Dilemma... what to do???

[mr.z]

As some of you know i have a cx500, its a bit ugly but i love it all the same... in fact i dont see many bikes i'd want to swap it for, but maily because its been so damn good...

Thing is a noise has developed, nothing majorly serious, but it will require the engine being taken out and an overhaul (at the worst time it could be too) i'd imagine the part cost would be (hopefully at most) in the region of <£200 theres no way i will have time to do it myself + the time off the road, so the labour cost will be hundreds also... i did want to have the engine apart to do over but not now i'm useing it every day

So i thought a new bike could be in order, at the moment the absoloute most i could spend is £500, without the current bikes value (an optimistic £500, possibly more if broken for spares)

In a few months (like next year) time i will have more money at my disposal, more like £1000 and the bikes value...

- Bikes i like the look of but don't know allot about -

VFR 750/+ - Would be a big handleing/performance step up, also apparently good every day, but serviceing costs would conern me, dosent look much of a home mechanics kinda bike...

CX500 E - The newer version, would be ideal, but they are quite pricey for what they are + parts are getting rare.

FJ1100 - I dont know allot about these, i do know my insureance company would love me though.

Fazer - Dont know what i'd get for this sort of money but i've heared they are good bikes allround.

None are shaft drive, which is bad.. i doubt any are as comfy or as easy to work on (appart from the cx-e)


Other thing is to start looking for a spare bike

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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[G]

Get some decent test rides on other bikes to see how they compare with your current one, then go from there.

[instigator]

could always get a gs500 or er5, theyre usually on ebay starting at £500 and quite a lot of them dont go above that either!

[stinkwheel]

What is wrong with it? There are very few things that would require the engine to be taken out of a CX. Only things I can think of is to either replace the main bearings or big-ends, possibly if you needed to replace certain waterpump/oilpump parts . There are even tricks for working on the gearbox without taking the engine out such as getting a couple of big mates to turn the whole bike upside down like repairing a puncture on your pushbike...seen it done on a bandit 12!

I saw a picture today of a CX that has done 147,000miles. Lets see someone do that on an R6
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[mr.z]

Welllll... as i understand it (odie diognosed, i thought it was tappets )

The noise started a little bit after my fan fell off again... its on PROPERLY now, however the fan is on the cam shaft, the cam shaft bearings (apparently) get knackered buy being shaken by a loose fan, as does the cam chain, the bottom end?/main bearings also wear with the camchain, if the **** that put it on the first time had done it properly it would not be happening... i think the water pump bearings are on there too, so could be them also...

Either way if it is a engine out job it will be all or nothing, i'd have any bearings replaced, chains, tensioners and anything else (probably even the clutch) cause i really cant have it off the road at any time really

147k! there are people in the owners club whos clocks have been arround at least once, on the original engine! amazeing how long they will go if they are looked after a couple actually road arround the world on one
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[Kickstart]

Hi

Doubt you would get any of those for £500 that easily, and I get the impression that you would rather not sell the CX.

FJ1100 is now an old bike, but much the same as the 1200. Biggest problem would be tyre choice.

VFR750 now seems to hold its value well. Not sure that I would want to go near the examples that would fit in your budget.

Other bikes to consider would be a VT500 or GT550 (both shaft drive, but trying to find one that had not been couriered would be difficult), FZ750 (easily get one for £1000, bullet proof engines, valves need doing every 28000 miles, seat an instrument of torture), XJ600 (not the Diversion, so £500 should source one for you), CBX750 (last of the Honda air cooled straight 4s, complete with hydraulic tappets so the valves do not need touching) and any of the earlier sports 600s (CBR600, FZR600, GPX600).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[G]

[mr.z]

[Kickstart]

Hi

If you are attached to the CX then spend £500 on another bike and keep the CX to fix over the winter. Maybe do a full strip down and get the frame powder coated.

The VT replaced the CX, but it quite a different design. Has more in common with the NTV600 / 650 than the CX.

The Zephyr is quite a cheap model these days, just the build quality is not that great.

What is actually wrong with the CX?

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[MarJay]

Go to the bank, get an extortionate loan and buy a Yamaha Fazer (Pre 2003 model).

Or, make some time and spanner like you've never spannered before!

Or, just leave it and when it goes pop get an extortionate loan and buy a Fazer.

Or, leave it and when it goes pop make some time and spanner like you've never spannered before!

Or Enter a poker competition and win an extortionate amount of money, buy an MV agusta F4 and never ride it. Then ride the CX until it goes pop, and pay a garage to fix it.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Robby]

Its a tough engine.

You have some bearing wear. This is a shame, but worse things have happened.

Chuck in some thicker oil and run it into the ground. I'd expect you could easily get another 10k out of it, just stop caring about it and use it as your nail.

[aqualung1]

see what you mean, just been nosing on ebay,
500 start price and even for a nail, theres a cx500c for £500 offer hard cash never know may sell?

if running i would keep looking for new donor bike/engine
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"still no idea where poohsticks bridge is"
www.bosunsbikes.com

[TheShaggyDA]

Get an engine for £150-£200 and swap them over so you can work on yours over the winter.
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[stinkwheel]

145,000 miles and I don't think they were easy ones.

A quick google reveals. Ta,da,daaaaaaa...

[yambabe]

Hmmm, I've been to Cheshire Motorcycle Salvage.

They are a bit economical with the truth when it comes to the amount of damage on the bikes they have!

We went to look at a Virago they had advertised for £800 with "slight rear-end damage". It had a buckled back wheel bent frame & broken seat pan. My other half reckoned it was worth about £300 tops for bits or rebiuld. They have lots of stuff there, but you've got to have plenty of time, good access to breakers / suppliers of bits and a fair bit of money to get most of them rideable.

Re Keith's comment, we have 2 VT500s, a standard one (VT500E I think) and an American-import Shadow.

The shadow still needs some work so it's not been ridden properly since we've had it (it's due to be my next bike when my 33bhp restriction ends at the moment) so can't tell you a lot about that.

The standard VT500 is a cracking bike. I struggle with it as it's a bit tall for me, but the other half has been riding it as his "main" bike for nearly two years now. He says the engine is bulletproof, you can throw it around corners like nobody's business but watch the electrics as the fuse thingys on older ones can be a bit dodgy.

HTH.
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[stinkwheel]

It maybe wasn't clear from my post. That was for the engine only.

I have used them once. They even phoned to tell me that the pair of forks I ordered actually had no seals in, they hadn't noticed 'till they were putting them in the box because of the gaiters and thought they should check if I still wanted them.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[yambabe]

Fair enough. Wonder if the bloke I saw had his "only-a-woman-I-can-sell-her-any-old-tat" head on then?!!!
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[CBRPETER]

Oranges ay???

I would have a snoop around see what you can pick up.
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Shes my life, shes so rad and shes the best ride i ever had!!

[Demonic69]

Wanna buy a GPZ550? Now where'd I put the front wheel spindle.....
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Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[Robby]

The split pin from it is ingrained into my garage floor somewhere.

[mr.z]

Suppriseing number of votes for the fruit murdering option.. they dont leave any bruises, makeing them the perfect edible murder weapon...

robby - i totaly see what you mean, but because it is my only way of getting arround i dont want it just going bang while i'm in liverpool or something :/ ... i know the vast majority with bikes of this ilk will let it rust into a ball of fuzz in the dark winter months, silly i know but i like this bike as much as people on here like their R1s, triumphs and other assorted shiney machines...if i can't keep it myself i want it to at least stay on the road...

I guess i could break it up and sell it off later at some point... but i dont usually have any cash to just go out and buy whatever takes my fancy
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<