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Offline Bodain

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Honda CX 500
« on: January 12, 2009, 08:15:24 PM »
Always looking for the alternate, less popular cafe project. I just found it. I was just browsing the web and I found this......






A couple of weeks of searching and I found this about 2 miles from my house so I bought it. Time to get too work!   The poor man's Motoguzzi!

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Offline JBMorse

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2009, 06:18:15 AM »
Awesome project idea!  There was a cx500 cafe near me for sale a while ago and I was impressed.  Those bikes sound really cool too!  Good luck,
Jeremy B
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Offline Tom in Newcastle......Ontario

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2009, 08:01:51 AM »
I had a 83 CX 650e...only avaliable in Canada,and maybe Europe,kind of regret selling it but I wanted a Bmw 80rt (full fairing)...the CX was a fun bike a bit top heavy but you got used to it,and yes the sound was quite nice, motors are long lifed but some had waterpump seal issues,not a real hard job to do
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Offline kirkn

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2009, 08:32:02 AM »
Cool!  I always DID like the CX500's.

I owned an '81 (in about '94) and liked it a lot.  My Dad STILL owns his '79.  Mine had a leaking water pump and it was not a big deal to change it out at all.  The motor had to come out, but it was just a lot of unbolting.  Not rocket science at all.  Did it myself with my then-2-yr-old son keeping me company...  :)

Kirk


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Offline Really?

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2009, 08:34:31 AM »
I have always dug the CX series in each style they came out with.  The cafe style is new to me, other than the sport bodied one) but I like it too.

I have always wondered why they did away with the Silver Wing as a mid sized touring bike.  It is a nice bike bike for touring and allows the people that can't hold up the 800+ lbder's and chance at it.

I think the Silver Wing is now more of a scooter.
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upperlake04

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2009, 08:57:03 AM »
   Like most bikes, the Cx and GL500s had a few quirks but overall were great machines. Sales in North America were not good but the water-cooled bike was popular in Europe and was a courier favourite. They have robust engines capable of high mileages when serviced regularly. Compared to the sohc fours, changing oil and filter, setting valve clearances and timing is a breeze. And no chain maintenance with the shaft drive.
 A good forum - http://choppercharles.com/cs/

 1981 Gl500I
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Offline j-conn

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2009, 11:04:21 AM »
awesome... i am looking forward to see your progress!
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Offline j-conn

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2009, 11:06:00 AM »
i really really dig those first 2 pics!
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Offline Really?

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2009, 11:23:08 AM »
Yup, that be a Silver Wing that I knew of growing up.  Came with a built in backrest too.
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Offline ofreen

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2009, 12:03:47 PM »
Quote from: Bodain on January 12, 2009, 08:15:24 PM



Maybe it is possible to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. ;D
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Offline GroovieGhoulie

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #10 on: January 13, 2009, 04:32:37 PM »
A CX650 Turbo is on my short list of "Oddball Hondas I want to own".
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Offline CrisPDuk

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #11 on: January 13, 2009, 04:53:16 PM »
Quote from: Bodain on January 12, 2009, 08:15:24 PM
Always looking for the alternate, less popular cafe project. I just found it. I was just browsing the web and I found this......






A couple of weeks of searching and I found this about 2 miles from my house so I bought it. Time to get too work!   The poor man's Motoguzzi!



My neighbour owns one of these nasty assed pieces of crap, in amongst many others.  I've not really looked at it that closely, but I can tell you for sure that it doesn't look anywhere near as good as that red one  8) 8)
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fuzzybutt

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #12 on: January 13, 2009, 05:43:01 PM »
i'm in love with that red one, i went out into the shop and looked at the 80 cb500d that i got for free early last year.
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upperlake04

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #13 on: January 13, 2009, 06:20:36 PM »
Quote from: ofreen on January 13, 2009, 12:03:47 PM
Maybe it is possible to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. ;D

 
Quote from: CrisPDuk on January 13, 2009, 04:53:16 PM
My neighbour owns one of these nasty assed pieces of crap..

Only truly evil men would say things like this about our maggots. ;D
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Offline harm

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #14 on: January 13, 2009, 09:26:07 PM »
the cx500 you bought looks near-mint compared to mine.  WOW.  It's the bike I started with two summers ago, and I've spent as much time tuning it up as I have riding.  By choice, though.   ;D   

The choppercharles forum is a good one - and there's some gorgeous CX projects out there.  Not mine, so much, but out there. 
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Online bryanj

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #15 on: January 14, 2009, 08:04:22 AM »
Two things that caused big trouble back when

(1) if the engine has been out pour the first ltr of oil in via a head cover or the cam will run dry for a while and wear out

(2) If you remove the water pump impeller fit a NEW HONDA copper washer under the dome nut or you will get a water leak you cant fix
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Offline Bodain

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #16 on: January 14, 2009, 01:41:34 PM »
Quote from: harm on January 13, 2009, 09:26:07 PM
the cx500 you bought looks near-mint compared to mine.  WOW.  It's the bike I started with two summers ago, and I've spent as much time tuning it up as I have riding.  By choice, though.   ;D   

The choppercharles forum is a good one - and there's some gorgeous CX projects out there.  Not mine, so much, but out there. 


