Honda’s GB500 Tourist Trophy, like this one recently offered on eBay, is a late 1980s throwback to British cafe racers. Three decades later, the Honda GB500 TT has earned a place in the hearts of enthusiasts.
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A Little Honda History
In the 1950s and 1960s, Honda trounced British racing machines at the legendary Isle of Man TT - opens in new window or tab. circuit. At the same time, Honda’s designers loved the look of those old 500-cc British bikes, like BSAs - opens in new window or tab., Triumphs - opens in new window or tab., and Velocettes - opens in new window or tab..
In the late 1980s, the company built its own 500-cc roadgoing derivative of the old racers. It could have been panned as a cynical retro ploy if it had failed to execute the idea. But Honda nailed it. More than 30 years later, the GB500 TT is a classic.
Looks the Part
Honda designers did a remarkable job of evoking the style of a classic British bike. Cover up the Honda emblem on the tank, and there are few visual cues that the GB500 TT wasn’t handmade in a shed in the English Midlands.
The front disc brake is a giveaway. And in truth, the 500-cc motor doesn’t quite go as far as it could in mimicking the look of the old Brit singles. But that doesn’t get in the way of the bike’s beauty.
Look at all that spun, polished, and forged metalwork in the front end. The brackets, controls, forks - opens in new window or tab., gauges, and wheel hubs are as nicely made as they appear. Honda kept the use of plastics to a minimum. Aside from the front fender - opens in new window or tab., you won’t find much that isn’t made of metal.
Then there’s the paint and the finish. “Black Green” was the only color available. Honda deserves more praise for embellishing the bike with ubiquitous gold pinstriping - opens in new window or tab..
Can It Do “The Ton?”
Cracking the ton—reaching 100 mph, in cafe racer speak—is the key to a machine like this. Contemporary reviewers praised the Honda GB500 TT’s performance capabilities.
You might balk at the peak power figure: just 33 horsepower. Honda certainly could have produced more. Once again, Honda understood the assignment perfectly. It figured out that 33 horsepower should give a top speed of around 108 mph, which affords the user more of an authentic experience.
The motor was borrowed from the venerable XL600 - opens in new window or tab. off-roader and then reduced in capacity and compression until it delivered the appropriate amount of performance—and no more.
Good Value
Despite the enthusiastic reception by reviewers, the Honda GB500 TT took a while to get real traction in some markets. Ironically, one country where it didn’t take off was Japan.
However, today, the Honda GB500 TT is considered a classic. Its following continues to grow, and this bike was only available in the US for two years—1989 and 1990. Imported numbers are low.
The GB500 TT is offered on eBay with a Buy-It-Now price of $9,000. The odometer shows just 8,327 miles. This one appears to be in fine shape, although the seller advises replacing the ancient tires.
With a fresh set of hoops fitted, you’ll be good to hit the road on a fine-looking, well-built machine that delivers the feel, noise, and charms of an old British bike. And a new owner will also appreciate the British trait missing from this Honda—oil leaks.
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