anybody ever own a Honda Silverwing

[cookiedough]

I have a nibble on a used 2002 all black honda silverwing with only 6.5K for mileage but it has what appears in pics and owner told me he tipped it over while standing still on the right side.  He said has some scuffs on that side but is 2 hour drive to go look at it.  Price is reasonable though at only 2 grand when most used ones, although newer say 2008 model but say 15,000 miles on them are going for near double that pushing 4K in price which is too much for me even for a near 600cc scooter.

I say if the right side what appears to be all one piece plastic is not broken, just scuffed,  is worth 2 grand if runs well?  He said replaced rear tire last year and still though original tire on front from 2002 so that is NOT good.  Scooter tires may last longer than normal more powerful cycle tires, but not for 14 years on same front tire which am sure at onlhy 6.5K has plenty of tread left.  Is 2nd owner bought 4 years ago and put almost 6K of the 6.5K miles on it. Gee, that first owner put less than 1000 miles on it in 10 years?????

Looking for comments on riding ergos,  fuel economy, reliability, maintenance, etc.    I looked them up and was first year production 2001 this one is a 2002 model year and guessing even then was fuel injected v-twin engine (not sure on that though?)  They have not changed the looks much at all since 2001 judging by current pics of them now but the new price is NUTS around 8-9K is way too much for any scooter.

[scooperhsd]

At first I thought you were talking about the GL500 / GL650 based on the CX500 of the mid 1980's I have a friend who had one of them... no real complaints about it.

[Serk]

We had one back in the day, an '04 or '05 I think. It was the wife's bike before she moved up to her ST1300...

For what it was, it was a blast to ride. REALLY caught people off guard, would easily do 110 or so with my fat butt on it.

Would easily take most Harley's off the line at a stop light.

Taking advantage of this fact my dear wife would go out "Harley Hunting" She'd preferably find a pack of them (So her prey would later have his buddies all be witnesses to what happened), try to find them at a light, pull up in the lane next to 'em, and start revving her engine.

The light would turn green, and ZOOM she as off...

The Harley guys HATED it when (Her words!) the fat chick with the cat ear helmet on a scooter beat 'em...

[cookiedough]

that is some good stories Serk on your wifes 600 silverwing scooter.  I do the same on my 249cc scooter at stop lights with HDs and although never smoked any,  gave them a run for their money up to say 40 mph got the jump on one off the line and he never overtook me (up to 40 mph that is).

Been reading up on them and near bulletproof as most Hondas are even with smaller 13/14 inch tires and some say though the mpg is not great, say 45 avg mpg tops,  they are easier to work on than say a suzuki burgmann 650 which sounds like from reviews is the flagship maxi-scooter being tad bit bigger, more comfy and tad bit faster is all.  

Serk,  did your wife run 87 or 91 octane and what was her avg mpg mostly hwy. riding?  I read one review and if pushed hard and doing 80 mph,  the silverwing scooter was lucky to get 35-38 avg mpg, not much better than our Valks get.   I was hoping to hear/read reviews of 50+ mpg but sounds like no-go on that one.   I get 63 avg mpg very consistently on my 249cc scooter using 91 octane with 16" tires both front/rear able to do 65 mph very comfortably.   Really do not need anything bigger, but 2K sounds like a good deal on a 2002 silverwing scoot with only 6.5K miles but has some cosmetic damage will not know extent until go see it some weekend.  Am sure that whole one piece side panel fairing if cracked, just not scratched up some, is a pretty penny to replace.

[old2soon]

Friend of mine here in Willow Springs let me ride his. I do NOT Know if this is unique to his or across the board. He even warned me about it and it Still caught me short. As yer slowing down the auto transmission disconnects about walking speed or so. No warning at all-just disconnects! It IS Disconcerting at best! But for 600 CCs it do haul ass!  I've talked to folks at the gas station here out on the highway-U S 60 and U S 63 run together here and split here. Folks I've spoken with are touring on Silver Wings. Make of that what you will. My friend and others I've talked with say typical Honda-cursed near bullet proof!  RIDE SAFE.

