VT500E ????

While I was sorting some of the crap in my lockup today an old
fella of 80-ish arrived to pickup some stuff from the next lockup.
In the far corner I spotted a bike and asked him about it.

He has a C reg (85/6) Honda VT500E which has not been ridden
for 15 years but has been started regularly. One OAP owner from
new, a tad under 16k miles, looks immaculate.

I have never seen one before so I have no idea what it might
be worth, they are rather scarce. He will never ride it again
but cannot make up his mind, is it likely to appreciate as
a classic if he keeps it or should he let it go ?.

What is it worth and were they any good ?.

 

I had a really SO VT500 about 10 years ago, (in fact it turned out to
be two VT500's masquerading as one, but that's a long story) 50 bhp
shaft drive, aparently very popular with DR's at the time. Old as the
hills and fairly few about now . I did see a mint CX 500 today.

 

Its just a SOB. Not scarce at all , there are 4 on Ebay
right now .Worth bugger all.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/honda-vt500-/250798658687

 

They're really, really good bikes (enclosed disc apart). Slim, fun,
shaft drive, handle well - the only weak spot is the clutch, but tougher
aftermarket springs are available. Twin-plug (I think) three-valve heads
and clearance for doing the tappets is limited.

Good, really good, ones go for £800-900. With this sort of low miles,
and if it truly is immaculate, a grand.

 

60k miles, oil leak, crap description, sold off-eBay.

 

Ooh, that one's got a soliond - *want*

 

I saw a CX custom at the West End Cafe in Llandovery at the weekend. I
would have pointed and laughed, but the owner appeared to be of the
full-on upside-downy head persuasion - his mate had a Suzuki GSX750
hardtail.

 

Thanks. It was parked a long way back in a garage full of other stuff,
I could not get close enough for a proper look but I could see the
mileage and enough to make his claim of immaculate seem credible.
I will get back to him and dig it out of the garage if appropriate.

BTW, a rather good looking red 400-4 sold for a grand this evening,
looked like a snip at the price.

 

Yes. I was thinking about it, but it was 250 miles away, and some
enquiries directed at the very low-feedback seller raised some question
marks, so I left it.