Total Motorcycle Community Forums

For those who dont already know I picked up my first bike a few weeks ago.

Its an 80 Honda CX500.

I was thinking about doing some customizing to it and am looking for some ideas.

It currently has a huge windjammer kite and sissy bar on it, I plan on removing both of these and at least putting the stock light and turn signals back on it.

Im not really a cruiser guy so im looking at more of a street fighter or cafe bike than a custom cruiser.

Once the kite is removed off the front I am thinking about switching bars to something like what you would see on a modern standard (dont know what the style is called), it currently wears a nice wide set of cruiser bars.

The paint is in somewhat decent shape, its showing its age and has a few scratches but no road rash on it (the bike has never been dropped at speed, only while parked), definately repainting the tank and sidecovers (the tank is rust free too) just need to decide on a color. The bike also has the CX500 specific engine gaurds that hug the cylinders pretty closely, one of em has a little rash on it from a previous owner dropping it in their driveway, the gaurds actually fit the bike well and I was thinking about having them dechromed and painted to match the tank. was also thinking about dechroming the turn signals and light and painting those to match as well.

The stock seat is in good shape and is pretty comfy so I think I will keep it, might consider having it redone in leather if its not terribly expensive to do so.

The stock exhaust is still on the bike but is wearing out and has some rust on the underside luckily it has no leaks. I am not thrilled with the few selections for exhaust systems on the CX so I was thinking about trying to find someone that might be able to fab up a custom system. the bike happens to be jetted a tad on the rich side so a better flowing exhaust should probably get it about right (stock jetting at 6000 ft = rich). Would like a 2 into 1 with some kind of muffler (maybe a small sportbike can or something like that), straight pipes are too loud for my taste.

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions I would love to hear them.

I have no plans of getting rid of this bike in the near future and it will get ridden a LOT.

I've always thought the CX500 would make a good cafe racer. Probably because I've seen some cool Motto Guzzi cafe's, and the CX is similar in appearance. Have you been to this CX message board? http://www.cxboard.netfirms.com/wwwboard/general/

I highly recommend changing the handlebars. Especially if your current bars are really tall. I went from a 6" rise to a 2.5" rise first. This made a bit of difference but I still felt like I was sitting up too high. I then went to a -1" and this feels about right for me. It gets your weight farther forward and lower, and I feel infinately cooler riding it!





This is my CB400T2. If you like this style, you could easily do something similar with a CX500.

I would need a little more rise than your CB400 as the CX500s triple clamp is lower.

I would prefer a riding position a bit closer to a modern standard (ala a 600 bandit or an SV) leaned slightly forward.

I see you also have the Comstar wheels. Mine has the Comstars but in black.

Where did you get your 2-1 exhaust? I've seen the systems that oldbikebarn has but am not convinced of the build quality.

How well does your CB handle twisties now?

Hey Joe, that looks really cool, sometimes the lesser look, looks better. If JM can acheive somthing similar he will be doing well.

I've had a couple of CX's in the past (20 years ago!) and have recently thought about doing what Joe was talking about. Here are a couple of pics that I was considering before taking it on. The first one is a rough cafe version, the second is a cruiser. I got them from a CX list that is on Yahoo.
Cheers,
High_Side

paint it black.
lower bars are sweet.
oldbikebarn is gold.

I really like the green one. that is pretty much want I want to do with mine. The bars are EXACTLY what I want on mine. I think ill keep my stock seat though, its in good shape, though I might consider an aftermarket seat.

Where can you find Motad exhausts? I have herd of them but only over in europe.

My stock tank is in great shape but its the cruiser style tank that looks exactly like the tank off a shadow. I would love to switch out to the larger tank (if I can find one in good shape).

That would be the tank off of the CX500D. There should be lots of them around. I'm not sure if the CX-Custom and the CX-D share the same frame either so you might want to check in to that.

I've heard that the tank, seat, and bars were the only things changed between the C and D models.

The CX-Custom is a pretty funny looking cruiser with the short wheelbase and shallow rake, and taller seat height. Still rides like any other UJM