Would you recommend a 1975 Honda CB500T?

I'm really in to older bikes. I have tried to get into modern bikes but I don't like the look or feel of any of them. However, I don't have much experience or knowledge of some of them. In this case it is the 1975 Honda CB500T. There's one on craigslist for $2500 OBO. It's in nice looking condition from what I can tell from the pics.

I Live about 450 miles away from the town it is in. I was thinking about taking a trip to look at it but thought I would ask if any one has any experience with this model. I will be using it for around town getting to work and school.

I'm really in to older bikes. I have tried to get into modern bikes but I don't like the look or feel of any of them. However, I don't have much experience or knowledge of some of them. In this case it is the 1975 Honda CB500T. There's one on craigslist for $2500 OBO. It's in nice looking condition from what I can tell from the pics.

I Live about 450 miles away from the town it is in. I was thinking about taking a trip to look at it but thought I would ask if any one has any experience with this model. I will be using it for around town getting to work and school. Could you let us see the craigslist ad?
About $1500 new.
Reviews of the time called the engineering "outdated".
High praise for the stock seat, because everything else vibrated so much.
While I find parts for old Hondas relatively easy to come by, parts for that one may be hard. Torsion bar valve springs… Where to find those?
Points ignition. Probably find new points, but not the little bushings and springs that make things smooth.

It would be a cool antique to putt around on, but not something I'd recommend as a daily ride (when you need one). A 40 year old Honda will be almost impossible to find parts for. Honda is pretty good about having parts available for 'most' of their 'not-so-old' bikes but 40 yrs is a stretch. So you'd need to be the resourceful one to find things that do need to be maintained.

The listed bike has a rather high price tag unless it is in near showroom condition so you'd better know what you're looking at and understand where it might lead you. A 40year old motorcycle for $2500? That's probably more than it cost brand new in 1975 - what if you need parts for it? And 450 miles away - that's a big risk I don't know your financial or mechanical situation, but as others have said, parts availability for that bike will be almost non existent. Trust me, I have an '84 Honda. If you totally dig that look, check out the current Triumph Bonneville line-up or the smaller Suzuki TU-250. Both have retro looks but have modern safety and performance along with adequate parts support. A CB400F is a better bike.

You will almost certainly need to do some work and it is unlikely to be original - exhausts go first.

You will probably need to replace the rectifier, old Hondas are notorious for failing rectifiers.

If you need parts try David Silver or CMSNL, join an owner's club, they have limited runs of parts created for themselves. That's about double what its worth. Watch for a weak charging system on those. It is 40years old… It might be a great collector bike but that is about it

A 40 year old Honda will be almost impossible to find parts for.

Honda is pretty good about having parts available for 'most' of their 'not-so-old' bikes but 40 yrs is a stretch. So you'd need to be the resourceful one to find things that do need to be maintained.

The listed bike has a rather high price tag unless it is in near showroom condition so you'd better know what you're looking at and understand where it might lead you.

A 40year old motorcycle for $2500? That's probably more than it cost brand new in 1975 - what if you need parts for it? And 450 miles away - that's a big risk

I don't know your financial or mechanical situation, but as others have said, parts availability for that bike will be almost non existent. Trust me, I have an '84 Honda. If you totally dig that look, check out the current Triumph Bonneville line-up or the smaller Suzuki TU-250. Both have retro looks but have modern safety and performance along with adequate parts support.

A CB400F is a better bike.

You will almost certainly need to do some work and it is unlikely to be original - exhausts go first.

You will probably need to replace the rectifier, old Hondas are notorious for failing rectifiers.

If you need parts try David Silver or CMSNL, join an owner's club, they have limited runs of parts created for themselves.

That's about double what its worth. Watch for a weak charging system on those.

It is 40years old… It might be a great collector bike but that is about it