1988 Honda XBR 500, 498 cc. Registration number F974 AWW. Fr...

Hammer

£1,600

1988 Honda XBR 500, 498 cc. Registration number F974 AWW. Frame number PC15 710092. Engine number PC15 710092.
The XBR 500 was launched by Honda in 1985 in response to the Yamaha SR500. It is powered by a single-cylinder four-valve engine with the valves arranged radially (the Radial Four Valve Combustion Chamber, or RFVC). Displacing 498 cc and producing 44 hp, the engine, which originated from the Honda XR series off-road models, features a dry-sump, the oil being stored in a separate oil tank below the seat. The steel-braided hoses connecting the oil tank to the engine (clearly visible at the right-hand side of the motorcycle) became a strong visual element.
The two exhaust valves enabled the motorcycle to be fitted with two separate silencers. The motorcycle had both an electric start and a kick start which linked to an automatic decompression valve to reduce compression during engine start up. The fuel-efficient engine combined with the large fuel tank capacity provided the bike with a long range between refuelling.
The early XBR500 was fitted with Comstar wheels and tubeless tyres. Later models were provided with spoked wheels and tubed tyres. A removable seat cover was also fitted in order to simulate a cafe-racer look. Honda subsequently released a café racer version of the XBR500, the Honda GB500 TT.
In May 1990 it was bought by William Davis of Leeds and serviced the next month with a mileage of 2,674. He sold it to David Bolton of Blackburn May 1991 via Allan Jefferies of Shipley for £2,300, when the mileage was 2,700. It was MOT'd in October 1994 at 7,381 miles and serviced at 7,503 miles.
It is unknown when our vendor bought it but according to DVLA it was last on the road in 1994 and the current mileage of 7,800 miles which could well be correct considering the unrestored original condition.
Sold with a V5, MOT from 1994, and various receipts.