[Alpha Dog]

That is a pretty funny story Serk.  Heck these Honda Silverwings will eat up most bikes in city traffic.  Just twist and go with no shifting.

Mr. Cookiedough I take it this is the bike you are looking at
https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/mcy/5852770277.html

It seems a pretty good deal to me if he is motivated might take less for the scuffs.  These bikes do have a really good reputation for Honda reliability.  And remember the American market is very small - This has been a big seller for Honda Worldwide.

Now the following is only my subjective opinion.  I was looking to buy either the Silverwing or Burgman 650 this summer.  I sold a Kymco Xciting 500ri with abs 2 years ago and kind of missed it.  Before that I had a Honda Reflex 250 I bought for the wife, but I was the one who enjoyed it.  If I was living in a big city with stop and go or commuting  LA or similar Interstate traffic a scooter would be my ride.  I tested both bikes and was underwhelmed in the fun factor.  I actually tested a Burgman 400  ( get an 07 or later ) which to me was more fun - it cornered better and had plenty of speed.  I have heard the Yamaha TMAX with the parallel twin 500 ( 09 )  or newer 530 (15) have a fun factor as they operate more like a sport bike and are the rage in Europe.  Of course you are looking at 3 or more likely 4 k for a good used one.  I have also heard the Kymco Downtown 300i is a fun ride and fast, but they are too cramped for me at 6 foot, 200 lbs unless the seat is completely redone.

If you are looking for a 2k maxi scooter that smooths out bumps good enough that Silverwing  is a really good option.

[Serk]

Serk,  did your wife run 87 or 91 octane and what was her avg mpg mostly hwy. riding?  I read one review and if pushed hard and doing 80 mph,  the silverwing scooter was lucky to get 35-38 avg mpg, not much better than our Valks get.

You get anywhere near 35-38 MPG highway cruising on a Valk? I'm doing good to get 25 on mine, but then again I do have an overactive right wrist...

I'm pretty sure we just ran 87 octane in it, but I don't recall the mileage we got. I do recall it being better than the Valk's but don't remember specifics.

We did take a few multi day trips on it, and it kept up with the Valk just fine on long runs. I seem to recall range became a bit of an issue in really remote areas, but no worse than the Valk's notoriously short legs range wise.

[cookiedough]

Alpha dog,

I had a chance last year at a kymco 500 scoot like you had as well in northern Chicago area 2-3 hours away pics appeared really nice low mileage and newer being 2008 year or so for around 2.3K which I felt was a good deal.  Kymco scoots or atvs are perfectly fine since my 2008 kymco people s250 with near 14K miles on it now with larger 16" tires handles great up to say 70 mph after that the last 7-8 mph top speed gets too busy of a sound, but up to say 65 mph rides great.    Suspension sort of sucks, but after all, it is a scooter right?  It is made for someone 5'9" on up since seat height is over 30 inches and fits me fine, just wish there was an aftermarket windshield still made for it as there was years ago, but not anymore.  I have looked and looked with NO resolution since I HATE eating bugs with my helmet going SPLAT all the time.  

Yah,  the burgman 650 is the maxi scooter king, but the silverwing is just below that and almost as big, and guessing reliability should be better being a Honda, although this one looks a tad bit scratched, but for only 2K, who cares right if runs well??  I could offer 1.7K if badly beat up and if he wants to sell before the snow flies since also needs a new front tire since OEM since 2002?  Worse he can say is NO right and I just wasted 5 hours of my time?  Am sure if the front tire as he said is original,  my guess is the fluids are OEM as well since 2002 so who knows since only 6.5K miles on it supposedly if the speedo/odometer actually works?  

[cookiedough]

Serk,  did your wife run 87 or 91 octane and what was her avg mpg mostly hwy. riding?  I read one review and if pushed hard and doing 80 mph,  the silverwing scooter was lucky to get 35-38 avg mpg, not much better than our Valks get.

You get anywhere near 35-38 MPG highway cruising on a Valk? I'm doing good to get 25 on mine, but then again I do have an overactive right wrist...

I'm pretty sure we just ran 87 octane in it, but I don't recall the mileage we got. I do recall it being better than the Valk's but don't remember specifics.

