This week I picked up this CBF500 bargain for my wife. For sometime now, she’s been hankering for a bike, something simply and low to get back into biking properly after nearly 15 years. A while ago we tried an old Kawasaki ZZR400 but it just wasn’t a good fit for Mary – too wide, too heavy, too tall and too much of stretch to the bars. She just wasn’t comfortable or confident on it, so it didn’t stay long.
A while ago, Mary had a great back-to-biking session at the local training centre 1 Stop Instruction on a lowered CBF500, hence we opted for this bargain. It’s definitely a commuter hack, certainly not pristine, but it’s mechanically sound and should be ideal to regain confidence. It’s a 2006 model, with 44K on clock. Engine is good, forks seals recently done, tyres 1 year old, chain/sprocket have plenty of life, wheel and head race bearing seem goo, no holes in downpipes and it came 6 months MOT left. It’s been down a couple of times, with some minor dents to tank and crack in front fender, but still a bargain at £900.
The first job is a general service, as it’s just hit 6k since last oil change. Next we’ll need to lower it. Unlike many bikes, there are no dog bones on the CBF to swap, the rear shock bolts direct from frame to swing arm. Thus to lower, the shock needs to be removed, compressed and the end joint swapped to shorten the shock’s overall length. A job not helped by the lack of centre stand…
