Honda CX500

[D O G]

Reet, I'm trawling Aussie ebay at the mo to find likely bikes for when we move there.

This one keeps popping up - it ticks all the boxes, its shaft drive, reasonable displacement, looks ok (love the Guzzi style V Twin) and most importantly is in budget. An ideal candidate for a long term hack (which will slowly evolve into somewhat of a rat).

But I know nowt about them - does anyone have any experience of them? Any reason I should discount them and plump for a GS Suzuki, or one of the Yammy shafties (FJ, XJ etc).

If its not a shaftie, then I'm not interested. I have concluded that chains are the work of the devil, and should be reserved for evil bikes which provide twisted pleasure!

[Itchy]

Indestructable in that couriers can't even kill them... and I've seen examples with 2-400K on them,

, but impossible to find parts for since Mr Z hoovers them all up

and heavy, and have rear drum brakes,

an NTV perhaps? , bit more updated.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Fisty]

give mr_z a pm, he has had 3 i think, and has a she full of parts. MY SHED!!!
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Quietly and consistently taking the piss.
TL1000R | Hayabusa | ZXR400 | TL1000S | Bandit 400 V
Fatter and faster than Fret

[hmmmnz]

i had a cx400 in nz
it had 50000 km on it i did another 30000 and sold it for more than i bought it, it never broke down on me once,
and i believe its still running
best bike honda ever made
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the humans are dead
I kick arse for the lord
Wiring Diagrams BIDNIP it bitches

[Stevep]

The CX 500 a much maligned machine but they take all the abuse and just keep going They made a turbo Version in late 70s early 80s that had the nickname OBRUT as it was wrote that way so in a mirror you could see it was a Turbo
One of Mr Hondas best
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Harleys run Forever

[jimbothe]

I had the cx500 custom. Perfect runner and never gave me an ounce of trouble in two years. Loved it but sold it to upgrade and now I wish I still had it as a second bike.

Cheap to maintain and will run forever.

If you want another near indestructable bike have a look at the Kawasaki GT750. Shaft drive, air cooled and one hell of a damn ugly headlight. Love them I have had a couple many moons ago and am picking up another hopefully in a few days time. They tend to rattle a tiny bit on start up and run unevenly until warm. Or maybe that was just both of mine....
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[mr.z]

Ello,

still have the 650 and its used dayly, its at that wonder full point where if you dont do anytihng to it it wont go wrong.. oil changes and thats it (though it does use oil but thats common with these they are pretty old now and allot on their original bores)

If parts are plentyfull (which they are, far bigger following in oz) then go for it, in fact buy two, a runner and a donor just in case. check the australian msn cx/gl forum, its got loooads of people on there and there plenty help available.

I'd proabbly have an ntv other than that, more parts available and still makeing parts, also less bulky.


The model to look for, and theres loads more in oz, is the eurosport model. it has a monoshock and much improved frame. instead of bend in half arorund corners it handles bloody well, the 650 is even better (fork brace). its also got a rear disc whcih is utter shit, the drum is far better and needs only adjusting. one failiing with the euro is the crappy brake design.
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[chris-red]

My dad has had one for about 30 years now, it broke after 26 something to do with the distributor IIRC and it is an engine out job to fix, great bikes he adores his, he calls it the plastic maggot for some reason.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[mr.z]

they got that name year back when they came out, they are pretty wrid looking and were then too..

the alternator thing can need doing aif you unlucky. keeping the oil topped right up helps keep it going though (supposedly helps keep it cool) £60 to have it rewound afaik.. its a common thing but not that regular a thing.

The nickname they have in germany is "gullenpumpe" traslated means a sewage pump.. all stems from an old comic in a bike mag of the time.
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[D O G]

Right, that looks to have about sealed it then!!

CX500/650 it will be.

Thanks for the help gentlemen.

[virus]

on the subject of that engine layout:

good points: keep ya knees warm

Bad points: if you havent got good engine bars then if you drop it you may smash the head in a bit.

Cheers
John
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own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[mr.z]

fraid does nowt for yer knees, allthough unlike the motoguzzi its copyed off at leas the twist means they aren't jammed into them..
different if its got a huge faring on though..

incidentally the GL which is another one that did far better in oz than here, its identicle to the eurosport uptill the farings and plastics and some mountings, a gl engine will swap into a euro, and vice versa, gearing is different though.

if it dont have bars buy some, simply not worth the risk (it its going over its going over wether your injure your spine trying to stop it or not)

if you have any really specific questions feel free to pm, but do sign upto the msn cx/gl oz club, its very active and plenty of helpfull folks on there.
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[panrider_uk]

I've had all 3 types (non-turbo) and think they're great and underrated machines.

The GL (Silverwing) was very comfy and great for long distances.

The eurosport looked good (IMO).

The B model was ugly but functional.

Piece of cake to maintain.

Mark
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Current bikes: Honda ST1100 Pan European. Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel

[D O G]

I'm actually really looking forward to getting one now!!!

Will definitely join the oz cx forum, set me up for good one when I get there!

[Kal]

I_want_the Turbo like a spotty teenage boy wants Christine Agulara

I have in the garage a trike which is basically bits off a trike and a mini welded to scaffolding poles attached to the back of a CX500 Custom

My fuel economy sucks, it did get slightly better after I had the carbs rebuilt.

Engine is the usual Honda comedy routine to work on but then again they don't usually require much work. Most of the issues with mine are down to its low mileage.

Even with all the extra weight Elby still achieves 80mph! Which on a hardtail trike is extremely... interesting.

Would I have another as a daily ride? Without a doubt, especially a the worldwide owners clubs seem to be organising a continuing parts supply.

Which in turn reminds me I need to post a cheque to the CX/GL Owners club.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Odie]

Just picked up another cx (3 now in the garage) which is already a rat but just needs putting back together....
very underrated machine.
Kal: your only getting 80 mph! You should be faster than that, what size tyres and what axle do you have in it?
Idealy it should be a reliant axle with a 3.2 to 1 diff and 15 inch rear wheels, makes them do about the ton
by the way try here https://groups.msn.com/CXClubUK.
These are the guys (myself included) that got pissed off with the CX/GL owners because they were so far up there own arses and did not want to listen to the membership.
Mr z myself and an old friend of mine (stillcxy) used to go and fix other members cx's that didnt have a clue!
What we dont know aint worth knowing (banging own drum)
Good bike, aussie forum very good.
Have fun
Odie
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You are so ugly when you were born the doctor said "I?m gonna drop it, if it falls is a rat, if it flies is a bat."

[Kal]

I decided to keep my head down when that all went pair-shaped, made a point of not reading the posts. Seemed nasty. Did randomly get a Christmas card this year though.

Not sure what hub is running Elby, I believe it may have been sourced from a Mini welded to a cut down Reliant axle running Mini hubs.

I keep the tyres are somewhat underinflated to even out the worst of the vibrations.

From a standing start its great, just starts running out of puff around the 65/70mph mark.

To be honest the vibrations are so bad at that point that random items keep falling off.

Fall stop on the end of the web address is making it throw a 404 error
https://groups.msn.com/CXClubUK
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Odie]

[Odie]

[Kal]

[Odie]