22nd Oct 2007, 15:55
I wrote this review. I have since sold the VT as a "friend" of mine ran it out of oil and coolant... a mechanic too!
The bike still ran very well, but someone offered me silly money as I had converted it to a cafe racer.
The brakes were always poor; the front especially so being an inboard disc (it's a really big pain to change the front wheel or pads).
I can honestly say though that I would have another tomorrow as a commuter.
12th Jul 2008, 12:47
I have owned a VT500e for about a year now. What can I say, it's great; much better and more fun than my CBR1000.
Yes, it's as old as me, 24, but with less miles, 70 000 on the clock she still pulls upto a ton, and at the moment is returning 70 miles to the gallon (I know, it surprised me). But I'm still not sure about this twin plug per pot?
One question I have got with the VT is getting it to run rich enough; the plugs seem to run just off grey colour, is this common? I have altered the mixture screws and rebuilt the carbs (fun) but to no avail. Can somebody help or am I worrying over nothing?
11th Sep 2008, 06:57
I've owned 5 VT500es over the years.. the latest has done 108000 miles and still going strong..
Keep the oil and water topped up, and don't skimp on valve clearance checks...
Great all round hack...
Plastic fantastic is all very well for posing and Sunday ride outs .. but not 30k plus a year all year round ...
9th Feb 2009, 14:37
Nice ride - VT500e - real strong machine, and fun to drive - but the brakes are really bad - but else - a cheap drive - runs about 40-50 mpg - no trouble yet - just go go go.
13th Apr 2009, 19:59
I love my VT 500, though I am amazed to hear people getting only 40mpg. Riding my bike hard I get 65MPG.
Anyone here know about changing the front end so I could fit twin discs, the brakes are the only thing that let it down for me..
24th Mar 2011, 16:28
Everyone seems to say that the weak point of the VT500 is the brakes. Surely there is a front end of another Honda that could be substituted. Any ideas?
5th Jun 2011, 14:02
I have already written a comment about my Honda VT500E 1987. When I brought the bike back in 1987 (I'm the only owner), I had a Rickman Tempest Touring fairing fitted. This was transferred from my previous bike, a Kawasaki GPZ305. Now I am getting older the bike was getting harder to handle with the Rickman fairing attached. I have just had the bike converted back with the original fairing at a local motorbike dealer. The bike is now superb, easy to handle and the power is fantastic. When I had the Rickman fairing fitted, it was good and protects you the elements, and is useful if the bike is ever dropped.
Carl Hall
5th Jun 2011, 14:05
I think the brakes are adequate for this type of bike. After all, it is not a sports machine. I have written a review on this machine.
Carl Hall.
15th Jan 2012, 18:44
Honda FT 500 forks and wheel fit straight in, and will cure the front brake problem, as well as making the front end lighter.
The FT500 can be bought very cheap, as ALL of them suffered with expensive starter motor problems at low mileages, making them not worth repairing, so parts are pretty worthless, and can be bought for little money.
28th Jun 2007, 18:44
Regarding your fuel economy of 40mpg, bear in mind it is a vee twin and they are not renowned for their fantastic fuel economy. However, in return you do get good performance and loads of grunt. 40 mpg for a bike of this design is average.
Don't criticise the bike because it is old. I feel many people do, but I would rather have 1986 FZR600 than a 2006 R6.
New bikes, are quite frankly bland, expensive, and in my opinion, just don't have the appeal of their older predecessors.
When Kawasaki revised its GPZ500S in 1994 (many improvements to the 2nd and 3rd gear dogs), its rated fuel consumption was an average of 35mpg. But again this is a quick bike (much quicker than the popular and much praised CB500). What you lose in economy, you gain in performance.