Author Topic: In Praise of the HONDA CX500  (Read 1194 times)

Online ruSTynutz

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In Praise of the HONDA CX500
« on: July 31, 2022, 04:23:28 PM »
I've noticed that many of our members have previously owned a CX so thought they may enjoy the following YouTube video...

https://youtu.be/OLXyYwwkNlI

I previously owned a CX500EC and I loved that bike...unfortunately after close to 30 years of ownership and due to lack of space and with no money to restore it I sadly sold it for a song. It hadn't run for many years due to some electrical fault and years stored in a garden shed had really deteriorated the alloy and chrome and the frame had a fair bit of surface rust. But it was complete and the bodywork was still in great condition.

A friend of a friend ended up buying it and carted it on the back of ute all the way to Townsville...
The last I heard was he did get it running but he was the type of guy who would have sold it on so have no idea where it is now...  :-[


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Offline CallMeSteve

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Re: In Praise of the HONDA CX500
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2022, 05:04:40 PM »
The EC model certainly was a class act. 
A man rides on his STeed, says “Why am I short of attention? Got a short little span of attention”.

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Online Williamson

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Re: In Praise of the HONDA CX500
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2022, 05:31:59 PM »
Can we have a show of hands from past and present CX500 / CX650 owners?

Mine was a dark blue 1979 CX500C (Custom), low front saddle, narrow rear (Helen didn't like it - proves the saying every cloud has a silver lining), very small tank (12.5 litres), terrible range.



(None of my own pics, this one from the web.)

There's a swag of 'em on BikeSales.com at the moment, including a coupla CX500 Turbos, one of which seems to be very reasonably priced.
« Last Edit: July 31, 2022, 05:35:32 PM by Williamson »
Cheers,  Williamson (AKA Michael)

Motorcycling, the best time you can have with your pants on.
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Afterlife, up there for the climate, down there for the company.
If I'd known I was gunna live this long, I woulda looked after myself better
 
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Offline Jdbiker

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Re: In Praise of the HONDA CX500
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2022, 05:33:10 PM »
Sounds like the voice of Allen Millyard.
« Last Edit: July 31, 2022, 09:49:28 PM by Jdbiker »
Jdbiker.
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1980 Yamaha XS 1100
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Online ruSTynutz

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Re: In Praise of the HONDA CX500
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2022, 07:54:47 PM »
> very small tank (12.5 litres), terrible range.

At least the EC had a decent size tank...19 litres if my memory serves me correctly... :thumbs


2005 Honda ST1300A
 

Offline Dragonstaff

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Re: In Praise of the HONDA CX500
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2022, 08:52:04 PM »
I too have owned a few CX's. The first was a 'B' model shadow in the mid '90s, and several in the last ten years. I still have an old (and passed) mates last CX, an '81 Shadow with a cyclestyle Shadow fairing, for which I have also own the mold. I also have an '81 GL 500 Silverwing Interstate, which is a sort of full dress CX custom with a different tank, seat, and sidecovers, built on an EC frame. It has done just 2450 miles from new.

Edit: I am a member of a couple of CX forums, where my ST is usually referred to as the 'Double 650'. The parentage is obvious, after all.
« Last Edit: July 31, 2022, 09:28:59 PM by Dragonstaff »
THERE ARE OLD RIDERS, AND THERE ARE BOLD RIDERS, BUT THERE ARE DAMN FEW OLD AND BOLD RIDERS.

Keep the dirty side down.

2003 ST 1300
1984 1200 Goldwing
1981 GL 500 Silverwing
1980 CX500
(Not all bikes are running at the current time)
 
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Online Williamson

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Re: In Praise of the HONDA CX500
« Reply #6 on: July 31, 2022, 09:23:44 PM »
... an '81 GL 500 Silverwing Interstate, which is a sort of full dress CX custom with a different tank, seat, and sidecovers, built on an EC frame. It has done just 2450 miles from new.

Nice!
Cheers,  Williamson (AKA Michael)

Motorcycling, the best time you can have with your pants on.
eBiking, the second best time you can have with your pants on
Afterlife, up there for the climate, down there for the company.
If I'd known I was gunna live this long, I woulda looked after myself better
 
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Offline Shillas

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Re: In Praise of the HONDA CX500
« Reply #7 on: August 01, 2022, 08:57:44 AM »
Shillas :13Candy

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RD 200 - long gone
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ST 1100 - recently gone
ST 1300 - In the garage
 
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Offline STroppy

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Re: In Praise of the HONDA CX500
« Reply #8 on: August 01, 2022, 11:08:23 AM »
I had a CX 500 Sports, it had a air adjustable mono shock at the rear and air adjustable front shocks, it was a nice machine and went fairly well, the high ground clearance enabled it to be leaned over quite a way when cornering. I had it from the mid ‘80s until 2003. Wish I still owned it!
Terry, Canberra 0412499625
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Current bikes 2013 Triumph Trophy SE, 2008 ST1300
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Offline Biggles

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Re: In Praise of the HONDA CX500
« Reply #9 on: August 01, 2022, 11:27:47 AM »
Gotta love the electrician's flex conduit on the front of the Siverwing's bars.  Wiring for the sound system?
For the modern man who lives in the city, riding a bike might be one of the only ways to escape the humdrum monotony. To take off and ride. To be both at one with nature and one with the bike. To feel masculine. Adam Piggott

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Offline Dragonstaff

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Re: In Praise of the HONDA CX500
« Reply #10 on: August 05, 2022, 08:24:15 PM »
Gotta love the electrician's flex conduit on the front of the Siverwing's bars.  Wiring for the sound system?

