[revtune]

Well, I'm new to the boards here, and just thought I'd take a minute to say hello. I've been around motorcycles most of my life, and I've always had a special place for the cafe bikes.

Well, my family owns a motorcycle dealership and I recently picked up a 1981 Honda CX500C. Such an oddball bike, but I got it cheap and it was clean. I'm now beginning a project on it to turn it into a cafe bike, and I'm very excited.

Well, wish me luck, and I'll get some pics posted up of it soon.

 

[Geeto67]

Turbo that bitch.

Welcome abord.

Edited by - Geeto67 on Jan 31 2007 01:05:36 AM

 

[revtune]

quote:
Turbo that bitch.

Welcome abord.

Edited by - Geeto67 on Jan 31 2007 01:05:36 AM

I think it would be awesome to aquire the turbo system from the CX500T, and if the opportunity arrises, I will. But, at this point, I need to get the look down. As of right now, I'm working on the handlebars, and it's proving to be a hairpuller. The master cylinder wont fit on the bars I've chosen, so I need to source a different one, and the cables are WAY too long now.

I plan on getting the bike together, and then stripping it down for paint and polishing. So, it's gonna' be a long term project, but one that should be unique, since the CX isn't usually a bike that is modified (or at least that I've seen).

 

[jbranson]

The CX Turbo was a really cool bike...one of the oddest of the odd...and TURBO...gotta love that.

My father had a CX500 for a while. From what I've heard the freakin things will run for a million years.
JohnnyB

 

[Geeto67]

revtune,

you are in midland texas so it is kind of a drive, but in new orleans there is a cycle salvage yard that has a cx500 trubo that took a huge front end hit. Most of it seems to be there still but it has been a couple of months since I have seen it. I know he has racks of those cool as hell gold turbo wheels which I think would be killer on any bike (I plan on using a set on my cb900f).

What kind of bars did you pick (please don't say clubmans). here is my suggestion, shit can clubmans for now and go with a drag bar or a superbike bar (purple haze racing makes a stainless steel 2" rise pro stock bar that looks killer too). Until you get rearsets clubmans will be a pain to ride and drag bars can still have that low sleek overall effect (and it is easier to mount the controls to).

if you don't think a cafe bike will work with drag bars see the honda boys post where my cb750F runs drag bars because they were way more comfortable than clipons (which will go back on once the raask rearsets get here).

 

[revtune]

I actually took a set of Renthal kid motorcross bars. And then flipped them backwards and upside down. I don't know what style that would be, because I've seen a few others like that. Because of the way the headlight mounts, I can't run clip ons, but these bars are only temporary anyways.

And yes, I've thought about getting the turbo wheels, because they look alot better than the Comstars. Tonight I'm going to go look at a tank from a CL450, that looks like it might have the right style that I need. Instead of the teardrop tank that comes stock on it.

 

[revtune]

quote:
The CX Turbo was a really cool bike...one of the oddest of the odd...and TURBO...gotta love that.

My father had a CX500 for a while. From what I've heard the freakin things will run for a million years.
JohnnyB

My bike is the CX500C, non turbo. I wish it were turbo, but it's still cool.

From what I've read, they were a pretty popular bike in Europe, and sold very well. And from my reading, it seems that they do run forever.



Edited by - revtune on Jan 31 2007 2:25:52 PM

 

[fuzzybutt]

i just got an 80' cx500 deluxe for free, gonna cafe it. i've already made some crazy looking pipes for it.

some people are like slinkies, basically useless but they still make me smile when i push them down the stairs

 

[mikeinnh]

quote:
revtune,

(purple haze racing makes a stainless steel 2" rise pro stock bar that looks killer too).

I don't know about the handlebar, but Purple Haze Racing is great to deal with. Ron is a real enthusiast and a great guy. He specializes in Kawasaki triples. I delt with him quite a bit when I had my H-2 and the customer service was always first rate.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

 

[Geeto67]

quote:

quote:
revtune,

(purple haze racing makes a stainless steel 2" rise pro stock bar that looks killer too).

I don't know about the handlebar, but Purple Haze Racing is great to deal with. Ron is a real enthusiast and a great guy. He specializes in Kawasaki triples. I delt with him quite a bit when I had my H-2 and the customer service was always first rate.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Ron passed away a couple of years ago, Laurie runs it now andf she's a sweetheart.


I just got a set of PHR stainless prostock bars and they are awsome.

Edited by - Geeto67 on Jan 31 2007 7:33:53 PM

 

[revtune]

Well, the more I work on the bike, the more it comes apart. Tonight I decided I'd go through the carbs (25 years), and man were they trashed. I'm amazed it ran (and ran well). I have new gasket sets ordered, amazingly still available from Honda, and they are definitely needed. I also pulled all of the cables so I can mix and match some cables for the right lengths. All in all everything is looking good.

The one thing I dislike about working on older bikes, is finding all of the parts that need replaced. Seals, bolts, etc. And with the way I plan on heading with this project, I HAVE to replace these things. It's gonna' eat my pocket book right up. But, all part of the fun I guess.