I’m riding a cafe racer 1975 Honda CB500t, which would be considered as the ancestor of your beloved GB500 ? Pretty sharp looking, beautiful engine, great sounds, old time vibrations, but it pushes out only around 30-35 hp or sthg. That’s enough to have a dynamic daily commute, I even keep up with my buddies on 600’s in the twisties, but to be honest it’s more cafe than racer …
I really love this thing, nothing on the road compares to it’s flair, but sometimes a bit more “umpf” would be appreciated … so I really think a brand new Mac should have at least 50 hp and decent torque to make me and my 10 Grands happy.

To your last 2 questions: Yes.

I used to lust after Japan’s home market 250 & 400 machines 15-20 years ago. I quit paying attention to them after that. It was a shock to find out that the high tech 250 & 400 class has been dead for quite some time – until I realized why. They cost pretty much the same as (or even more than) the 600s – without the restrictions, the market died. Back when the RD350 etc… were new, they cost a whole lot less than the bigger bikes. Heck, I bought a brand new leftover RZ350 in 1986 for $2000.00. The shop owner said that nobody would take a 350 seriously in that area – I was there looking for an SRX600, which his shop never even got. That era is long gone and dead.

A few years later, Honda brought out the GB500, HawkGT, and CB1 – slick rational bikes – and they were considered way overpriced by most and chased a lot of CBR600s out the door.

The other reason is that modern motorcycles just age well, yet depreciate badly. It is hard for people to justify spending a lot on a new lightweight when a nice used middleweight (haven’t heard that term in a long time) or heavyweight can be had for the same price. And those desirable vintage bikes are still bargains by new bike standards – not a bad thing.

Then there was the reputation – saying “Z1″ or “Honda 750-Four” when I was younger to the other gearhead kids generated nods of reverence. Those bikes were, to us, obviously bought by Real Men. Everyone else bought the smaller bikes. Well, it turns out that Z1s and CB750s weren’t he-man bikes after all. A 550 pound bike does the same thing as a 350 pound bike – and they both hurt the same if you don’t know what you’re doing.

And the throttle works in both directions. A 100 hp bike can still put out 30 hp. Or the same 10 hp or so it takes to go down the road at 60 mph. I’ve yet to ride a bike that I wish made less power. Except for a summer spent on an AR80 (no kidding), I’ve never ridden a bike that could even use every available horsepower at all times, either.

Those are my thoughs & opinions – I have no charts to prove any of it.