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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: twowheeladdict on August 02, 2021, 09:19:08 AM

Title: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: twowheeladdict on August 02, 2021, 09:19:08 AM
https://huntsville.craigslist.org/mcy/d/decatur-1980-honda-cx500-custom-cafe/7353036308.html

I think he/she did a good job on the build, but I could buy a lot of bikes out there for this asking price. 
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: Mayor_of_BBQ on August 02, 2021, 09:25:39 AM
I think like 99% of CX builds, this guy dumped a ton of time and money into it and ended up with a 35hp 35yr old bike that looks pretty cool but 'couldnt pull a greased string out of a mule's ass'
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: wrbix on August 02, 2021, 09:36:54 AM
Might make $12k on BaT, but probably not on CL.
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: JJ on August 02, 2021, 09:40:12 AM
Best line to start off the week:  "...but 'couldnt pull a greased string out of a mule's ass"   :laugh: :grin:

Again, agree with the others..."The Japanese Moto Guzzi"  :wink: :thumb: - - only liquid-cooled!

A lovely build... but will take a very special buyer to purchase at $12,000 LARGE! :rolleyes: :shocked: :huh:
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: yogidozer on August 02, 2021, 09:47:33 AM
Would have preferred it was left closer to stock.
Liked the 650 and 500 cc series, but never owned one
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: dxhall on August 02, 2021, 09:51:35 AM
Puzzling to me that someone would put that kind of time and money into a bike which, bluntly, was and is a dog.  If it’s the bike of your dreams, by all means go for it, but don’t think that because you’ve put $12,000 into a bike, it’s worth $12,000.  The market value of a bike is what a buyer is willing to pay for it, not what the seller has spent on it.
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: Snowman on August 02, 2021, 09:56:40 AM
I rode a CX500 in the mid 80's as a dispatch rider in London. We called them Maggots, slow, ugly and void of personality.  Why builders choose this drivetrain for a sports cafe is beyond me.
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: JJ on August 02, 2021, 10:41:29 AM
I rode a CX500 in the mid 80's as a dispatch rider in London. We called them Maggots, slow, ugly and void of personality.  Why builders choose this drivetrain for a sports cafe is beyond me.

"Maggots" - Never heard that one before.... :laugh: :grin: :wink:

"Slow, ugly, and void of personality" - - Geesh...were they really that bad?!?
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: Moparnut72 on August 02, 2021, 11:10:44 AM
I remember when these came out. I think I test rode one but it made such an impression I don't remember.
kk
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: fotoguzzi on August 02, 2021, 11:28:18 AM
won Best of Show at every show it's been entered into including a two time winner at Barber Vintage Bike Festival"

Crazy..
What were they thinking? If they were thinking?
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: guzziart on August 02, 2021, 11:37:01 AM
Don't know why they did it but I think they did a nice job on on it.  Yeah, a lot more invested than maybe it is worth...don't know.  I guess we'll see if it ends up on BaT & goes for some outrageous amount.
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: twowheeladdict on August 02, 2021, 12:03:41 PM
I'll contact the seller and let him know that the consensus here is that he should list it on Bring a Trailer. 

I am not interested in buying it, just thought it was a cool build.

I remember one time I stopped by a car show a long time ago, and talking with one of the guys displaying his creation I got schooled on the difference between, "What do you have in it?" and "What is it worth?". 

I think it is cool that he created it, and won shows with it, but would someone buy something someone else created and enter it in shows?  That would just seem strange to me. 
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: dirtiegirtie on August 02, 2021, 12:14:17 PM
IMHO: It's a gorgeous work of art.

Many people commission custom shops to build the bike of their dreams. If I dreamt of a cafe styled cx500 and was seriously considering having one made, then yeah, I could see paying $12k for one that is already done (assuming it matched the image in my head) and not waiting 2+ years.

It's a very small market he's looking to sell to. But I would assume the market of potential buyers doesn't consider $12k a lot of money.
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: Stevex on August 02, 2021, 12:19:43 PM
"Maggots" - Never heard that one before.... :laugh: :grin: :wink:

"Slow, ugly, and void of personality" - - Geesh...were they really that bad?!?

Actually, I remember it being 'plastic maggots'.
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: SIR REAL ED on August 02, 2021, 01:37:21 PM
Luv it!  There was recently a beautiful custom CX 650 for sale in Norfolk, VA for about $5k IIRC.

Interesting bikes, but heavy and lacking in horsepower.
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: berniebee on August 02, 2021, 02:54:08 PM
 It says in the description that the bike has GSXR600 front fork swap. Just swap the frame and engine from an GSXR600 and you would really have something.
The little CX500 compressor was never meant to fly.
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: Perazzimx14 on August 02, 2021, 03:02:13 PM
i too like it. While not the best choice as a base bike it turned out nicely. It looks like a lot of custom work not just bolting pre-made things on out of the JC Whitney catalog like the Teutul abomination of the 2000's.
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: Zenermaniac on August 02, 2021, 04:02:19 PM
Had one. Not impressed.
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: Frulk on August 02, 2021, 04:04:20 PM
Beautiful bike. Nicely done. He’s got a Shelby on the driveway. $12K is probably a check book error for this gentleman. My daughter would love that bike. She’s still trying to talk me out of the V7R.
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: Stretch on August 02, 2021, 04:34:01 PM
Cool bike.

