OzVMX Forum

Clubroom => General Discussion => Topic started by: ttfreak on April 22, 2008, 07:53:05 pm

Title: Honda RC500
Post by: ttfreak on April 22, 2008, 07:53:05 pm

Hi guys, this is my first time on OZVMX forum so I hope I am doing this right. I have come across a RC500. Does anyone know much about these ol' girls. Are they a sort after bike and what would you expect to pay for one(it is in very good condition). The bike is about the same age as me, but much better looking. Thanks. Dan.

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: VMX Andrew on April 22, 2008, 08:05:00 pm

all i can say is if anybody comes across one of these babies its all arse  ;D

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: Hoony on April 22, 2008, 08:05:57 pm

G'day Dan ,

i think you mean a CR500 not RC500 they are totally different bikes.

 do you know what year it is? 1st model was 1984 and last was 2002

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: Rossvickicampbell on April 22, 2008, 08:08:58 pm

TT - I'll volunteer if its an RC - but I think the others are right - CR maybe?

 :D

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: VMX Andrew on April 22, 2008, 08:10:44 pm

the RC500s were factory bikes...CR500s were the standard production based machines :)

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: magoo on April 22, 2008, 08:16:05 pm

If you can get an RC500 for anything less than $50,000 you've got a bargain.

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: ttfreak on April 22, 2008, 09:26:42 pm

No shit guys it is An RC 500. It is written on the seat. I think it is a '77. Surely its not worth $50K. But please any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Dan.

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: Quicksilver on April 22, 2008, 09:29:20 pm

If its RC then good on ya. Crab it and fast. Make sure the owner didnt show the bike in a mirror though. ;)

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: Graeme M on April 22, 2008, 09:33:45 pm

What's that rushing noise? Magoo on his way to the phone to check this one out...

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: Wombat on April 22, 2008, 09:59:33 pm

This may out do the IT 250 I scored for that carton of piss...

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: marshallmech on April 22, 2008, 10:11:56 pm

Ive never seen a works honda with anything about model on the seat???????

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: Maico31 on April 22, 2008, 10:16:47 pm

I find it hard to believe you've just come across an RC500 unless you're in Terry Good's workshop...

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: VMX247 on April 22, 2008, 10:26:27 pm

come on guys, have some faith, this is a bloody big country we live in..

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: Maico31 on April 22, 2008, 10:31:30 pm

It's a big country but it's a small world. No one in oz raced an RC500 in the 70's and Leisky didn't have a real RC500 til he went to the US in the late 80's.

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: holeshot buddy on April 22, 2008, 10:34:44 pm

thats right you tell em john also they never had rc500 written on them anywhere
maybe he should post a picture ;D
hey john how did the maico start on the weekend ::)
see you at cd5 ;D

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: Maico31 on April 22, 2008, 10:45:04 pm

Hey Rusty it actually kick started so things are lookin good and i've got a new PVL ready to bolt on...watch out at CD5! Yeah a photo of the RC500 will tell us what it really is.

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: VMX247 on April 22, 2008, 10:50:27 pm

Where is Firko when ya need him... ;)

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: Maico31 on April 22, 2008, 11:17:15 pm

Did Firko ride an RC500..

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: VMX247 on April 22, 2008, 11:23:18 pm

no .i just thought he new lots :D

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: firko on April 22, 2008, 11:38:31 pm

Did somebody call? I've been head down, arse up in the shed trying to finish the Ducati for CD5. RC500? This reminds me of the great RH67 find of last year. We never did see those photos. Could we see some photos please?

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: Hoony on April 23, 2008, 07:35:26 am

G'day Dan,

post up some pics if you can, and we can identify the bike, don't take this the wrong way but RC500's are extremely rare and it is certainly unlikely to be the real McCoy, just a mock up. 

Forum members are refering to a certain post sometime back where someone falsely claimed they had found a RH67 works suzuki for peanuts and pissed off a lot of people continuing the joke for way past its "best before" date.

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: VMX247 on April 23, 2008, 09:04:20 am

Here is something for some of us that are still new at this.

Firko once posted this website up before.http://www.mxworksbike.com/index.htm
Its a good read and hopefully will help us newbies along.
and of course there is more info in the VMX Magazines.
Subscribe or buy from your local newsagency. 8)

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: bigk on April 23, 2008, 09:36:11 am

I decided I really wanted a '78 RC500, but soon found that there was no way to buy one, so had to make one, and even that was a costly, time consuming, head f$#k. I know one of the real ones resides in Australia, but believe there was only ever two '78's made by Honda. I also have never seen a photo of an RC with the model designation on the seat. I doubt it's the real thing (I hope for you it is), and if it is I don't think $50k would come close. A photo is needed for sure.
Cheers,
K

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: magoo on April 23, 2008, 10:00:12 am

I'm pretty sure there is only 1 or 2 1977 RC500s in existence and I think the '78 model was a 450? I've never, ever seen a picture of an RC of any model or any size with RC written on the seat. I'd reckon you're right too Mike, $50,000 would be a deposit on the real thing.

