1978 honda cx500

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nate1714 · #1 Unread post by **nate1714** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 5:22 pm

alright need some advice....im looking at a 1978 honda cx500e....for about 750$....has 11000miles on it and runs very good..i test road it today...no rust no real problems new battery and new tires...the only thing i would do is change the oil and put new had grips on it...anyone have one or have any advice on this for me....thanks...

Johnj · #2 Unread post by **Johnj** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 5:45 pm

I have a GL 500 which is about the same. I've got a fairing, saddlebags, and a single rear shock. It looks like a little dresser. Reliable motor but not much power.

jrdudas · #3 Unread post by **jrdudas** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 4:35 pm

I had a 79 CX500 Custom; I loved the looks of the bike and it ran great. Plenty of power for me, but possibly the worst handling bike I ever had. I don't know if it was too top heavy due to the engine design and placement or if it had something to do with the shaft drive. My wife eventually harrassed me into getting rid of it and I was bikeless for many years. I am starting into riding again now and wish I had the CX 500 back.

If the bike has good rubber and no damage it sounds like a good deal to me, just don't expect much on the twisties.

JR

jrdudas · #4 Unread post by **jrdudas** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 4:48 pm

Whoops, forgot to ask a question. You didn't say whether this will be your first bike; if so, the CX 500 may not be the best choice to learn on. It's heavy and big for a 500 and can be diffcult to handle. I lived in Arizona when I got mine. I was an experienced rider at the time and right after I got the CX 500 the State decided that all motorcycle riders needed an endorsement on their license and therefore had to pass a riding test. The test involved weaving (making several figure 8's) through some closely placed cones while in a confined space. Your feet had to stay on the pegs and if you touched the ground you failed. I had a lot of riding experience but had a hell of a time time passing the test because the course was so small that you could not hold any speed and still negotiate the cones. Lucky for me the examiner let me practice a few times first.

JR

nate1714 · #5 Unread post by **nate1714** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 6:33 am

this is my first personal bike i rode a honda cb400 for a few months last year. and yes when i test rode it was heavy but i was assuming i would get use to that......

nate1714 · #6 Unread post by **nate1714** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 4:54 pm

how easy are the stators and the cdi boxs to come by for these since i read those are the largest two problems..and about how much are they...any other info would be great i think im going to get this one...

jrdudas · #7 Unread post by **jrdudas** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:35 am

I don't know how difficult parts are to get for the CX 500, but since it's a Honda and they made them for several years I suspect that parts would not be a problem. There are several parts houses that do business on the internet so you have access to a much wider field of suppliers than years ago. Honda also made a CX 650 that was basically the same bike with the engine beefed up a bit. Check out the website "Bikez.com" for years of production and spec's for a variety of bikes.

Personally at the price you mentioned, providing the bike runs and rides well, seems like you can't go wrong. I enjoyed my CX 500 and found it to be a comfortable and reliable bike, but when riding with others on twisty roads I couldn't keep up; had plenty of power but it just didn't handle the curves at the speed the others could.

JR

dean owens · Mon Jul 09, 2007 5:25 am

i have a gl650 and it's my first bike. maybe i'm just honeymooning but i like it a lot. it's probably a bigger bike than i would have picked for my first bike but i'm happy i have it. personally, everything i've read about these bikes says they are solid. if it's been taken care of, 11k is pretty lite in the milage department and you have many more miles to go on it before you have any major concerns. and 750 is a pretty good price in my opinion.

here is a site i frequent that is dedicated to these bikes. drop in and ask some questions.

http://choppercharles.com/cs/

personally, i'd go for it.