1 years ago I would never have considered a CX as anything I would ever own. It seems to be Honda's toad. Ugly, too quit, top heavy. Not near as classy as a Guzzi. Then I saw the cafe's toads and knew I was gonna have one. I'm liking the toad! It just so different from the well worn path of CB's I've worked.
The one I happened to snag is actually in fabulous original condition. Normally I don't hack a bike thats this excellent original considion. This will be the exception.

Also when you starting reading the Honda CX500 / GL500 forum I just got more intrigued with this sideways v-twin.
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Offline my78k

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #17 on: January 14, 2009, 01:58:20 PM »
Wow....maybe this really is a sign from above???

I have an 80 cx500 in the garage even as we speak. Not perfect but far from junk. Got it from my bro-inlaw when he blew out the final drive unit. Got a new one last winter changed it out and got it running pretty good. I was going to sell it for $750 or so but just procrastinated then the winter was on hand and knew I would be lucky to get $500 for it at that point in the year.

Well now money is tight and I am seriously considering selling my CBR since I am guessing I can get over 3 grand for it in the spring. The goal would be to put a few of those dollars in to the CX and still come out way ahead. Obviously not even remotely comparable in terms of speed and riding but my back doesn't like the CBR on longer trips and now that we have that stupid 50KM/h over the limit law I know it is just a matter of time before I ma facing some NASTY fines....or worse!

I was just sitting here talking to the wife about what I should do when I stumbled across this thread....wierd. I am quite familiar with the choppercharles forum and go there to hang out too but still comeback to this site as the tech section there just doesn't compare to here...not so much the answers per se but rather the fact that they just don't get the traffic.

I will be keeping an eye on here for sure...

Dennis
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Offline kirkn

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #18 on: January 14, 2009, 05:07:19 PM »
Ugly toad??  Well, beauty is in the eye and all that, but I think MINE was BEAUTIFUL!!  Even stock!



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Offline UnCrash

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #19 on: January 14, 2009, 07:06:40 PM »
I saw a cafe cx around Portland Maine last summer and was really impressed with the looks.

Stock, not so much.

Great pic inspiration at the beginning of this thread.   If I came across a really cheap one I wouldn't pass it up, and would caffinate it.
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Offline Bodain

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #20 on: January 14, 2009, 07:34:46 PM »
Quote from: UnCrash on January 14, 2009, 07:06:40 PM
I saw a cafe cx around Portland Maine last summer and was really impressed with the looks.

Stock, not so much.

Great pic inspiration at the beginning of this thread.   If I came across a really cheap one I wouldn't pass it up, and would caffinate it.

Indeed. Notice the gas tank... The 78 / 79 unit had that rather fabulous OEM gas tank which is ideal as a cafe tank.. 80 and up had the tear drop cruiser type tanks which are just ah ah ah , needing to go! I'm actually suprised someone hasn't tried to take one of these 78 /79 CX tanks and tried to adapt to a CB 750. Then you wouldn't need to bash in the sides of that stock CB tank.
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Offline Soos

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #21 on: January 15, 2009, 06:03:09 AM »
Stock, I think the CX's look fugly.

That GL500 looks much better.(or is that a CX with bags and a fairing added?, is that what the GL is?)  I would get one for a touring bike.



Then again they look wicked cafe style.
That red one with the dunlops is a NICE looker.



l8r



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Offline mmtsquid

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #22 on: January 15, 2009, 10:34:11 AM »
My father in law has a CX - beware the ignition  modules!

But it's kind of a neat bike - I never thought of doing a cafe one.
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upperlake04

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #23 on: January 17, 2009, 09:55:12 PM »
  The Cx has a distinctive quick lean to the right when blipping the throttle in neutral as the bike tries to rotate around the inline crankshaft.  With the correct launch speed, angle of take-off, and proper use of engine rpm, it seems within the realm of possibility that a talented rider could do a barrel roll.  :)
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Offline 750goes

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Re: Honda CX 500
« Reply #24 on: January 17, 2009, 11:08:41 PM »
Hi guys,
I bought one last year for the princely sum of $500 Aussie dollars. It had not been run for umpteen years, and was a one owner - had 43000 kilometres on it..

When I got it - I put some fuel in it - hooked up a battery  and it started second try and has not stopped since..

have done nearly 7000 kms' and loved every minute of it, it is my daily ride - but also does trips of 300km's plus with ease

and if you know how to hang on and keep the revs over about 3500 it will give you lots of solid riding thrills...

has miles of torque - you can pull away from most situations in top gear...

i'll post some photos later.....

cx convert - but still love my F...whenever I get it finished....
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