We did take a few multi day trips on it, and it kept up with the Valk just fine on long runs. I seem to recall range became a bit of an issue in really remote areas, but no worse than the Valk's notoriously short legs range wise.

thanks Serk, but yah,  I routinely get 35-36 avg mpg on my Valk I/S, worst being 32,  and although not going 80 mph, mostly 65 mph tops,  from 0 to 60 I am not too slow on the throttle either. 

[Serk]

thanks Serk, but yah,  I routinely get 35-36 avg mpg on my Valk I/S, worst being 32,  and although not going 80 mph, mostly 65 mph tops,  from 0 to 60 I am not too slow on the throttle either. 

Ah, that's the difference... I generally cruise at 80 on the low end, and on up from there...

We do things a bit different here in The Republic...

[Alpha Dog]

Well Mr. Cookiedough this just may be the bike you are looking for that being the Silverwing.  They do excellerate nice, to me it just seemed like a 600 cc non sport bike with a 40 hp motor.  My problem is last year I had a 97 Honda Magna 750cc that weighed the same but had 80 hp or more, was the best cornering bike I ever had, and once you hit 6k rpm you had better hang on.  It was a sport bike in a cruiser style, but alas I could not get as comfortable on it as I need to be.  The Silverwing is a more comfortable platform and you can move you legs around real nice.  It will cruise all day at 80 and more and for mpg people get around 50 at normal driving, about the same as the 500 Kymco I had.  That darn Kymco just did not want to corner worth a darn, but are a very well built bike.  Tires are inexpensive on the Silverwing.  Best of luck in your quest.

[Rams]

That picture makes me so envious.......................

On my way to Lexington yesterday and I was running a tad bit late, I past/met a KY Trooper. I was doing somewhere around 90, well above the posted speed limit.   I guess he was headed home or somewhere important, he looked at me but didn't turn around and invite me to accompany him back to his "office".    They give ya 9 over without even looking here.

On your road, he wouldn't have even have glanced at me.  

[cookiedough]

nice pic Serk of 85 mph.  Have not seen an 85 mph speed zone that I recollect ever.  We have 75mph somewhat recently changed from 70.  Give people 75, they do 85 anyways for the most part and get away with it.

I bet your area of 85 mph the police let people do near 94-95 mph before giving tickets as well, about 9-10 mph over speed limit? 

That is some very fast speed limits for sure though.  I have gone over 80 mph (not here in WI much) but other states and find much over 75 mph in any type of vehicle,  mpg drastically reduces in most vehicles.   

[Serk]

Didn't mean to threadjack but.....

The 85 is just a small stretch of a toll roads in Texas, but in general our limits are in the 70-75 range even around town and yeah, most go at least 5-15 over...

I was passing a cop doing 90 on that 85 stretch, started to panic and drop anchor, then remembered I was only doing 5 over, waved at him and kept on my way...

The Valk, however, gets HORRIBLE gas mileage when cruising at 90-110 or so as I did... As in, I his reserve at around 75 miles as I recall...

But if fuel economy is your concern, ya' don't generally get a 6 cylinder 1.5 liter motorcycle with 6 carbs either...

Good luck on the Silverwing, and let us know how it goes!

[Willow]

Didn't mean to threadjack but.....

The 85 is just a small stretch of a toll roads in Texas, but in general our limits are in the 70-75 range even around town and yeah, most go at least 5-15 over...

It's not entirely unique in Texas.  Interstate 10 in West Texas runs for many miles with an 80 mph limit.

[cookiedough]

I take that back,  4-5 years ago we went to South Dakota and it was I think 80 mph on the far west side of MN heading into SD as well, very boring stretch of the U.S. just flat roads and NO houses nor trees even to look at.  I was beginning to wonder if anyone lived within 50 miles of us until I saw a few farms in the distance.

[old2soon]

I take that back,  4-5 years ago we went to South Dakota and it was I think 80 mph on the far west side of MN heading into SD as well, very boring stretch of the U.S. just flat roads and NO houses nor trees even to look at.  I was beginning to wonder if anyone lived within 50 miles of us until I saw a few farms in the distance.

