Thought some on the Sport Classic forum...

[st2brooke]

I Thought some on the Sport Classic forum, as fellow Ducati owners and fans of classic looking motorcycles, might find the bike I recently bought my wife (a new rider after years of riding passenger, yeah!) interesting.
It is a 1989 Honda GB500 Tourist Trophy, I am sure most of you can see the inspirations from Vincent to BSA to Triumph. Stateside they are rare, in Japan, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand you are all well used to seeing this one.
Anyways, as soon as she is comfortable riding I am sure she will join the Ducatisti with her second bike.

[garcia]

yes, great choice - lovely styling!
i remember when these arrived and admired them at the time.
enjoy and safe riding!

[st2brooke]

Originally Posted by garcia

yes, great choice - lovely styling!
i remember when these arrived and admired them at the time.
enjoy and safe riding!

Thanks!
She loves the Sport Classics from Ducati and the Triumph Thruxton and Bonnie as well, but this one will be a better starter bike.

[corks67]

very nice they retail (s/h) anywhere between $5000 to $7000 here and they are rare here too in TT500 form , the more basic looking XBR500 is more common here and not as nice

[Cesare57]

Sweet bike - never heard of it before! I did a little research and it looks like they're something of a collectible. Probably would be a great freeway\urban commuter too. Kinda ironic that Honda would produce a retro styled bike inspired by the classic British bikes they sent down the dumper when they introduced the CB750. Should be a fun bike for your wife (and you if she lets you take it out), and if she graduates to a Duc, you should hang onto it if possible.

Any specs - hp, torque, weight, etc.? Sounds like the engine was a solid, hi-tech dirt bike model so my guess is it'd run circles around the new Enfields.

[st2brooke]

Originally Posted by corks67

very nice they retail (s/h) anywhere between $5000 to $7000 here and they are rare here too in TT500 form , the more basic looking XBR500 is more common here and not as nice

When I search the GB on the net alot of the owners I find info from are from Australia. We only had the bike here for 89 and 90, I suppose Australia had the bike for many more years. It was a sales flop here, $4500 was a large price for a 500 in 1989.
I have only found a couple here in the states, and, oddly, when I google I find my wife's bike on some of the sites from the former owners...now that is rare!

[st2brooke]

Originally Posted by Cesare57

Sweet bike - never heard of it before! I did a little research and it looks like they're something of a collectible too. Kinda ironic that Honda would produce a retro styled bike inspired by the classic British bikes they sent down the dumper when they introduced the CB750. Should be a fun bike for your wife (and you if she lets you take it out), and if she graduates to a Duc, you should hang onto it if possible.

Any specs - hp, torque, weight, etc.? Sounds like the engine was a solid, hi-tech dirt bike model so my guess is it'd run circles around the new Enfields.

The engine is a sleeved down version of the 650 from the xr and xl dirt bikes that have been around forever (still are). I do ride it sometimes, it is fun, though my 6'1" 225 lbs looks rather odd and overpowers the shocks.
Here is a site with links to specs and original sales materials and articles:
http://lovik.tripod.com/Clubman.html

[Cesare57]

Originally Posted by st2brooke

The engine is a sleeved down version of the 650 from the xr and xl dirt bikes that have been around forever (still are). I do ride it sometimes, it is fun, though my 6'1" 225 lbs looks rather odd and overpowers the shocks.
Here is a site with links to specs and original sales materials and articles:
http://lovik.tripod.com/Clubman.html

st2- glad you do get a little time on it, and thanks for the additional info. If I could ever get my wife interested in motorcycling I'd love to snag one as well!

[spyvito]

Very nice and one of my favorite Hondas. The Supertrapp is a nice touch.

[Cesare57]

Checked out st2brooke's link re specs, etc. and after doing some German - English translation and conversions, looks like the bike cranks out about 34 hp and 28 ft. lbs. torque at the crank. At 354 lbs. the power\weight ratio confirms it would definitely humiliate an Enfield