Honda '79 CX 500 - What can you tell me?

[Slide Panda]

So someone in my running group just posted a CB700 and a CB500 as free to a good home... so now, I've got both. Per his email, I thought it was two CBs - But I find myself with a CX500 on my hands.

The CX bikes are a water cooled, 4v twins with a transverse engine and shaft drive - Think MotoGuzzi'ish. I've torn apart a couple CBs, but this weird little bugger is new to me.

So, any got any experience with these? Google has lead me to a couple pages an such with info. But I thought I'd tape the knowledge reserves here as well.

[MadDuck]

I recall these bikes having an issue with the right side carb. Something about the carb dying and needing replacement. I had a friend that had one. While it was running he liked it but once the carb issue came up the bike got pushed off to the side and I don't think it ever got fixed.

[Slide Panda]

Well it's not running right now... so I'm assuming there's some carb work that needs done anyway, since it's been sitting a bit. At a bare min a drain n clean. But good to know the right one might need extra watching.

[the_Journeyman]

Also, much like the Goldwings, the water pump is really a PITA to get to.

JM

[JustDucky]

In spite of their stock appearance they can actually be made into a pretty good looking cafe bike.
I had a friend with a completely stock CX that rode the crap out of that high mileage ugly beast.  He never had any problems I recall.  FWIW he was pretty quick on his R1 but rode that CX and a nasty old KZ1000 police special all the time.  I think he enjoyed the fact the CX and KZ cost him less combined than a set of new tires for his R1!

[Travman]

[Popeye the Sailor]

I so love how Honda futzed around with all sorts of setups whenever they felt like it. Shaft drive? Okay! Oval pistons? Why not!


They must serve Sake to their engineers.

[Slide Panda]

Oh this one is not that nice trav...

[Boog]

I think I remeber the CX having issues with the cam chain tensioners.

[Travman]

Oh this one is not that nice trav...

I know what a 30 year old CX 500 typically looks like, but it is fun to see what somebody with vision and talent can do to an unloved motorcycle. 

[supertjeduc]

I have owned the turbo 500CX , and yes it was a very nice bike 
When i bought it on my first ride home i was doing about 200km/h and the fairing was that good i was wondering why all the cars around me were that slow

[supertjeduc]

And just found a service and repair manual , but it's in Dutch so i don't think you could use it

[Slide Panda]

 

French I might be able to swing a bit of... But Dutch 

tomorrow I go give it it's will it live or is it too far gone assesmet.

[red baron]

I had a CX650 to cart around the wife, it was a great bike. Never an issue.

[Travman]

One more cafe'd CX500.



Yuu, did you decide whether or not it was worth keeping?