              I believe last year when we went to Spearfish it was 80 M P H on the big road in S D. RIDE SAFE.

[vanagon40]

At first I thought you were talking about the GL500 / GL650 based on the CX500 of the mid 1980's I have a friend who had one of them... no real complaints about it.

Mine is a 1982 Interstate, not a scooter. Sorry for the hijack, but I like an excuse to post pictures.

[cookiedough]

Yah,  was looking at those early 80s honda silverwings with full fairing, etc. when I bought my 1984 Honda Magna in 1989 used, just found a better deal on the magna though with slightly more power also.  I equipped mine just like the silverwing, well almost.  Full big windshield (no fairing though), leatherlike side bags over the rear seat hanging down,   tall passenger backrest,  lockable luggage carrier on back and of course upfront hwy. pegs.  I was, or so thought, a pretty cool dude going to college riding that back and forth,  although my car was a 1978 buick skylark - not necessarily a chick magnet blowing smoke/oil out the exhaust, but it ran at least. 

[3fan4life]

At first I thought you were talking about the GL500 / GL650 based on the CX500 of the mid 1980's I have a friend who had one of them... no real complaints about it.

Mine is a 1982 Interstate, not a scooter. Sorry for the hijack, but I like an excuse to post pictures.

In 1983 I was stationed at Ft Lewis, WA in an Air Cavalry Unit. I was a medic and we shared our barracks with the helicopter mechanics.

One of the helicopter mechanics and I became good friends. He bought one exactly like that and gave me a key to it. He told me that anytime he was working, I could ride it. The helicopter mechanics worked a lot.

In the year that I was stationed there I rode it more than he did.  

[cookiedough]

same here,  in high school, my brother bought a brand new 1985 suzuki gs550L for around 3800 I think. He only drove it a few years very seldom 2000 miles at most and let it sit mostly.  When I got my cycle license age 17/18 or so, he had a full time job after college and I drove his cycle before I bought my Honda magna a couple years later and  had like 7000 miles on it because of me.  He lost interest in riding and did the stupid thing of letting it sit for years never running it and sold it (body in mint condition but engine/internals not so much-carbs gummed up mostly) well over a decade later for only 800 bucks.  What a waste of money.  If he wash/waxed it and got it tuned mostly getting carbs in shape,  he could have gotten probably 2 grand for it easily.  Never did like that bike much though had too low of handlebars hard to take slow sharp corners on due to handlebar placement and anytime under 50 degrees was cold blooded would hardly EVER start.

If no real intention of riding a cycle or say even using a fishing boat, etc. say 5-10 years later, sell it since most often only going to depreciate some more.

[Tx Bohemian]

At first I thought you were talking about the GL500 / GL650 based on the CX500 of the mid 1980's I have a friend who had one of them... no real complaints about it.

Mine is a 1982 Interstate, not a scooter. Sorry for the hijack, but I like an excuse to post pictures.

When I saw the title of "Silverwing" this is what I was thinking the OP meant,  didn't know they turned into scooters!
Why would Honda call the scooters Silverwings?

I always thought these were neat bikes.

How were they to ride?
What size were they (CCs)? Did they have adequate power?

Our Valks have a huge engine but a really low center of gravity which makes them easy to maneuver in slow turns, are the Silverwings the same?

[Alpha Dog]

At first I thought you were talking about the GL500 / GL650 based on the CX500 of the mid 1980's I have a friend who had one of them... no real complaints about it.

Mine is a 1982 Interstate, not a scooter. Sorry for the hijack, but I like an excuse to post pictures.

When I saw the title of "Silverwing" this is what I was thinking the OP meant,  didn't know they turned into scooters!
Why would Honda call the scooters Silverwings?

I always thought these were neat bikes.

How were they to ride?
What size were they (CCs)? Did they have adequate power?

Our Valks have a huge engine but a really low center of gravity which makes them easy to maneuver in slow turns, are the Silverwings the same?

I have been told if one gets one to find the 650 cc version.  I just saw one riding this past weekend. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

I've ridden the CX500. IMO it's ok, not that impressive. But I bet the Turbo version was fun.