OT- opinions on 79 Honda CX500 bike

[rusty210]

I'm thinking about picking up a cheap bike to play with and came across one for sale. I've never seen one before. Water cooled and shaft drive. Anyone had one? Can you do anything with them to make it look better? Do they have decent power? Any help appreciated.

[bigron]

i had an 80 model cx500 deluxe. not alot of power. would be good tranportation to and from work though. i bought it for $600.00 cleaned it up and sold it for $1100.00.

[yorgatron]

Moto Jacuzzi http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[55olds88]

Well done Yorg, what I was thinking......
Solid bikes, hit a possum the size of a Racoon on one and ran it flat, pretty reliable but not big on the grunt factor, they did a cheesy custom one too, probably better things to spend your $ on but if its cheap enough and you want a commuter bike then why not.

[Fat Hack]

I worked at a Honda dealer back in the mid 80s...those bikes came in for service now and then. Nothing real special about 'em...just good, reliable rides. Never saw one customized or hopped up...but there's always a first!!!

[2xcrash]

Define cheep? 3 or 400 bones and your good to go. You might get board if the bike if its a dog. search out an old chain drive yz or cb after you learn to ride it you can chop them out pretty cheep.. check out www.bwchoppers.com (http://www.bwchoppers.com)

[rusty210]

Thanks for the link. Some cool stuff.

[Baron Von Mike]

Owned the exact same bike for years. V setup like a Guzzi. There's a hard to get to water seal in which the engine needs to be pulled to replace. Besides that, I took my CX 500 on an 8 state 6100 mile trip and a 3 state 2100 mile trip.

A no frills bike that will just last. I see plenty still running around SF. If its cheap and you aint lookin for a lot of style, I'd highly recommned.

I've got a simple clamp on wind screen that is a lot cleaner than the 70's vetter I had. I'll let you have it for shipping if you get the bike.

Mike

[cornfieldrodder]

I can't remember the site it was on, but... I've seen one bobbed. It looked pretty cool, in a guzzi kina way. Check out the current issue of metric cruizer (or some such name)
There is a Guzzi chop that flat friggin' rocks! It might give you some ideas. The CX is a bit bulkier lookin' due to the liquid cooling but they can be cool. But then, I think Hacks Chubby is pretty dang cool. Taking my advice might make you weird. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[burndup]

I think they're ugly, but I'm an opinionated bastard, and thats a pretty harsh comment based on the unattractive POS's I have around here....

Never owned a water-cooled bike, and would shy away from it on an old beater, its an ENTIRE extra system full of trouble, especially on an old, neglected beater bike...

But, the cheaper the bike, the more you are will ing to put up with, especially if its so cheap you can just junk it if repairs are more than you are motivated to commit to...

[zman]

I agree with burndup, ugly as hell.... but they are pretty reliable if they were taken care of. The only cool ones I remember seeing were the Honda factory flattrackers, of course they made a new crankcase to turn the cylinders sideways.....

[rusty210]

I love this Guzzi I found on Ebay. The price looks good and would be cool with a little work.
http://i23.ebayimg.com/01/i/02/29/a8/29_1.JPG

[Tman]

Those bikes were favored by London Couriers for years due to their reliability! I always had a soft spot for the CX.