Our "New" CX500

[Travman]

I needed another motorcycle, something a little smaller that I can let friends ride and not worry.  Something that is a not as quick as my other bikes and more in-line with my younger brother's XS650 so we can ride together.  Something my wife can ride too. So another bike is came home with me in earlier December.  

Here is a short video of the Christmas morning surprise.  

[rozer]

Nice!
Is that an original seat and color scheme?
I do like the elegant exhaust too.

[Travman]

Definitely not a stock seat. That is a fiberglass seat and rear end made from a Ducati 1971 450rt fuel tank. The paint is similar to a 1970's silver & blue Ducati 750 SS.

[DucHead]

Damn, that's sweet!      

[brimo]

It's a bewdy, I like the retro "Honda" lettering.

[triangleforge]

I saw one of those just last week up on the lift at the local Guzzi dealer!

At first, I didn't pay it much attention, as seeing transverse V-twins undergoing major surgery isn't all that unusual there, but something caught my eye ... why the hell is there a clutch basket hanging off the front??? 

The mechanic and I spent a good long while looking it over while he told me about the bike & how it differed from the Moto Guzzis he knew and loved.

I imagine you're going to have a whole lot of fun with this one, Travman - congratulations on your new addition!

[Travman]

Yes, I'm already having a lot of fun with this one.  I've had the CX500 out for several rides on some of my favorite local back roads. Much more capable than I thought a 497cc bike could be.  Yes, these are very capable and fun. I find it's best to be aggressive with the throttle then the bike is at its best.  You have to be careful with the throttle when you get back on the fast bikes though.  Basically I twist the throttle all the way most of the time while on the CX500.  Then I get on the Guzzi or Ducati and will accidently pull the bars away from my fingers if I give it that much throttle in town.  I never really realized that I only use about a quarter of the throttle on those two bikes while doing legal speeds.  

[kopfjäger]

Nice 

[geoffduc]

Blimey that brings back memories, looks like it's had some nice modding.

I had a CX500 when they first came out over here in the UK

Quite a bike at the time, sold it and bought a CB400 four which was a little bit lighter...

Geoff...

[rozer]

That is something I always notice when working on the bike and moving it around in the garage: the shear weight of the thing....
Also remembered when I first saw it in person it was a lot bigger than I expected it to be.

They did a really nice job on the seat, Travman.
It does look stock at first glance, which is a compliment for a well executed mod IMO.

[Dry Martini]

That looks waaaaay better than the factory CX500, which had cruiser styling, Yuck!!!

Now the CX500 turbo did away with the cruiser crap and was much better looking, out of the box.

[Travman]

I received a heated jacket and gloves for Christmas.  I had no problems riding today in 30 degree F weather.

[the_Journeyman]

Nice looking classic bike!  I bet it is fun too.  I miss my classic bikes (had a Suzuki GS650 and a GS1150ES).  That tail section is really nice also.

JM

[Travman]

That looks waaaaay better than the factory CX500, which had cruiser styling, Yuck!!!

Now the CX500 turbo did away with the cruiser crap and was much better looking, out of the box.

Well there were two versions. This bike is the CX500 Deluxe. It was more of a standard style, but it did suffer from terrible period styling. It had the typical stepped seat and headlight mounted way too high.  The CX Custom was the wanna-be cruiser. It had a gas tank shaped like a Harley Sportster and buckhorn handlebars.

[Kev M]

NICE - great smile on the wife too - happy wife = happy life!

Life is good.

RIDE SAFE,

Kev