Here's a piccie www.mxworksbike.com/1977%20RC500.htm

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: mx250 on April 23, 2008, 10:04:07 am

Should look something like....


1977 RC500

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l187/mx250a/1977_RC500_1_1280.jpg)

Or....

1976 RC500

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l187/mx250a/DSC_0004W1280_edit.jpg)

http://www.mxworksbike.com/1977%20RC500.htm
http://www.mxworksbike.com/1976%20RC500.htm

If your bike looks anything like that '77 you have one beautiful bike (from someone how generally doesn't like the 'over the top' all red Honda's). But more probably you have Richy Charmicheal's old practice bike with a personalise stenciled seat ;D.

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: magoo on April 23, 2008, 10:08:20 am

I'll up my offer to $100k. Still cheaper than a 490 Maico so it's a bargain.

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: Hoony on April 23, 2008, 10:12:41 am

Quote from: magoo on April 23, 2008, 10:08:20 am

I'll up my offer to $100k. Still cheaper than a 490 Maico so it's a bargain.

and a better bike!

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: Quicksilver on April 23, 2008, 10:36:21 am

Is it known where these 1 or 2 RC are today?

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: mx250 on April 23, 2008, 01:26:14 pm

Drum roll please...

Dan emailed me...

"Here is the bike I am talking about. I am not real good on computers and if I could put the photos in the forum then I would but don't know how.

Any info from these photos would be greatly appreciated. Thanks."

Soooo, without further ado...

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l187/mx250a/Untitled4.jpg)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l187/mx250a/Untitled3.jpg)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l187/mx250a/Untitled2.jpg)

(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l187/mx250a/Untitled1.jpg)

Let the discussion begin. I wouldn't know my RC's from my R's ;D so I'll stay well out of it.

Notwithstanding, it is one fine looking bike and it certainly looks the biz with that HRC sticker and all.

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: Hoony on April 23, 2008, 01:34:29 pm

Its a 1981 CR450RB the first ever Honda Open Class Production MXer.

its a nice bike all the same and very clean.

in my opinion i don't like the RC500 on the seat, it looks crap.

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: magoo on April 23, 2008, 05:26:09 pm

Hey Hoony, have a close look. I think it a CR450 as well but it seems to have an alloy tank, decompressor on the head, clickers on the shock. It's certainly different but my bet is the proddie bike.

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: Hoony on April 23, 2008, 05:57:42 pm

yeah , i didn't look that close, but i think the decompressor is an "accu-start" i know you can get these aftermarket and are popular with some yanks for the CR500's.

Have a great time at cd5 Magoo!

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: Jed on April 23, 2008, 06:03:47 pm

The swingarm looks different to a CR450 and so does the clutch cover (might have a clutch in it that DOESN'T slip).The plastics look like original 450 ones, just shortened and fluted.I wouldn't mind a tank like that.Very nice looking bike tho, wish mine looked that good.

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: Quicksilver on April 23, 2008, 06:12:51 pm

Nice bike indeed. A great deal of work has gone it her for sure.

Ahh My CR450 with something like that some day.

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: ttfreak on April 23, 2008, 07:04:18 pm

Thanks for the feedback. OK, you guys are telling me that it isa a cr450 and not a RC500. What defining characteristics make it a RC500 and not a cr450? Thanks Dan.

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: Hoony on April 23, 2008, 07:11:59 pm

G'day Dan,

 i will happily stand corrected if its proven to be A RC500. i think the defining characteristics that will give an RC 500 up are the Engine and Frame numbers will be unique compared to the Production CR250's. also lots of small details, like gear levers and brake pedals, brake actuation arms etc will be machines from Billet aliminium, titanium bolts here and there.

it is a very nice bike , have you or are about to buy this machine ? and is it located in Australia?

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: VMX Andrew on April 23, 2008, 07:18:25 pm

to me this bike looks too yanky.... :)

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: Maico31 on April 23, 2008, 07:57:57 pm

It looks like it is either an '81 450 with an '82 480 swingarm and a '79 RZ alloy tank, or an '82 480 with the engine painted red and a '79 tank.

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: ttfreak on April 23, 2008, 08:02:56 pm

Thanks Hooney, I have done some research which has led me to you guys. I also subscribe to VMX and in issue 28 there is an RC in it. To me the only thing original on this bike compared to the issue is the frame and engine as there are holes all the way thru the cylinder fins to access the cylinder mounting nuts. But hey I'm a TT boy and know little about hondas let alone RCs. Hence the homework. I am considering buying the bike if the numbers match and the money is right. No, it is in the states.
Thanks to vmx250 for sending the photos. You're a good bloke!!

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: Hoony on April 23, 2008, 08:13:05 pm

any idea what he is asking for it Dan? and the big Question Will you race/Ride it?

Title: Re: Honda RC500
Post by: ttfreak on April 23, 2008, 08:56:31 pm

no prices as yet, of course I would ride/race her a couple times a year, thats what its all about in my books, but she wouldn't be a bush thrasher. Thanks. Dan.