Hey all, I have to say what a great forum this is! A lot of good information on here. I just signed up because I am going to go look at and maybe purchase a near immaculate gs500e tomorrow. I currently have a 1980 Honda cx500 and have owned it for 6 years. I absolutely love it, however it is getting ridiculously hard to find certain parts for it now and needless to say they are getting expensive as well. Thinking the gs500 would be a good newer replacement with a lot of parts still available for it. What do you guys think of this one? The pre-owned sales guy said he'd take $1,300 for it as well. It's about two hours from me as I'm from the Cape Girardeau, Mo area.

http://www.abernathycycles.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=1794889&p=2&s=Year&d=D&t=preowned&fr=xPreOwnedInventory

Quote from: nicktylermo on February 12, 2016, 12:19:53 PM
Hey all, I have to say what a great forum this is! A lot of good information on here. I just signed up because I am going to go look at and maybe purchase a near immaculate gs500e tomorrow. I currently have a 1980 Honda cx500 and have owned it for 6 years. I absolutely love it, however it is getting ridiculously hard to find certain parts for it now and needless to say they are getting expensive as well. Thinking the gs500 would be a good newer replacement with a lot of parts still available for it. What do you guys think of this one? The pre-owned sales guy said he'd take $1,300 for it as well. It's about two hours from me as I'm from the Cape Girardeau, Mo area.

http://www.abernathycycles.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=1794889&p=2&s=Year&d=D&t=preowned&fr=xPreOwnedInventory

While indeed the parts of the GS are easier to find... its getting to a point of where everyone's had their turn at this "beginner bike" and they either just sit, or are wrecked and become write offs, or what ever. but I've noticed the GS's parts are becoming harder to find compare to 4 years ago.. just kinda know what you're getting into. it is only gonna get older...

On a side note tho, the Honda NC700X is like the next gen to the GS500.. but new? and honda.. but I'm no bias.

Looks good and the price is right.More importantly take it for a test ride and see what u think.....ask questions.
25yrs/9650mls....why so few?.......suggests that at some stage the bike must have been idle for a long time;if that's the case it's no big deal as long as it was prepared.

Stick with the CX. I had one briefly around 1990 and deeply regret selling it

Please please don't sell it someone who wants to bob it. They are a unique machine and can only go up in desirability and value. I have been looking for the right one at the right price for years. Believe me,  I would pay a lot for one in good condition, even more for an immaculate one......but this one is just a bit too much 

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C674516

Try here for spares, ok you will have to pay shipping but if this guy doesn't have what you want no one will 

https://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/CX500-1978/

Any pics of yours?

It's in great condition and it's always been my pride and joy since I bought it in 2010. It's 100% stock except for an era appropriate vetter IV fairing. I hated the vetter fairing at first but it grew on me for the trips I take. I still find myself wanting to take it off at times lol. It has 46,000 miles on it currently. I rebuilt the engine at 39,000 miles (new crank, rod bearings, rings & hone, new cam-chain & components). Wish it was a deluxe so I had further range with the bigger tank but nonetheless it's been very good to me. Still running the original cdi ignition box too. Having no success uploading an image at the moment. I'll try later

Early CXs were a bit problematic, they suffered from Cham chain issues, generator problems and leaky water pumps. Honda dealers would pull the engine out, do the 3 jobs at the same time under warranty and call it `The Triple Bypass`

I still couldn't get the pics to upload so I posted links to them on my photobucket. We wound up getting that snowstorm this weekend so I didn't get a chance to look at that gs500. I think another guy is going to beat me to it anyway. It's probably for the better. If I do ever go with something newer, it really should be new enough to have fuel injection. I'm tired of messing with carburetors ha. Problem is the ones I really want (Kawasaki versys or honda cb500x) have stupid high insurance premium for some reason. I think they are in the "dual sport" category even though they're like 90% street 10% off road bikes.

http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/Nicholas_Tyler/media/224940_106591229513693_1145281443_n_zpsiuzmbq6n.jpg.html?o=1

http://s1340.photobucket.com/user/Nicholas_Tyler/media/10407398_283075468531934_668289640274929376_n_zpsyaet4emw.jpg.html?o=0