1989 Honda GB500

Post Listing Update: This GB500 did not meet reserve with 31 bids up to $4,292.

Every so often Honda brings a bike to market just because they can. The GB500 TT seems to be one of these. Originally offered in the Japanese market Honda brought the bike to America for 1989 and ‘90. It had the look of a classic British single with the anvil like reliability and engineering of a Honda.

Takes more than a name (Tourist Trophy?) to sell a motorcycle and Honda had this one priced pretty high at $4,200 in ‘89. By all accounts the TT was a really well engineered and designed motorcycle, and the press just loved it. Peter Egan called it “the perfect sportbike for someone who wants to enjoy the sensations of a traditional road-going Single without a heavy maintenance schedule or an advanced degree in Machine Shop.” Cycle World March 1989.

All this leads to value in today’s market. Hagerty values a #3 bike (average) at $7,000 with the trend line very much upward.

The 1989 Honda GB500 used a 499 CC air cooled overhead cam single cylinder motor that made 33 HP run through a 5 speed transmission for a tested top speed of 108 MPH. The bike used Showa adjustable rear shocks and non adjustable front suspension with a disc brake forward and drum aft to ride, handle and stop very nicely. Total weight was 390 LBS ready to ride.

Editor’s Note – I was hoping this would be a bit cleaner…

This particular Honda GB500 (VIN# 1H2PC1617KK000121) is in San Francisco, California and is listed as ‘a very clean original bike with only 10k miles’. Listing includes recent service and original tool kit and manual along with a couple of small deficiencies. The bike is currently bid at $1,325.00 with reserve not met