XBR500 and GB500 restorations

[guest2025]

Hi there,

It's Hans at Practical Sportsbikes mag here.

We're doing a feature on people who've restored either an XBR500 or GB500 back to original condition. Have any of you done this and fancy being featured in the magazine? Or do you know anyone who has?

Cheers!

Hans

[silver]

Not quite. I bought a clean XBR and am now converting to somewhere near GB spec but not a replica.
Have built up spoked wheels, front using CB250 hub and rim, and rear using original comstar hub and home made rings
spoked to a DID rim. Just fitted a rear chrome mudguard and am currently working on an original seat pan which will have a home made hump covered in suede. Will prob upgrade front caliper and fit fork gaiters, then ride it for the summer this year.
I know this isn't what you really wanted but might be of interest.
All the best,
Dave

[Moto63]

Sorry hans I can't help you either, however i,m thinkin you're a big van halen fan??? Either that or you were once locked up in an American loony asylum !!!!!

[SteveC#222]

You might struggle a bit with this.

The thing is,  GB's fetch premium prices - £3.5 -£5k - so the people who want one tend to buy immaculate low mileage imports from the USA or Japan and they keep them immaculate.  Because thats what the people want that is want the grey importers bring in to make maximum profit so 'rough' GB's to restore are pretty rare. Even if you find one it will probably cost you over £2k before you start the restoration so it's probably cheaper to buy a good one in the first place - the special parts for GB's - body work, seats, exhausts etc - cost a fortune as they were never an official import.

With XBR's, they are only fetching 1/3 - 1/2 the price of a GB, even a really nice low mileage original one can be bought for under £2k and some pretty nice ones go for under £1500. If you want a nice original XBR there are quite a few out there for not that much money.

Those that buy cheap XBR's don't tend to do so to restore them to immaculate original condition, you can buy one like that probably far cheaper than you can restore one - again parts can be expensive even secondhand - used tanks have gone on Ebay for over £200, clocks are about £80 and a seat hump cover, if you can find one, can fetch £100! New replica exhaust systems over £300 - it's easier to buy a good one in the first place.

Most who buy them either buy them to use as a cheap commuter, or to restore as a GB replica or a Cafe Racer.

There are some nice original XBR's in the club and some nice original GB's but I think you will struggle to find either that have been restored to that standard.

Didn't Practical sports bike do a restored GB article a while ago ? late 2014/ early 2015?  That was a nice job but as I recall not cheap.

[booxbr]

Count mine out no were near standard,been  modified or brought up to today's standards  to be used not wrapped in cotton wool and looked at !!

[guest1247]

The last GB500TT I saw recently in the glossy monthly adverts was August last year. It was in Kent. ( Godins ). It was a German machine, and was up at £6000. Being interested to see what price it eventually went for , I called them. They were very kind, and told me what reaction they had..... The phone rang off the hook, and very quickly a buyer walked in un-announced, took one look, promptly pulled from his pocket £5,500...... and bought it, cash....  They are certainly on the up. Regards, Tony

[silver]

All true and good info, but OMG i just sold a good seat hump cover for £20.

[JOOLZ]

I could show you the least standard XBR there is

[timbo]

Hi all. I agree with everything said above. Over the last four years I have bought five XBRs ranging from £465 to £700. All are runners, and range cosmetically from dog rough to extremely rough, although the cheapest one came with wire wheels, which I got respoked and soled to a mate.
The plan was always to totally restore them to standard, and then sell between £1500 to £2000. It still is the plan, I just haven't got round to it yet, though have gathered up quite a few cheap parts. I need to pull the finger out, but I keep getting distracted by other things 
Also during this time, another two XBRs came through my hands for £700 each, which myself and Alison rode. We didn't do any work to them other than maintenance, and sold them a couple of years later for £1500 each.

[guest1247]

Hi all, I am sure that one or two of you know that I have a GB500TT, and I know that that owning a bike to keep it as an investment evokes some pretty forthright views..... So I sincerely hope too many feathers aren't ruffled by this particular thread.... Ruffling is not intended.... I have been in contact with Hans Seeberg  of Practical Sportsbikes. ( He started this thread ). The result of our conversations and e-mails is....... My GB is to be featured in the March issue of Practical Sportsbikes. ( out Mid Feb ). The bike is a 1989 American model that sat unsold  in a dealer's showroom until 1992. An American serviceman first bought it, to bring to this country, so he had a "toy" while he was stationed at RAF Mildenhall. On completion of his service ( 3 or 4 years later ), he returned to the states without the bike.  It's story is interesting, and it has done only 4,800 miles, ( 1,600 of those in last 18 years ).... After going through it's old paperwork, I found it's PDI sheet, then googled the initial dealer...... they are still in business..!   A little nearer publication, I will contact them, Who knows where this particular thread will end..?  Contact with the original owner perhaps...? Regards, Tony

[manxie]

Great news Tony, look forward to reading it. Pop a reminder on the thread so I don`t forget to buy it!! Wanna deal with my Guzzi   

[timbo]

That's great Tony, and very interesting 

[silver]

I would love a TT to cherish with occasional rides. Cost is just too high, hence my conversion. Will have to post some pics when i get it back on the road, shouldnt be long now. I decided to rework original seat pan, could'nt  jusify £100+ for a GB seat cowl, so laminated the shape from strips of ply and stretched black suede over it. Retained front part of seat less the raised front end and now have another piece of suede to finish the job.
Dave