Little_Horse

Well for those of you at a loss about not having any build updates on the cb500 cafe build I did, I am starting another I would like to share with you all. That is if you can handle more photobucket pictorials and my ever so elegant useless drivel. Here is the mission, should I choose to accept it bah done, is to take a 1979 cx500 stocker and turn it into a cx rocker slash racer. I can't help myself I love cafe's and this is a good candidate to do it. I have a concept posted below I like the side profile of this cx but the other views I saw pictures of looked a little bit off IMO so things will be done my way of course. This project is for my sister to have a bike it may be a quick complete but not finished until next winter, but we will see it would be her first bike so it may not get paint for ummm a few "drops". It shall be fun my friends. Pics of the wreckage will come forthwith on Monday, cheers.

autoteach

How about some upside down forks, dual front rotors with a radial caliper with a decent wheel? Make the exhaust run through an x-pipe: http://www.burnsstainless.com/crossoversmain.aspx
Some reservoir shocks, aluminum radiator, some reverse megaphones, some clipons, and rearsets.

These are just some requests, if you could...

swordfish

maybe integrate asubtle removable roll cage into the design.

lip81

looks great!

B R

That's hot, I like it. I think it would look little better with a short chrome rear fender, to tie in the pipes & front fender.

motojoe

Sweet. I had a CX650 Custom as my first street bike. Have fun with it.

captainchaos

Awesome. I love the old cx's. That's a really nice bike above too. I remember back in the day I was riding a 600r ninja and my friends's buddy was on a cx650. At a light he took off and I couldn't catch him-was really impressed how quick it was. Did good wheelies too lol. Did you already buy a bike?

So again I really like the red bike above. Maybe do the radiator in black. Obviously the possibilities are endless. Of course the comstars are cool, but what are your options with wheels? Didn't know if the shaft drive limits your possibilities there. Anyway loved the last build and will be looking forward to more of the same-thanks for sharing.

Little_Horse

yeah I already bought a 79 cx for $400 road it 100 mi home. The clutch was slipping under higher loads so it barely could do free way speeds. Also the carbs need a cleaning, I ran seafoam on the way back but the low end of the range was still very sticky feeling. As far as the slipping clutch, it seems like classic auto oil in the crankcase syndrome, so I am hoping an oil change with good motorcycle oil will fix that. The build is a budget one again, I am going to try and keep the amount spent under a grand total. It seems as the tires are good, new batery and I don't have to title it like I did the cb500 so that is right around $425 less putting me pretty close to a grand. So thats the plan for now. I am still trying to come up with a good color other then red for it but red looks friggin awesome I think.

markm70

I am still trying to come up with a good color other then red for it but red looks friggin awesome I think.


British Racing Green with yellow (maybe gold) pinstripe aka Lotus

My 2cents.

Mark

Little_Horse

yes, I like the way you think I like the classic green too.

Little_Horse

here is the wreck, seems very neglected, but some how runs. The starter makes awful noises when running.

Little_Horse

I think I may have had too much coffee before taking those pics .

VTRsurfer

My first bike, at 35 years of age, was a 78 CX500 I bought from a Honda mechanic in 1981 with 19,000 miles on it. I sold it 5 years later with 72,000 miles. It was modded, though not quite as heavily as that red one...nice.

Mine was all black, including front fender, and had the radiator cover removed (cleaner looking IMO), 2 into 1 exhaust, custom lower seat, low rise BMW bars, black rectangular mirrors, lightened flywheel, footpegs angled to the rear, aftermarket rear shocks, Michelins, Telefix fork brace, Russell front brake line. I added the fork brace and the stainless braided brake line.

Those front forks are like soda straws. High speed front end cornering wobbles were expected, but when I had one transfer through the bike to the rear in a 90mph left sweeper, I got the fork brace...highly recommended.

Have fun corn! By the way, mine topped out at 105 mph, tucked with left hand on the fork tube below the triple clamp, dirt track style.

Oh, and I forgot, that heavy centerstand was removed. I kept it in the garage for removing the rear wheel and lubing the chain

trinc

i thought you were going to finish the bus ?



looking forward to the build !

tim

Little_Horse

I am going to try to finish this one in 2 months, it will not be as involved as the cb.

Little_Horse

So it starts, the easy stuff... removal. First thing to be built are clip ons followed by a cowl, then a seat pan, exhaust, might move pegs. Then parts to be bought, mirrors, better looking side covers from a cx500c, blinkers, maybe pods, headlight bucket. But one thing at a time, build first paint later.

VTRsurfer

If I remember correctly the footpeg bolt can just be loosened and the pegs rotated rearwards to give an inch or more of rearset.

Also, think of cleaning and painting the radiator and leaving the radiator cowl off for a lighter, cleaner look. Just a suggestion.

Little_Horse

yeah after I took all that garbage off it the rad looked better, please stop me from moving the whole radiator to behind the sidecovers, and moving the battery to the front, please tell me it is a bad idea. I think I am already insane enough but it is tempting to put a superhawk radiator there and make a cool grill induction type vent in the sidecovers.

Little_Horse

The wet weight for this bike is 487 lbs, I am hoping to drop 20 lbs off of the bike, but I would also like to lower as much of the weight as possible as most of it sits pretty high up, suggestions anyone?

lazn

Tank under seat with fuel pump..

Am I correct in that there is no frame under the engine? (kinda looks that way) So how about engine lowering brackets?

lol Nothing practical in my suggestions I'm afraid.

Little_Horse

problem with lowering the engine is it is a stressed member of the frame. I was thinking to some how move the battery lower and drop the radiator to under engine, but the I would be afraid of puncture

AngryOlaf