spurlock
New Member
Well I'm feeling a bit over privileged here. I scored a 1990 GB500 w/10,700 miles on eBay about 5 weeks ago. Delivery was finally set for this past Sunday, but just two days before I spied an 1989 w/15K miles. Took a look and the condition was great and the price very fair so given the scarcity of parts for this rare model I grabbed it. A few weeks ago I had not even heard of a GB500, having left the Honda mechanic trade in 1980, 9 years before they came out. And now suddenly I own two of them! I'm pinching myself to make sure it is not a dream.
My initial justification for this splurge was that I could combine the best parts into one bike and sell the second. But even as I had those thoughts I knew I would never sell one. So after doing basic service and test riding both bikes I have had a fun few days in the shop swapping the best parts onto the '89 while also keeping the '90 bike complete. Here they are early in the process:
The engine of the '89 felt healthiest and mechanically quietest, so that will be my rider. The tires on the '90 were almost new and the spokes and rims cleanest, so those wheels came over to the '89 after spoke polishing and tensioning. The muffler on the '89 is perfect, while the '90 has a small gouge, but several of the painted parts on the '90 were better. So after some swapping, polishing, buffing, service and minor repairs the '89 is almost where I want it, needing only right and left crankcase covers to be stripped, buffed and clear coated. This hardly qualifies as a "Project," more like just routine maintenance but here are some pics.
On the '89 I pulled the front end apart, stripped, buffed and clear coated the fork lowers, then adjusted steering stem preload and cleaned up all hardware.
The '89 tank had a haze of fine scratches but was completely rust free inside, whereas the '90 tank had light rust but better paint. So I kept the '89 tank and rubbed it out.
The finished (for now) product:
I'm totally impressed with the handling and power of this bike. It has a power band a mile wide and with its balance shaft is smooth as silk. The seat height and weight are low, and the riding position feels perfect for my scrawny 5'5" body. We're getting lots of rain here now so when I get some clear days I'll post back with some glamour shots of the GB posing along our local twisty roads.
-Bill
My initial justification for this splurge was that I could combine the best parts into one bike and sell the second. But even as I had those thoughts I knew I would never sell one. So after doing basic service and test riding both bikes I have had a fun few days in the shop swapping the best parts onto the '89 while also keeping the '90 bike complete. Here they are early in the process:
The engine of the '89 felt healthiest and mechanically quietest, so that will be my rider. The tires on the '90 were almost new and the spokes and rims cleanest, so those wheels came over to the '89 after spoke polishing and tensioning. The muffler on the '89 is perfect, while the '90 has a small gouge, but several of the painted parts on the '90 were better. So after some swapping, polishing, buffing, service and minor repairs the '89 is almost where I want it, needing only right and left crankcase covers to be stripped, buffed and clear coated. This hardly qualifies as a "Project," more like just routine maintenance but here are some pics.
On the '89 I pulled the front end apart, stripped, buffed and clear coated the fork lowers, then adjusted steering stem preload and cleaned up all hardware.
The '89 tank had a haze of fine scratches but was completely rust free inside, whereas the '90 tank had light rust but better paint. So I kept the '89 tank and rubbed it out.
The finished (for now) product:
I'm totally impressed with the handling and power of this bike. It has a power band a mile wide and with its balance shaft is smooth as silk. The seat height and weight are low, and the riding position feels perfect for my scrawny 5'5" body. We're getting lots of rain here now so when I get some clear days I'll post back with some glamour shots of the GB posing along our local twisty roads.
-Bill
