Topic: Honda Silverwings

[dhall57]

Anyone with opinions good, bad, or somewhere in between on the Goldwings little brother.

[70CB750]

Larry (MoMo) knows them well and somebody else here just picked one up, the name eludes me now.

White Orbit cafed one, it was quite pretty.

I always liked the look of Hondaguzies and buddy of mine overseas tours Europe on one every Summer.


You dont mean the scooter,  do you?

[Stev-o]

Larry (MoMo) knows them well and somebody else here just picked one up, the name eludes me now.

McWilliams (Matt) in DE recently bought one, he uses it for his commuter.  He makes fun of it but it meets his needs, I believe he's had a couple of them. 

[ekpent]

Good friend of mine put many many miles on a dressed out 650 . Think it developed a charging or starting issue where the engine may have had to be removed and he shelved it. Last I knew it was still in his garage. He liked it very much though.

[fmctm1sw]

Anyone with opinions good, bad, or somewhere in between on the Goldwings little brother.

Stators were an issue but I think the later "G8" stators lasted longer.  The 650 starters and starter clutch components took a beating, it's common to replace them with a less beat up 500 starter.  Water pump seal needs periodic replacement (can be done with the engine still in it) but the cam chain and stator are motor out jobs.  Triple by-pass as it's called over on the cx forums.  Side covers seemingly invariably have broken posts.  You could run with a rear seat OR a trunk but not both unless you had some kind of trunk extender hardware.

I'm working on one that I hope will run some day   

Edit:  Oh yeah, the monoshock and associated hardware.  The cradle seems to seize up if you don't tear it down periodically and grease it.  It took me three different sets before I had enough parts to assemble a good, freely moving one.  Some folks have drilled grease nipples in.  There's a few monoshock mods to update the shock itself too.

[ekpent]

I think my friend has the stator issue and is not into removing engines.

[Bankerdanny]

The Silverwing scooter or the version based on the CX650?

[fmctm1sw]

The Silverwing scooter or the version based on the CX650?

I'm under the assumption CX/GL bikes of the late '70 and early '80s.  The engines are pretty easy to get out IMO.  There's a ground strap mod for the starter that supposed to improve starter performance.

[strynboen]

do the push rod engine have a cam chain???if it have one..it must be a short one.. 2:1 gearing to get  the cam going half speed

[fmctm1sw]

do the push rod engine have a cam chain???if it have one..it must be a short one.. 2:1 gearing to get  the cam going half speed

It does.  The 650 had an automatic tensioner too:  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=132802.0;attach=245976;image

[MoMo]

Larry (MoMo) knows them well and somebody else here just picked one up, the name eludes me now.

McWilliams (Matt) in DE recently bought one, he uses it for his commuter.  He makes fun of it but it meets his needs, I believe he's had a couple of them. 

He bought both of the ones I owned.   I have always liked the bike since it was introduced, only problem was 500cc instead of 650-eventually rectified.  The PC I own has the power the SW should have had.

I used the one I had for several years of trouble-free daily commuting(about 14000 in the time period).  Great mid-size daily commuter.

Only known problem is the water pump seal....Larry

[Mcwilliams570]

I like the bikes they do everything alright. They are easy to work on and plenty of parts out there.



Matt

[Stev-o]

I like the bikes they do everything alright. They are easy to work on and plenty of parts out there.



Matt

Hey Matt - what is your nickname for that bike?

[Mcwilliams570]

Lol the flying turd.

[Duanob]

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=139219.0

I just bought a cx500 delux. Not the full dress silverwing but same Honda Guzzi engine. I know it's blasphemy but I enjoy using as a daily rider way more than my CB. Same amount of power but a lot smoother, now that I got the carbs balanced. From everyone I've talked to in the motorcycle world say these are super dependable.

Here is where I've been hanging out lately:

http://cx500forum.com/forum/forum.php

You can find out a lot about these bikes here. I was a little put off about all the talk of 'triple bypass surgery' for these bikes but the guy I bought mine from had the stator and all that changed out. I bought it 4 hours away from home and rode it back, didn't miss a beat. I have some minor plans for it but nothing drastic, it's too clean and dependable as it is

[ponti33602]

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=139219.0

I just bought a cx500 delux. Not the full dress silverwing but same Honda Guzzi engine. I know it's blasphemy but I enjoy using as a daily rider way more than my CB. Same amount of power but a lot smoother, now that I got the carbs balanced. From everyone I've talked to in the motorcycle world say these are super dependable.

Here is where I've been hanging out lately:

http://cx500forum.com/forum/forum.php

You can find out a lot about these bikes here. I was a little put off about all the talk of 'triple bypass surgery' for these bikes but the guy I bought mine from had the stator and all that changed out. I bought it 4 hours away from home and rode it back, didn't miss a beat. I have some minor plans for it but nothing drastic, it's too clean and dependable as it is

Having had a Guzzi for the past ten years I can confirm the dependability of the design. Many of the Guzzi folks pick up CX's as they are very inexpensive, dependable and make cool little cafe racers.   . Not uncommon for a Guzzi engine design to go several 100K without issues.

[Stev-o]

the flying turd.

Yeah, that's it!

[fmctm1sw]

the flying turd.

Yeah, that's it!

   LMAO.  "Plastic Maggot" was already taken huh?

[MoMo]

the flying turd.

Yeah, that's it!

   LMAO.  "Plastic Maggot" was already taken huh?

Plastic Maggot is befitting of the PC

[Duanob]

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=139219.0

I just bought a cx500 delux. Not the full dress silverwing but same Honda Guzzi engine. I know it's blasphemy but I enjoy using as a daily rider way more than my CB. Same amount of power but a lot smoother, now that I got the carbs balanced. From everyone I've talked to in the motorcycle world say these are super dependable.

Here is where I've been hanging out lately:

http://cx500forum.com/forum/forum.php

You can find out a lot about these bikes here. I was a little put off about all the talk of 'triple bypass surgery' for these bikes but the guy I bought mine from had the stator and all that changed out. I bought it 4 hours away from home and rode it back, didn't miss a beat. I have some minor plans for it but nothing drastic, it's too clean and dependable as it is

 Many of the Guzzi folks pick up CX's as they are very inexpensive, dependable and make cool little cafe racers.

HAHA you got me My wife wouldn't let me spend $9K on a new V7 Stone so I went this route. By the time I'm done with the CX it will look similar.

[dhall57]

I've already got a 77 GL1000 I really like. I know the Silverwing was Honda's try at a smaller version of the full size Wing. Owners and former owners does the little brother even belong in the same company or come anywhere close to comparing it to the Goldwing. If one could be found in good shape would it be worth the purchase to a already GW owner. The bike in question would be a 1981 naked GL500.

[Stev-o]

I've already got a 77 GL1000 I really like. I know the Silverwing was Honda's try at a smaller version of the full size Wing. Owners and former owners does the little brother even belong in the same company or come anywhere close to comparing it to the Goldwing. If one could be found in good shape would it be worth the purchase to a already GW owner. The bike in question would be a 1981 naked GL500.

I think Matt's "Flying Turd" is for sale but don't you have enough Hondas?  Think Z1, DHall!

[dhall57]

Yeah five bikes and four being Honda's. I would say that's enough Stev-o but when I run across a few other old Honda's even if it's not really what I want  its hard to turn tail and just walk away. Know what I mean Vern A Z1 or a CBX or a GS1100 would be nice though