SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550

High price for a K3

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deltarider:

--- Quote ---The K3 to me was always uglier than the 500-4 it was based on, the best part about the 500-4 for me was the view from the back, it look sleek but fast and those 4 exhausts just looked awesome. The K3 exhausts just don't look right to me, either they splay out to much or they are the wrong shape but they don't suit the bike. The 750 and 500 fours got the exhausts perfect, why honda felt they had to change a winning look I have no idea, maybe it was because they thought it was starting to look dated but it seems now that the dated look is far more attractive than the later one.
--- End quote ---
I agree. The exhausts aren't so bad really and one has to admit they produce little and a nice turbinelike sound. It's those horrible monsterbig indicators and rearlight, the also cheaplooking dashboard, the colours. I don't like the carbs either, a PITA to work on. Seat height would be ok for me though.

matthewmosse:
I prefer the 500 looks wise, but the 550/k3 I had was extremely comfotable and I suspect even without a sidecar fitted the 500/4 would be a bit less 'ride all day' comfortable - not massively but I feel that ride each 500 miles without stopping (appart from re fueling) and you'd feel the difference My only 500/4 that covered those kind of daily milages was a sidecar outfit so no a fair comparison to my k3 which was solo. but I still feel the 550k3 being that bit bigger (think the shocks and forks were both longer) was a bit more comfortable. I geuss you need to consider it in terms of what would you be prepared to pay for a new 550 if they were still made as it's the closest you are likely to find milage wise. Still expensive though, but prices have definately risen since I last bought anything major for the 500 or 550 - unless I try selling that is, definately tougher to get the bikes cheap now.

deltarider:
You're right the K3 was the better tourer. The offered riding position was and is perfect. On the continent the K3 was marketed as the tourer version of the somewhat sportier F2.

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