Honda CB500 Barn Find - Will it run?

[@roberthocking9138]

I can’t believe you haven’t got a sonic cleaner. Essential in my opinion for carbs in this condition especially . Nice bike, I recently did a ground up on one and sold it. Beautiful bikes

[@highlysuggestible861]

Honda certainly know how to build a starter motor.

[@majormassenspektrometer]

Honda the best.

[@aaronwallace8397]

No shit, that’s what I was thinking all video. Makes me feel a lot better about how I’ve treated mine.

[@timmytool1231]

Back in 72 my bride to be rode a Honda 450 all around 3 western states, never missed a beat, it would kill me today! Nice job and brings back memories of all my tinkering and 56 years of riding.

[@erikeggenbakstad]

Yes, she runs! My first big bike I rode was a CB500, back in early eighties. Been a while but I will never forget the power it had! Awesome stuff!

[@ScottDLR]

That is one good looking old bike. I had a CB 350-four. My buddy's Suzuki 450 blew it doors off until we hit top end. Then the 350 would slowy pull ahead. The 4 cyl Honda's were sweet engines.

[@handyhippie6548]

if i've learned one thing from watching quite a few of your vids, it's that old hondas never die. no matter how forgotten or neglected, show'em a little love, and like sleeping beauty, they'll wake right up and give you a smile.

[@vincebrewer4388]

Always enjoy this man's thorough approach. It's a great feeling when an old engine bursts into life after decades of silence.

[@jltrack]

Please keep the 73’ CB500 original. 🙏 It is too pretty to convert into something it’s not.

[@shyyphotography]

nothing is sacred!

[@joserantocb750]

You right!

[@carburetedseltzer120]

Absolutely. Don't want to see yet another CB Cafe bike...

[@W-Will53]

The man can do whatever he damn well pleases with his motorcycle.

[@team3383]

This is America - No idea what a classic is ... Just look at all the waste here. Fan, electric lighting when its full daylight, fridge in the garage .... The land of consumption dummies.

[@ephraimgarrett4727]

Bought a new CB500 in June, 1972. It was a great starter bike -- easy to learn on, and fun to ride.

[@Wooley689]

Don't toss the seat pan, strip the old foam off but keep the pan.

[@jackandblaze5956]

Definitely. I'm missing the entire seat from a cb550.

[@matthines5150]

It’s just nuts to me how these old CBs will most often spring back to life with just a little bit of fettling. New battery and carb rebuild (along with flushing other fluids etc.) will typically have you back on the road right quick!

[@mikepierce4739]

It's a Honda. .

[@taddostendorf4173]

Bought a CB400F new back in 76, it was a screamer! Tons of fun for a newly married 20 year old, worked at Vetter Fairing at the time. Was going to put one on it, but we had a baby, and I got into the "death wobble " @ 105mph, decided to sell it and got something heavier. Still that bike was a great starter bike, still riding at 65.

[@albertoherrera7467]

getting a 80 CB500 tomorrow I'm excited to restore mine back to life me and my dad will have a project to work on together 🙏

[@grahamchalk4727]

I had a cb500 in 1985. Lovely bike. Even back then I had someone leave a note on it asking me if it was for sale. Not had that with any other machine.

[@anthonyangeli256]

All the CBs were very good bikes.I have an '80 750c & I absolutely love it. Way way more than my sportster!!

[@mthomas8174]

my first vehicle was a 1975 cb 550/4, bought it for 300 bucks. rode it to school and a long time after i graduated. loved that bike.

[@dknowles60]

my dad had a cb 550/4 ran great and never broke down

[@drewgormley6933]

1. Assume all carbs are dirty and all idle air passages (the fuel supply at idle) are clogged shut, because they are the smallest, and gas with ethanol wicks up into the tiny passage, and then dries out, leaving resin to block the hole. Only a thin guitar string and carb cleaner can open them. 2. You can always find out if a bike is worth rescuing by using starter fluid in the spray can into the intake. If the bike can fire on starter fluid, then it will usually run once you've sorted out the carb cleaning. A bike that starts on starter fluid has both spark and compression, leaving only the timing and fuel air mixture left to diagnose. Timing can be both the advance, or the timing chain adjustment. Easy to miss on some older bikes. That pipe corroded because water accumulated there when a tarp was placed over it, years and years ago. Probably a cotton blanket. Only touched that place on the bike, and of course, the seat.

