1980's Honda CX500 reliability

firg · Spanner Monkey Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Karma :

Hi all.

Most CX500's seem to be going for ~£500 ( here, here, here, and here ) and i was wondering if i picked one up just after passing my test, would reliability be an issue?

Most of the road test reports of ~10yrs ago seem to say its very reliable, and there are many selling nowadays that arent spares or repair so it cant be that bad.

What do you think? is it practical to buy one of these after my big bike test? will i have to fork out hundreds in repairs?

thanks,

cabbage

p.s. is it so cheap cause its old and fugly? (i actually think its not too bad, but that seems to be the general consensus in road tests)
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feef · Energiser Bunny Joined: 11 Feb 2002 Karma :

bombproof, ugly old agricultural tanks, but they just seem to last forever...

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Robin · Scooby Slapper Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

I've had 2, they are reliable and do the job no problem. The engine will put up with all sorts of abuse and they are cheap to run.

I'd recomend one as a first 'big' bike and/or for anybody on a budget.

firg · Spanner Monkey Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Will be well over 20 years old now (even 10 year old road tests are talking about bikes that were old then), but generally reliable. Cam chain issues that killed them early on should be sorted on any around now.

Expect to have a few dodgy electrical problems just from having old wiring, and worse 20 years worth of bodges.

Just avoid one that has been dispatched and then sold with about half an hours worth of life left in it.

All the best

Keith
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Josh|RD125LC · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Karma :

Ask wanster on this site, think he owns a CX500. One of my teachers has one in school, a right ugly thing it is. But its Honda so you know its built well.
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Tarmacsurfer · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Karma :

map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

Wasn't the Honda Silverwing based on the CX500?
(that's the old bike, not the modern 600cc scooter).
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redditchlady · Derestricted Danger Joined: 09 May 2005 Karma :

Hi there,

I had a CX back in the late 80's. Not bad reliability wise. Just remember that they are shaft drive though. Personally, If I was going to view one, I'd check it over well before you part with any cash. Also, Im not sure how you are with bikes, (not being derogatory here) but if you aren't too good with mechanics etc I'd take someone with you to have a look.

All the best

Kazz

iCraig · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

I think it's the only bike ever built with a cam chain and push rods.

mchaggis · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 May 2004 Karma :

May I change the topic ever so slightly and enquire about a Bros or NTV650 as a first big bike to get for not too much money? They look like more of the same, just with the V normally positioned?
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Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Josh|RD125LC · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Karma :

Keith please don't pick on my posts!! Crying or Very sad

Just thought that it being a Honda it should be reliable. Obviously not. Smile

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mr.z · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Karma :

Ahem

The GL was very closely based (if you squint they are the same, ignore the badge and they are) on the CX500 engine, there was in fact a gl400,500,650(which was based on the 650 engine, because it was it)and 700.

CX common faults are....

startor windings, engine out job but not expensive, still quite rare...

rotting origninal hbox, for this reason the majority have motad replacements, not as fruity sounding and slightly restrictive, a big spike fixes that though Very Happy

mechanical seal, not so much a fault but a total b'stard of a job, engine out, engine appart, engine in oven (yes really) but again, rare it needs doing, even so it can be ignored for years if you keep an eye on the levels carefully.

The cam chain fault was remidied straight away (at tremendous cost) all that have been modified with all last minute tweaks has 3 punch marks on the engine caseing... you have more chance of growing a gopher out of the side of your head then finding an unmodified one now! So unless you are amazeingly unlucky you will not have any chamchain problems.

Any old bike will have problems if it hasn't been looked after will be a heap, but a good one will go forever....

I am propper peeved i got rid of mine, appart from handleing (which is pants) it was perfect Sad

If you casn find a eurosport they are the updated and handleing is much more "modern"

(i even phoned the place i sold mine to try and get it back and they sold it within 2 days Crying or Very sad

)
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map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

Tarmacsurfer · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Karma :

Hated the NTV650 with a passion. Gutless, unreliable and a horrible ride Sick

GT550!

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Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

map · Mr Calendar Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :

Tarmacsurfer · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2004 Karma :

I found the 750 to be a little too heavy to be thrown around as well as the 550, and all in all for not much more power on tap.

Did around 85k on a GT550, then moved onto an NTV650 that self destructed inside 10k so went with an XJ900 (pre divvie model). That went for around 75k with almost no problems and very infrequent servicing. Rode a GT750 outside of work for a while, but the thing never struck me a particularly useful bike.
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gimpy limp · Nearly there... Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Karma :

looks wise their are loooooads you can do with cx's, reeeeeally nice looking bikes if you just take the plastic on the front off:

https://www.cxboard.netfirms.com/cxChopper/

https://www.cxboard.netfirms.com/cxChopper/December2004/stephanie.jpg
https://www.cxboard.netfirms.com/cxChopper/April2004/right1.jpg

https://www.angelfire.com/oz/cx500/

https://www.angelfire.com/oz/cx500/images/done3.JPG

https://www.angelfire.com/oz/cx500/images/jul29_3.JPG

Loads of people like to turn them into rat bikes like this:

https://img232.echo.cx/img232/5559/cx500rat3ii.jpg

https://img142.echo.cx/img142/6933/cx500front0sc.jpg

https://img63.echo.cx/img63/1216/cx500side5lj.jpg

took me literally 30/45 minutes (I clocked it) to put my engine in after painting it and that was the first time i've ever worked on a bike engine.
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