Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I am looking for some information about these bikes. I went to look at one today, a 1986. It is in nice shape, well taken care of and still all original. It is at a Honda dealer here and they have gone over it pretty well. I like the seating position of the bike, I like that it is a 500cc and I like the price. I understand they were a pretty good bike in their day but how do they compare to what is available today? I am sure there are a few people on this board that have owned/ridden them over the years.

From what I remember they were great bikes and kept up with the 600cc of that day.


Tom

just looked that badboy up on bikez. That sucker is pretty powerful for a 500cc bike. 70hp from the V4. In comparison a GS500 put out 40ish HP and a ninja 500 puts out 50hp

My brother-in-law had a 500 Interceptor and while they were good for the day I'd be tempted to go for the EX500 -'93 or newer. More modern suspension and tire choice and as for performance: never EVER believe h.p. figures from the 80's!

oh were they fudging the ratings a tad with the cheap tricks that they cant use anymore

jmillheiser wrote:oh were they fudging the ratings a tad with the cheap tricks that they cant use anymore

Yes. A V-65 Magna was rated at 116 h.p. or about 85 of todays h.p.....

ahh. guess they didn't have to go to SAE net till later on bikes. I know the car companies had to adopt SAE net HP in 72 or so. I know that there is a sizable difference between SAE gross and net. gross was with no muffler or accessories, net is as installed in the vehicle.

they actually just changed the standard again starting in 2006 model year. So if the published HP figures for cars seem a tad lower than the '05 model it is because of the new standard. iirc Honda and Toyota have already adopted the new standard and the rest of the industry will be soon.

so im guessing the VF500 puts out more like 50hp not 70

I like the bike but I think the asking price is pretty high, $3K. Everyone I talk to says that is about $1K more than it is worth. The shop has put some money into it but it is still a 20-year old bike.

$3K is nuts for a 20 year old japanese 500. It doesn't matter if the shop put $4K into it, it will still be a 20 yr. old Honda 500, and not worth $3K. You can buy a much newer and better bike with that kind of money.

For an extra $1500 I can pick up an '01 Suzuki Bandit 600. The bike is dead sexy IMO, I am just a bit leary about it being too big. I've read the advice from people on this board.