[@michaelpond6386]

I bought one new in 73 it was a nice bike. It ran well and I finally sold it to a kid in 78, he tried to semi chop it with some 6” over stock forks and 6 bend pull backs a sissy bar and a fat rear tire. The long story short it eventually killed him. It apparently was very unstable. I had a CB 750 in 1979 and sold it for more than I paid for it to a collector in 1990 those were some solid machines

[@Hapfletcher]

I have woned about 12 CB's over my 50 years of riding CB350 Four CB500 Four, CB450, CB550 Four CB750 and CB900 but the CB500 has always been my favorite bike...

[@CensoredVA]

This would be cool as a just a restoration to original instead of a mod. These are neat bikes.

[@kevingrimbeek2106]

I had a '72 model 500 Four, sold her after 80 000 kilometers (50 000 miles) on the clock, never a moments trouble while touring most of South Africa! I now have a '97 Honda Steed VLX600 with almost 100 000 kilometers (60 000 miles) on the clock and she still pulls like a beast after 23 years! I have kept her in origional condition and still looks as good as the day I first bought her!

[@cwqrpportable]

This bike came out when I was 17. I bought a Cycle and Cycle Guide magazine every month and pined for one of these and for the '73 Kawasaki Z1. Congrats man. Do it justice.....

[@rustyspoons992]

I would return it to 100% original using as many genuine honda parts as possible

[@ClassicOctane]

The cool thing is I already have almost every part I would need from past projects.

[@AndrewPineiderMusic]

I tried to do this some time ago... but one of the issues is that the parts are so old. I remember buying a headlight casing OEM for my 73' CB 350 and when I installed it the casing cracked. The rubber parts are also disintegrating at this point.

[@raybruce9522]

Do you use non ethanol gas after you rebuild the carbs ?

[@buddieluvsu]

Those Hondas were the most reliable objects

[@mewserino]

Not much I love more than seeing old bikes come back to life. You should've taken some footage of how dirty it was when you got it!

[@ClassicOctane]

Yeah really wish I would have done that. It was so bad I wanted to hose it off before I even took it off the truck.

[@TahitianRider]

Seeing how many carbs you rebuild, you should definately invest in a ultrasonic cleaner. Did it on many carbs and it really works better and faster than carb cleaner

[@ClassicOctane]

I really want one. Any recommendations on brand?

[@TahitianRider]

I'm not an expert on the differents brands out there but I know they are 2 categories: the ones you can find on ebay for about 100 to $200, which I think will do the job just fine, and the profesionnal stuff that retails for 3 or 4 times more. I think that the ebay stuff (brands like GTSonic) will be perfectly good. I do not own one myself because the shop close to my place has a huge one where you can sink 4 carbs without even separating them and they do it for pretty cheap so I always go there :). But I think I might buy one for smaller bikes with twin or single carbs or even for other pieces than carbs. Since you almost always separate your carbs in your vids I think you could go for something like that too, the smaller ones where you can fit just one carb even retail for $50 By the way I love that 500, can't wait to see what you'll do with this one and what is your other non-Honda project :) I'm working on 3 bikes at the same time myself haha, a CB360 with a short circuit somewhere... a CX500 and a FJ600 :) Take care

[@dangoldbach6570]

Yup. Look at sharpertek, I went a little bigger and got the heated model 11L so I can completely fit a holley 4 bbl in it, it was about 1100.00 with the 4 different detergents I got with it, the smaller ones are a few hundred less. You DEFINITELY want the SC20 and shellac buster detergents, they rip through the crusties in float bowls and jets like nothing I've ever seen!!

[@TheDavey333]

Wow, another classic Honda, try to keep it standard, it looks cool 🙏

[@peteraugust5295]

When I got into riding motorcycles at 16 or 17 i quickly went into sportsbikes and could never understand what made all the old folks like those weird looking 30, 40 or 50 year old bikes. Not that I get older I start to realize that at some point in time those where to the young folks back then what a S1000RR or a ZX10R is for the boys today, and that is freaking cool. Just recently I saw some pictures of someones first motorcycle tour. Germany to Italy in 1979, on 250 two-strokes. Seeing those guys 40 years ago beeing literally no different then me and my friends where 5 years ago just made me happy. People dont change and neither does ne love for bikes.

[@Pdvs92]

Instead of throwing the seat out you could strip it to the base and keep the plate if you ever want to build a original bike. It's easy to get it repolsted.

[@ClassicOctane]

Will do!

[@Pdvs92]

Classic Octane the paint looks awesome like the most recent barn to brat! I have actually bought a cb 500 recently and will try to restore it! You're a great inspiration and I like your videos!

[@waynehawes6906]

Hi Taylor. Just fitted one of the 12” shorty mufflers to my 1974 550. Looks great and sounds even better. Thanks for the tip. Wayne.

