, a couple let go and Honda gets the dreaded cam chain abuse again.
All bike makes have built a balls up at some point, the odd cam chain and the VF750 cam thing was Honda's.
well maybe the MVX aswell but that was mostly lack of owner knolage at the time.

PS: the VTR problem was the crappy tension method they use which unlike other brands didnt have a ratchet type safty preventing the unwinding of the tensioner... since 1997 the local honda dealer in Chch has had ONE failer (so they say) yet Honda still get baged.

[dickytoo]

There is no conspiracy about hondas and cam chain tensioners. if you read the posts, i make mention of the kawasaki tensioners woes as well.

the reason we mention it in conjunction with this model is because it did have problems with it. he wanted information and we gave it in all honesty.

you're the one who brought the subject up with regards to the other honda models in this thread. (by the way, thanks for letting us know which other honda models to avoid!

[dangerous]

There is no conspiracy about hondas and cam chain tensioners. if you read the posts, i make mention of the kawasaki tensioners woes as well.

the reason we mention it in conjunction with this model is because it did have problems with it. he wanted information and we gave it in all honesty.

you're the one who brought the subject up with regards to the other honda models in this thread. (by the way, thanks for letting us know which other honda models to avoid!

LMAO... no worries, theres no difference between hondas cam chains and Kawa's 2 valve head burn outs in the same era.

[lb99]

LMAO... no worries, theres no difference between hondas cam chains and Kawa's 2 valve head burn outs in the same era.

Phewww I thought my thread was turning nasty.

so the general consensus is $500 is top dollar. I really feel sorry for this dude as his wife is making him sell off all his toys so she can put a DANCE FLOOR in the garage , so not only does he have to sell his bikes, ect, but he also loses the garage, and then he'll have me telling him his pride and joy( which I have pestered him for a price on for months) is a piece if shit and worth fuck all, this is really gonna fuck his weekend up.

I am kinda looking forward to having an adventure with the inboard brake setup, its supposed to work ok once you set it up correctly, are these really TWIN inboard disk?

[moko]

There is no conspiracy about hondas and cam chain tensioners.

CBR600`s have been plagued with camchain tensioner problems as well,and not just the old ones either,not too difficult to fix,often a stripdown and clean-up will fix it but still bloody annoying.VF500 was another great little bike ruined by the same thing.Stupid thing is that there was a guy in London called Tony Galea who ran a business fixing and replacing chains and tensioners who came up with fixes for a couple of Honda`s bikes.So how come a mobile mechanic from London working out of the back of his van can do it but Honda couldn`t? CB900s and the early dohc 750`s used to luch their tensioners as well,often with terminal results.It`s not "just Hondas" Fazer tensioners can stick as well and no doubt plenty of others,Honda are however to be congratulated for their consistency over the years.

[dickytoo]

LMAO... no worries, theres no difference between hondas cam chains and Kawa's 2 valve head burn outs in the same era.

I pulled a Z650 apart once and it had burnt 3 out of 4 exhaust valves. one had a chunk burnt off the edge, the second was badly out of round and the third had huge splits in it. the owner hadn't done any valve adjustments for a long time.

I've had my share of problems on Kwakas but I still love them. the only kwaka i hated with a passion were the old z400/z440s. I overhauled (or tried to) several with varying degress of success. the balance chain was a bastard and Duane Brown from Norjos told me to leave the balancer weights in place but to leave the chain off. When the bike was on the centre stand, the vibration would move the bike several inches everytime the engine was revved!

Good memories

[Sensei]

The only thing the CBX550 had wrong in the early models was they would run Number 3 Big end bearing when pushed hard this may have been sorted later on ? . This issue was due to small oil holes in the Crank .

[Beemer]

I have no idea what they are worth but my husband has a CBX550 in mint condition - he's only the second owner and he's had it for about 20 years!

He takes it up to Manfeild every year for his club's annual track day and has a ball on it. It's the only one of his bikes I can actually ride because I'm too short to ride the others!

There is a shot of it in the "your gargre line-up" thread - not sure if this will link to the photo or not but here goes: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...9&d=1129501066

[Kickaha]

Just a mith. Diesel Pig beats the living shit out of on in post classic racing never seems to miss a beat.

He has done two cranks

[Bonez]

I pulled a Z650 apart once and it had burnt 3 out of 4 exhaust valves. one had a chunk burnt off the edge, the second was badly out of round and the third had huge splits in it.

Same thing's happened with my old GSX750EZ and Gerty the CB750FC2. Both at around 50,000kms. Clearances were checked frequently I may add. The hot gen for setting older DOHC Hondas is set them at 5 thou of an inch instead of the factory recommended 3 thou. Gerty's top cam chain is getting rattly now, but this is not unusual.

[dickytoo]

Same thing's happened with my old GSX750EZ and Gerty the CB750FC2. Both at around 50,000kms. Clearances were checked frequently I may add. The hot gen for setting older DOHC Hondas is set them at 5 thou of an inch instead of the factory recommended 3 thou. Gerty's top cam chain is getting rattly now, but this is not unusual.

While I am not a great fan of Suzukis, having owned a couple and worked on quite a few, the toughest engine I've ever worked on was the old 2 valve gs550.

i knew a guy who abused ond so badly, i was surprised it ever ran. he wore the brake pads down past the metal backing plate and starting using the caliper pistons for barking material. that was just the brakes. i can't remember the details about the other bits but it was a sad piece of machinery.

he ran his bike off the road into a ditch this one time and somehow the whole cylinder block was pushed back about 1 cm (the locating dowels got squashed). We took it apart and replaced the dowels and the bloody bike fired up like nothing had hapened!


the Z650 valves burning out was definitely neglect as I had to replace several shims. The Kwakas generally run quite large clearances, typically 7 to 8 thou which explained why their tappets were usally noiser.

funny thing about bikes, we can live with their quirks and still love them

can say that i've ever felt that way about my many cars.

[Bonez]

While I am not a great fan of Suzukis, having owned a couple and worked on quite a few, the toughest engine I've ever worked on was the old 2 valve gs550.

i knew a guy who abused ond so badly, i was surprised it ever ran. he wore the brake pads down past the metal backing plate and starting using the caliper pistons for barking material. that was just the brakes. i can't remember the details about the other bits but it was a sad piece of machinery.

he ran his bike off the road into a ditch this one time and somehow the whole cylinder block was pushed back about 1 cm (the locating dowels got squashed). We took it apart and replaced the dowels and the bloody bike fired up like nothing had hapened!

I guess it shows how robust they are. Some owners just really don't give a toss about regular maintenance though. There's a Gs550 up for sale on Trademe at the moment in Woodville. Tempted to get it.

I guess we all have or preferences. For some reason I prefer Honda and underated ones at that. First bike I had was a CJ250 that I use to commute from Auckland to Havelock North every other weekend. Set the stage I guess.