Author Topic: 78' CX500 Cafe Project  (Read 56180 times)

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Offline my78k

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #25 on: November 05, 2009, 07:03:37 PM »
I have an 80 CX classic in the garage...not sure what measurements are shared but I can have a look if needed...also check out the ChopperCharles forums. Not nearly as good as here but for specific questions not bad...may have to wait a bit thoughj compared with nearly instantaneous results around here.

Dennis

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #26 on: November 05, 2009, 07:05:36 PM »
I took some passenger pegs and flipped then side ways and I get a perfectly comfortable stance  in more of a rearset angle than the typical flat foot. It's great. Imagine how this is gonna look with some new low bars , gloss blacked out rims , round headlight , blacked out engine minus the tops of the heads ,fresh paint. I wanna get those aluminum heads polished . Any body now where or how one may do that ?  The pipes are gonna be blacked out , except the h-box chrome trim , it'll clean up nicely I think. The mac style sideways pipes are kinda lame IMHO . I was toying with the notion of just hacking the ends even, I dunno yet. A hundred bux for some mega phones would be nice.

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #27 on: November 05, 2009, 07:21:59 PM »
Jacked up wiring ..... Hmmmm, popped a battery in it to hear how the pipes crackeled and I got power all around but when I bump the starter  the headlight dims and that's it . The battery is brand new and fully freshly charged. The guy I got it from didn't have a battery in it . When he cranked it up he just hooked some cables up to his truck . It looks like there is a wire running straight from the starter that isn't suppose to be there . Gotta get that straightened out.

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #28 on: November 05, 2009, 07:59:51 PM »
Thanks Dennis , have you some pipes in decent shape? Just the ends really is all I need. Thanks for the info brother.

Offline Grnrngr

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #29 on: November 06, 2009, 01:23:38 AM »
Cool! keep the pics coming. I've seen a few of those on CL around here and have been thinking about a similar project...
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'73 CB750-K2 "Barney"
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'83 Virago 500 (black)

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Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #30 on: November 07, 2009, 03:36:39 PM »
Blacked the engine out and the pipes . boy does it make a difference.
Prepping the tank and it is taking forever. There is on little ding I been trying to fix with bondo but I just can't seem to get the feathering right in one spot. Tonz of wet sanding .....End result should shot nice though.

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #31 on: November 07, 2009, 03:39:27 PM »
Rims are gonna be gloss jet black and the tank as well with some kinda pin striping .  Dunno what colors yet . I am gonna polish and buff the crap outta those cylinder heads too as well as the carbs .
Starting to take some shape ....

Offline my78k

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #32 on: November 07, 2009, 07:54:01 PM »
Unfortunately no spare parts...the ChopperCharles forums does have a classified section...could try there.

I am digging this build! I gotta make the time and money to tackle mine. Lord knows as bone stock she is a bit of a toad!

Dennis

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #33 on: November 07, 2009, 07:55:58 PM »
Yeah, ribbit ribbit~  The tank spoke to me though!

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #34 on: November 07, 2009, 08:00:51 PM »
Lets see yours? Is it running?

Offline my78k

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #35 on: November 07, 2009, 08:01:23 PM »
That's because you don't have the classic (or custom). The delux's tank is way nicer. Been trolling for one. It;s not a straight bolt on but a rleatively easy conversion...if I can find one in decent shape for the right price and a set of other bars (probably Euro since I can't see riding with Clubman's) I may not be embarassed to be seen on it...

Dennis

Offline my78k

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #36 on: November 07, 2009, 08:02:25 PM »
I'll try to snap a pic tomorrow...she's not the prettiest but considering it was free I can't really complain!

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #37 on: November 07, 2009, 08:43:12 PM »
free is free!

Offline Bodain

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #38 on: November 08, 2009, 05:41:48 AM »
You might want to look at this thread.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=45175.0
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Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #39 on: November 08, 2009, 06:42:38 AM »
Thanks for posting that link. Good info there.

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #40 on: November 08, 2009, 06:49:09 AM »
"Well I planned on the cafe route for mine. Normally I don't like, or do clubmans on anything. Generally clubmans suck. The interesting thing about the CX is the seat height. Pull off the stock seat, now just sit on the frame. Extremely low. I like. Now I just happen to have a set of clubmans, because I pulled them off the last cafe project because I hated them. Anyway I mounted them up on the CX, then sat on the bike. I think I like it."

Bodain- My sentiments exactly. I liked the way clubmans look but I  had some on a cb550 once and they were just to uncomfortable and if I am not comfortable riding -I am not riding . So I ordered a 30inch drag bar . Well after sitting on the bike I realized that clubmans might feel quite natural with the seat height.
see photo.

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #41 on: November 08, 2009, 01:16:41 PM »
Blacked the pipes out and headers and h-box. Might hack the ends off the slash cut tails though , I dunno yet.

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #42 on: November 10, 2009, 05:02:46 PM »
Alright, christmas came early this year  ;D
Got my drag bars, seat pan , and a few other odds and ends in today !
carp thing was it is raining and dark at 6pm. Who ever came up with daylight savings was a tool. Had to see what it was gonna look like though .

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #43 on: November 10, 2009, 05:04:33 PM »
hmmm, well screw this ,lets have a better look.  :o

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #44 on: November 10, 2009, 05:10:06 PM »
You can see in the last picture I am gonna have to dremel those two little seat brackets off then it will be a snug fit!

In other news this is worth reporting. I was figuring on having to drill the bars to run the wires for the pods or I'd have to notch the pods and run 'em outside BUT low and behold !!!!!!! This CX500 already has stock notched pods so changing bars is as easy as loosening and removing about 8 bolts/screws. Two for each set of pods and the main four that clamp the bar down. That was easy! Gonna have to reroute my throttle cables though as they are super stiff now . I guess they are binding a bit or something . I have seen people with cafed rides that the cables were all bowed up in front of the headlight so surely I can use stock cables . Clutch cable is hard to pull now too.
She is getting there though !

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #45 on: November 10, 2009, 05:12:36 PM »
Almost screwed up changing the bars too . As I loosened them I forgot I had the bike strapped to the trailer by the handlebars :o!!!!!
That was a close one !!!!!!

Offline Zaipai

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #46 on: November 10, 2009, 07:28:49 PM »
Saw this post and thought of your build..

http://www.bikeexif.com/honda-cx500-cafe-racer
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Offline my78k

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #47 on: November 11, 2009, 03:39:47 PM »
Where did you get the seat pan from?

I got a line on a deluxe tank. Guy wants me to make him a fair offer but to e honest i have NO IDEA what a fair offer for the tank would be???

Dennis

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #48 on: November 12, 2009, 07:41:57 AM »
I got the seat pan from http://www.roccitycafe.com/store.php
they offer a discount if you are posting a build !

I've seen a couple of those tank going for 20 bux parted out around here since I have been looking for part bikes lately. Worst he can say is no . Do a search on youtube there is a cx with the teardrop tank that was cafed and looks cool . You might be surprised even.

Offline 78whiteorbs

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Re: 78' CX500 Cafe Project
« Reply #49 on: November 12, 2009, 02:41:35 PM »
from nasty gap to not bad... ;D she's gettin there. Now need to find a cheap LED brake/tail light..... any ideas anyone>>>>>