[@redcloud870]

You damn Honda Classic Junkie! Proud to be apart of this elite club. lol Just started my two CB900 Customs after sitting for yearssss!

[@rgadave]

In 1974 here in the UK I owned from new, a two year old very troublesome Norton 750 Commando 'Combat' (very combative) Interstate which after several minor and major reliability problems I was considering trading in for something I had not owned before......a Japanese motorcycle. A friend of mine who always bought British bikes had 'thrown the towel in' and now owned a Honda CB500-Four offered me a test ride and what a revelation to me that was, not fast but 'quick' , smooth, oil-tight, and easy to handle. I've not bought a British bike since, just Japanese and Italian and now a BMW.

[@jacobzcheng3802]

I got a 1981 Honda cm200t for $350. My first bike! The previous owner thrashed it, and so I don't feel too bad about playing around a bit with non-original parts. It didn't run and, and then it slipped out of gear, but I managed to solve both of those problems. I've learned a bunch!

[@dashing2293]

I have a 71 cb500 same color can't beat that sweet aging

[@telecasteredtodeath]

I just said to my wife, this is one bike that was pretty much perfect looking from the factory and i see from the comments many people agree. Your mods are usually ok, but in this instance its like drawing a beard on the Mona Lisa, you could but why would you.

[@redherring4335]

Please do a proper restoration.

[@ClassicOctane]

I plan on doing a “restomod” type restoration soon. Stock looks but just updated for reliability and safety (brighter LED lights, etc)

[@1000archangels]

Ian let's be honest, main good things from that era are engines (motors) and the rest is nostalgia

[@kingbeat101]

I had a 1975 Honda 500T twin and loved it..What a great engine!!!..Actually used it to tour out west for a few months in 1976 and it did really well..

[@TN_HondaDad]

The "T" was touring right, so it had 6 gears?

[@austinado16]

Good job bringing it back to life! Carburetor cleaner from a spray can will work great as a starting fluid, and because it burns slower, more like how gasoline burns, there's no risk of damaging engine bearings and connecting rods, like there is with ether (starting fluid) which is much more explosive. Good luck with it, love the old inline, carbureted 4's!

[@allanbrogdon7453]

Got a 500 in the 80s tried to go to work got down to 20mph smoking and a dude with a Mohawk hung out the window of a car laughing at me.Fuel leak ran out of ⛽ walked to a station filled a couple of pop bottles with gas and got it to the station.Got home and parked it for good.

[@ikichullo]

23:37 I love hearing old engines wake up from the dead!

[@Tjs_powersports]

I have a 1974 Honda cb550 four it sat for 30 years I cleaned the carbs an points an started right up also the pipes were completely rotted off got some nice 4 into 2 slip on mufflers

[@MichaelandCathy1999]

Rode a 1983 Honda CB900F Super Sport back in 1990 for a couple of years... best bike I’ve ever ridden, aside from my first brand new bike I bought in ‘76.... a brand new Yamaha RD400c; that was a totally different driver, of course, but still dream of the many miles I put on it way back in time.

[@GaryLordsWayMinistry]

Oil doesn't lose its viscosity, you keep it clean and it will last for years and do its job in any engine. I wouldn't contaminate the new oil with a bad and dirty oil filter. Not a good idea. I would pull all the plugs and run a compression test on each cylinder so I know how the engine is doing for wear. I also would check the chain tensioner and make sure the valve timing is correct and that the valves are set to the right clearances before running it and bending one of them if it is off. Yep that thing is going to be a ripper.

[@o2bnov0307]

I enjoyed this video. My first bike was a Honda 550-Four. It had a sad ending. The man I sold it to used it to jump hills and trails off road. The bike did not survive that afternoon/evening.

[@dknowles60]

they were not design for off road

[@TheStephenspann27]

This year I insulated my garage door, installed weather stripping, and put in a 14k BTU dual hose portable AC unit. The best $300 I ever spent.

[@Elvirth24]

Lol, so many guys begging for a resto in the comments... IMO these bikes have enough life left in them to update them to more modern standards, and that's fine. The beauty of these bikes are really their customization potential, and frankly owning an old bike for me means molding it to whatever my needs and desires may be.

[@fnordfnordsson4385]

And they made a million of them. The "black bomber" might be different, but the world won't miss yet another generic CB.

[@tunefully1792]

The metal rusting towards the muffler is because they used a different metal. It happens since theres more engineering there so they cut corners on spots like that. Same with cars. My Mustang has a new catback that will last longer than stock for absolutely sure. Usually the cats and mufflers rust out before say the manifolds. Nothing weird about that especially the seat going bad. Most damage.