For the CB Biggles.
THERE ARE OLD RIDERS, AND THERE ARE BOLD RIDERS, BUT THERE ARE DAMN FEW OLD AND BOLD RIDERS.

Keep the dirty side down.

2003 ST 1300
1984 1200 Goldwing
1981 GL 500 Silverwing
1980 CX500
(Not all bikes are running at the current time)
 

Offline Dragonstaff

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Re: In Praise of the HONDA CX500
« Reply #11 on: August 05, 2022, 08:29:24 PM »
Can we have a show of hands from past and present CX500 / CX650 owners?

Mine was a dark blue 1979 CX500C (Custom), low front saddle, narrow rear (Helen didn't like it - proves the saying every cloud has a silver lining), very small tank (12.5 litres), terrible range.
There's a swag of 'em on BikeSales.com at the moment, including a coupla CX500 Turbos, one of which seems to be very reasonably priced.

Yours would have looked like this then Michael. One I did for my son, then sold when he decided a more modern 250 was the better option for learning on (he was probably right, too)
THERE ARE OLD RIDERS, AND THERE ARE BOLD RIDERS, BUT THERE ARE DAMN FEW OLD AND BOLD RIDERS.

Keep the dirty side down.

2003 ST 1300
1984 1200 Goldwing
1981 GL 500 Silverwing
1980 CX500
(Not all bikes are running at the current time)
 
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Online Williamson

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Re: In Praise of the HONDA CX500
« Reply #12 on: August 05, 2022, 08:37:30 PM »
Nice looking unit, although I liked the blue.

Mmmm ..... perhaps we could have a CX500 section.
Cheers,  Williamson (AKA Michael)

Motorcycling, the best time you can have with your pants on.
eBiking, the second best time you can have with your pants on
Afterlife, up there for the climate, down there for the company.
If I'd known I was gunna live this long, I woulda looked after myself better
 
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Offline STroppy

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Re: In Praise of the HONDA CX500
« Reply #13 on: August 05, 2022, 09:49:18 PM »
I had an 1984 model of this one . . . Mine was RED!

https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/Honda/honda_cx500_euro_83.html

Terry, Canberra 0412499625
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Current bikes 2013 Triumph Trophy SE, 2008 ST1300
Previous bikes1948 Triumph Tiger 500 Twin - sprung rear hub, 1963 BSA Bantam 175, Yamaha 75cc & DT250, Honda ST1100, 400N & CX500 sports, BMW K100RS & K100 LT, Harley Electra-glid
 
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Offline DaleAP

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Re: In Praise of the HONDA CX500
« Reply #14 on: August 06, 2022, 07:22:34 PM »
I'm about to take delivery of a CX500 Turbo.

OK, it's a Tamiya 1:6 scale kit, but that counts, right?  :rofl :rofl ;-*

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Online Williamson

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Re: In Praise of the HONDA CX500
« Reply #15 on: August 06, 2022, 07:31:18 PM »
I'm about to take delivery of a CX500 Turbo.

OK, it's a Tamiya 1:6 scale kit, but that counts, right?  :rofl :rofl ;-*

If it's this one, probably does count ...
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/224656677810?hash=item344e94dbb2:g:wwAAAOSwJMNhcfQV

... otherwise, no!
Cheers,  Williamson (AKA Michael)

Motorcycling, the best time you can have with your pants on.
eBiking, the second best time you can have with your pants on
Afterlife, up there for the climate, down there for the company.
If I'd known I was gunna live this long, I woulda looked after myself better
 

Online Williamson

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Cheers,  Williamson (AKA Michael)

Motorcycling, the best time you can have with your pants on.
eBiking, the second best time you can have with your pants on
Afterlife, up there for the climate, down there for the company.
If I'd known I was gunna live this long, I woulda looked after myself better
 
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Offline Dragonstaff

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Re: In Praise of the HONDA CX500
« Reply #17 on: August 06, 2022, 09:23:07 PM »
I have put those up on the CX forum, Michael. Thanks.
THERE ARE OLD RIDERS, AND THERE ARE BOLD RIDERS, BUT THERE ARE DAMN FEW OLD AND BOLD RIDERS.

Keep the dirty side down.

2003 ST 1300
1984 1200 Goldwing
1981 GL 500 Silverwing
1980 CX500
(Not all bikes are running at the current time)
 

Offline Dragonstaff

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Re: In Praise of the HONDA CX500
« Reply #18 on: August 06, 2022, 09:23:57 PM »
I'm about to take delivery of a CX500 Turbo.

OK, it's a Tamiya 1:6 scale kit, but that counts, right?  :rofl :rofl ;-*

Reckon I had that one back in '82. Long gone now though...
THERE ARE OLD RIDERS, AND THERE ARE BOLD RIDERS, BUT THERE ARE DAMN FEW OLD AND BOLD RIDERS.

Keep the dirty side down.

2003 ST 1300
1984 1200 Goldwing
1981 GL 500 Silverwing
1980 CX500
(Not all bikes are running at the current time)