1972 Honda CB500four

[LoVel]

This is my new girl.

http://bham.craigslist.org/mcy/1634867928.html

Yes those damn floorboards are coming off tomorrow.

[sevy]

I'd leave the floorboards on - great place to set your beer down when you're changing the oil.

My first and only other bike was a 79 550 Four with a Vetter fairing complete with the tape deck and speakers installed. I bought it from a friend so he could get a Gold Wing, and I just started riding. I can't believe I am still alive, and I was shocked when I got my Legend 2 years ago, because that Honda with that big heavy fairing bolted on front sure didn't handle like this Triumph does! It just proves that ignorance is bliss!

Some of you may remember seeing my buddy's Honda twin at Bennington last year. Paid $350 for it in a box, and now it runs great. Every time we fill up, he gets more attention than the rest of us. Those 70s Hondas were sure classics. Looks like you'll have alot of fun.

[mark]

Very cool. Those floorboards definitely need to go though. And you should probably see about finding fork boots to cover up those exposed springs -- they look cool, but it'll be a bitch cleaning dead bugs and road grime out of there.

Also, please tell me the Vetter fairing will never again go on the bike. Just eBay that shit.

--mark

[TonUp]

I am thinking Cafe Racer!



Tito

Ton Up

[LoVel]

It already looks and runs ten times better. Fuel lines were way too big. Damn thing was pouring gas out. Put on the proper size lines and presto chango no more fuel leaks.

Still needs carb work. Kits have been ordered and will be here sometime this week. Floor boards are gone and will never see the light of day again.

About the fairing. I actually told the guy I didn't want it. My dad about had a stroke when he found out I left it. Called the guy back Saturday and he said he would still throw it in for no charge. That was not a big surprise. We went and picked it up and dad is going to hang it from his garage wall. He had two of them in his earlier days.

We also bled the brakes. There was some interesting crap in there. Tires have got to be next on the list. The back tire is square. It came that way. Found the IRCs on Bike bandit in the proper sizing. Can get tires tubes and rim strips for 150.00.

Already ordered air and oil filters and service manual which should arrive with the carb kit stuff or at least at about the same time. I think the air filter was original. Bike had obviously been in a tool shed for many years. There are small scratches on the tank where it looks like the rakes and shovels were leaned against it. Only has 12100 miles on it.

Seat is a rock. All the foam is deteriorated. Robin and I will work on that.

Went to the Barber Vintage Museum Sunday because I knew they had something similar. It was the exact same bike except the one in the museum is a 74 instead of a 72.

Almost forgot. It has a cigarette lighter on it. I may take up smoking.

More pictures later.

[TonUp]

Pics Paul please!



Tito

Ton Up

[LoVel]

I was thinking about riding it up for the bash. But then it really started to kill my butt after 17 miles. Maybe the new seat padding will help.

[gilligan]

Nice find Paul.

A friend of mine from high school used to have an old CB 500. Unfortunately he "lost" the bike after being chased by the state police here in CT. He actaully almost lost them when he went down a dead end street with a trail at the end which allowed him to get back on the highway going northbound. Unfortunately, he ran out of gas on the northbound side of the highway and had to jump down a 20 foot embankment to avoid getting arrested. Left the bike by the side of the road which got impounded. He really wasn't going to try to re-claim it after all that. Anyway some crazy memories associated with those old Hondas.

Hope your rides are saner.

[LoVel]

Well the seller has deleted his post so I will have to get some pictures real soon. I have pictures of the museum bike but my dad was taking the pictures with his camera when we were working on my new bike. I have asked him to send me the pictures but he is tecnologically challenged so it may or may not happen.

It could be this weekend before I get pictures up.

I think the rides should be saner. I am supposd to be mature now. HA!!!

[LoVel]

This is the museum quality bike. It keeps fucking raining and I haven't been able to get any of my owm pics.

[Spad]

The one in the museum looks great, but I really want to see the pictures of the one you picked up, still all tarted up with the Vetter and floorboards. I've got an '82 CM450E, and I wish it still had the straight seat like yours instead of the stepped 'custom' look and buckhorn bars. I'm happy with it as a twin, since that's as close as I can get to a classic Triumph right now, but the small fours are pretty.

- Jim