[@abnerhagelsieb]

Really like this video, longer and more explicit on what you're doing

[@wowerman]

Good condition for its age.If it was me, I would spray some oil into cylinders and manualy turn crankshaft with kick starter slowly.Then before trying to ignite would clean carburators regardles.

[@davidnelson9550]

I’m super stoked to see what the next non Honda bike is going to be. I love watching all your vids man. Keep up the awesome work

[@ClassicOctane]

I will reveal the new bike as soon as the current barn to brat bike is done.

[@orlandokaraoke3002]

You will need to spray some cleaning fluid in the buttons and switches then work them back and forth for a while. It's typically of the Honda switches. My 85 nighthawk 450 sat for a year and it took a while to get switches functioning well. The electric parts of the ignition switch snap on the bottom of the metal key part. I've had to take mine apart, replace the little springs pushing on the contacts and freshen up the solder on the pigtails leads. Very nice bike! Lots of parts available for it. I wonder if an electronic ignition conversion kit is available. I do know that any time I ever washed mine and got the connector on the coil wet, it would give me a fit for a couple of days until it dried out well. For me it was important to keep the carb cherry as no one had ever been in it changing anything. I had a guy at the local shop pull the carbs and threw them into the vibrating cleaner tank. Just tossed it in there and let it agitate. Did it wonders and works well. Luckily none of the passages between the carbs were clogged since no need to separate them. Although at some point it have to be done.

[@mobiledetail4you]

My first st bike was a CB550-4 w a kirker 4-1 pipe loved that bike

[@buzzmorales4339]

Totally Stoked on that fun little video. Love your positive and inspiring attitude!

[@andyknight240]

Phenomenal video! It gives me the confidence to pick up a non running (clean) CB! Thanks for the info!!!

[@colerippeon3903]

Im from maryland but that is the best casual beer to drink. Nothings finer than a shiner!

[@stancoleshill8925]

At 14:30 when you turn the engine over, it looks like the points are not closing and the gap looks far too wide. Check point specs and adjust accordingly. I did see the spark at 15:32 but I would still check the points gap etc. Never assume the other plugs work. Great fun ! Enjoy ! Please don't "molest" it by turning it into a "bobber". Don't hack it to death because you are too cheap and lazy to find and buy good replacement parts. Good video sir.

[@defossardclocks2508]

Too cheap and lazy! Honestly, what an insult to him and his projects!

[@Fezzler61]

cb500/550 - great project bikes!

[@chrisredfield3240]

Fezzler61 cb500/4 is a much better bike than the famous 750 really. Really great bike for the era there still looks amazing all this time later such a sweet little smooth engine.

[@derekcollins1972]

Gave away a 550 a few years ago,the guy pulled the engine and put it in a snowmobile that sucked ass.There it sat and rotted away...Thought I was doing him a favor with the bike.

[@paulstaf]

You don't have to look at the title, the year is on that tag on the neck of the frame.

[@spacerconrad]

First bike I owned was a CB500T (twin cylinder). Bought it for a song, sold it for a whimper. Kinda wish I still had it.

[@kalaharimine]

Original, except the exhaust. My 74 model had 4 mufflers. Nice video.

[@RPDBY]

haven't watched the video, but if its Honda, it will run, no matter where you find it

[@cparry12]

You will end up flooding the carbs in a minute your carbs will need to be balanced as well but apart from that it sounds nice

[@kimhorton6109]

I have so much history with acN50ff scoots. Great bikes Honda built the beat thing with this bike

[@MrMambott]

I have had about 7 f those from a 200cc, 350cc,500cc a couple were 4cyl but mostly 2cyl and a 1965 Superhawk CL/CB350 wish I had them today , Just missed out on two Suzuki GT360s for $800

[@LabRat6619]

You lucky man. I used to have Honda 400f in the eighties.

[@colubrinedeucecreative]

Hi there, interesting video. If you watch the footage back, do you see what is not there? Smoke from the exhaust. Well, at least until you reved it hard. Which probably means there is a flap of rust or two in there at the very least. It won't idol like that. Oh wait, this is a really old video lmao.

[@citizenseventies6738]

Nice vid dude but I reckon you need to make sure those carb jets are properly clean (especially the pilot jet) and also take into account you are starting the bike with no air filter connected so hence, sucking too much air in. Hope you get it running sweet man.

[@PC-LAD]

CB500, the bike that sounds like a dolphin on a cold start

[@bighorn4908]

Those are beautiful bikes. I’m new to the channel but have enjoyed this video. I am a subscriber now. One of the better channels, in my opinion. Very tasteful.

[@ClassicOctane]

Thanks!

[@mikegoodsell7835]

Very interesting, I had a CB550F 40 years ago!

[@stevebarnette]

I just moved to Austin and quickly learned motorcycles are the best way to get around in the traffic. Let’s go for a ride sometime! I have knobbies on my FZ1 and want to ride one of the dried up lake beds. How cool would that be?!

[@UrbanMonkTV]

Great new project! I'm actually visiting Austin, watching this episode, waiting to go to a sales presentation and wishing I could skip that and come help you with those awesome CBs. Love your channel - keep up the great work!

[@plunder1956]

When I had a CB400-4 IN 1978-80 a friend had a CB550. I was very happy with my 400-4 but the 550 had a slightly nicer tank design.

[@dknowles60]

i had a Cb 400-4 i miss that bike. my dad had a cb 550-4 he miss that bike they both ran with no problems]\

[@mrwest5552]

S W E E T. understood next build will probably be something else... I would watch this CB500 build. 🔧

[@motoyingtv2298]

That sleeping vintage monster.. You awake it.. So cool😍😍

[@Madkilljoy]

I saw the shiner Bock and immediately subscribed, Texas forever

[@ClassicOctane]

I have a golden retriever named Shiner too. :-)

[@stevenlars4914]

Classic Honda's are great. I have 3 of them.

[@kencohagen4967]

I love this old Honda’s myself. I’d love to build one on a cruiser frame. I would rather have a CB750, with an 836 kit, but would settle for a smaller engine.

[@ClassicOctane]

I haven't done a cruiser style build on a Honda yet but I agree that the 750 might be the way to go for that style.

[@mcdarby4436]

Hey, I love your vids! Thank you for all of the inspiration to do my own build.

[@ClassicOctane]

Thanks! Good luck on your project.

[@HDR20]

I have a 1982 cbx500 turbo that is collecting dust I need to start working on.

[@BasicPoke]

Sounds like it's running on 1 or 2 cylinders. Feel the pipes and see which are hot.

[@constitutionalUSA]

Man I hope you don't hack it up. Would love to have one in original condition. I have a 1975 cb550 missing the front end here in central Fl if ya want one to chop up

[@samakers3484]

Past 2 bikes I’ve worked on that starter switch has had a weird film on the contacts and as soon as I hose it down with brake clean and steel wool they’re reliable

[@spiritfree5050]

you should take a small sample of the oil and send it to a lab they can give you the break down of said oil that way you can see how bad or how good it is or if there are metal shavings in the oil also good idea to look at the condition of the spark plugs can tell you a lot of what is inside

[@rrey7665]

I didn't see where you showed how you were feeding gas to the carbs with the tank off? Nice to know when your working on your bike project.

[@frankmcdonald66]

I enjoyed the video. I was cheering you on. Start little Honda start!

[@David-rx2to]

Thanks for this video. A lot of the parts looked very similar to my old CB400F. Brought back a lot of fond memories.

[@michaelyarmie4858]

I had a blue 1975 HONDA CB 550 Four Super Sport It had the 4 into 1 exhaust that rotted out so I manufactured a Cherry Bomb to fit on it. When the carbs were synchronized and the clutch was dialed in running premium fuel that bike flew. I kinda wish I still had it.

[@DavidG8706]

Shiner in the beer fridge. Been a fan, now I'm a subscriber!

[@anthonywertjr230]

I have a 74 Honda 350 4. Been working on it slowly. Going to be a cafe racer

[@colinstrachan3702]

I have a cb450 needs wiring, hopefully get to it very soon

[@zestydude87]

I had one of these as my first motorcycle back in 1993. I wish I would've kept it!

[@Johnnywhamo]

This was the first bike I owned....about two months later a woman pulled out in front of me and I it was totalled...and I got pretty wrecked myself. Didn't scare me off though, I owned three other bikes after and road them all a hell of a lot more defensively.

[@Ryansanders80]

this bike looks so good stock i would just bring it back to life.

[@xtidnab]

fuel starvation, one trick is to put your hand over the intake to increase engine vacuum to suck more fuel

[@rrz464]

That is awesome, both in look and find. I agree with some other comments, I would go for a proper restoration. Also, maybe keep that original seat pan and sell it? Just junk the foam. Keep on keepin on. Also, what do you plan to ride in the DGR this year?

[@charliegutierrez8728]

Man bro it's so hard to find a good Barn find like this in California.

[@wg3191]

This vid was awesome as I learned a lot to take into my 550 Four 🤙🏽

[@brenboy6]

Would love for you to restore it with original parts