Lots of nice detail touches.

                          -Stretch
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: ratguzzi on August 02, 2021, 04:51:59 PM
I rode a CX500 in the mid 80's as a dispatch rider in London. We called them Maggots, slow, ugly and void of personality.  Why builders choose this drivetrain for a sports cafe is beyond me.
Then the 850T3 must have really disappointed you! The CX500 had faster 1/4 mile times.
I had a few along with a CX650, that was comparable to any 1100 stock EV I have owned.
JB
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: pete mcgee on August 02, 2021, 05:01:25 PM
I owned a cx 500 for 2 years just before I bought my lemans 3 in 87.
Brillant motor in search of a decent frame and suspension.
Id say hes nailed it.
Will it beat a modern sports bike?  Provably not. But would surprise a lot of them.
Nice build.
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: jwinwi on August 02, 2021, 05:36:08 PM
Looks better than most *custom* CXs I've seen lately but that's not saying much  :evil:. Must be popular with builders because they are cheap and plentiful?
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: sidecarnutz on August 02, 2021, 05:51:49 PM
A 78 CX500 was my first street bike in 1980. I remember it as kinda meh. Smooth, but not a lot of power and just average brakes and suspension. Not a bike I wanted to hold onto.
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: twowheeladdict on August 02, 2021, 06:24:17 PM
A 78 CX500 was my first street bike in 1980. I remember it as kinda meh. Smooth, but not a lot of power and just average brakes and suspension. Not a bike I wanted to hold onto.

Looks like this guy solved all of your complaints about the one you owned.  Obviously this bike also has a higher HP to weight ratio.   :thumb:
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: Canuck750 on August 02, 2021, 07:13:17 PM
I think it’s the nicest CX500 custom I have seen, very well executed. Is it worth $12K? Not to me but it only takes one person who wants it to make a sale. I like customs and built a couple XT and TT500 customs but never came close to recovering my investment. Customs should be done for the love of the work and never to break even.
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: Solorider73 on August 02, 2021, 07:49:19 PM
I’m not much into show bikes, but this one is definitely a nice looking bike.
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: Turin on August 02, 2021, 08:15:47 PM
It's an absolute jewel, but it's also a CX500....
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: paul in rochester on August 02, 2021, 09:08:54 PM
Worth the money? No way in hell.
Drop dead gorgeous, with amazing details? Yep.
Just fitting a spoked rear wheel with a disc to that swingarm would give me fits.

I thought the 650 engine was much better-more torque, still pulled well, had the automatic cam chain tensioner (the only weak spot on the 500, getting past the HP for the power hungry), super easy to work on...
When I was working at a Honda dealer in the 80s, I was jonesing for a CX650E, sold in Canada. Looked like a 650 turbo with a CB1100F fairing. Really thought it was cool.
And, of course, my GL650 got me interested in the engine architecture, which lead me DIRECTLY to my Jackal.
/
(https://i.ibb.co/942JCCx/CX650E.jpg) (https://ibb.co/942JCCx)
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: Scout63 on August 02, 2021, 09:30:25 PM
It’s a gorgeous build.  Now only if he had started with a rat Commando, or GS1100, or Sportster, or GPz550, or ...
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: Kiwi_Roy on August 03, 2021, 12:23:52 AM
I think its great but he should have started off with the Turbo version.
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: Huzo on August 03, 2021, 04:32:12 AM
The old Plastic Maggot...
Again, the workmanship is several levels above me, but the styling is just awful.
The visual mass balance is just off, all front/middle and no rear end, but I guess to someone else it may be just gorgeous.
I cannot buy into the argument that it’s (relative) lack of power is a drawback, I do not think that is the barrier it once was.
It’s the old chestnut, I would much prefer a road going 115 Hp MGS 01 than a 200 Hp Desmosedici.
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: Rough Edge racing on August 03, 2021, 04:53:52 AM
lots of very nice detail work but it sure is ugly, looks like a ironing board sold by fast talking salesman on a TV commercial..
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: Mr Revhead on August 03, 2021, 06:01:43 AM
Wow that is a bit pricey. Some good work has gone into it but.... the exhaust is useless, and as stated it looks a lot faster than it will be!

However there are a few here making some wild claims! The 500 should be good for over 50hp with those carbs, the exhaust however is probably costing a few so who knows.

Any 1100ev that loses out to any CX variant (minus the turbos) needs to see a mechanic. The 500s are great bikes, but a Guzzi 1100 is so much more powerful.... an 883 "sportster" on the other hand....

Also the plastic maggot was the nickname for the original style with that horrible plastic fairing. The Deluxe and Custom didn't have that, thankfully.

Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: dguzzi on August 03, 2021, 09:00:55 PM
 I think Kiwi_Roy got it,  or add nitrous?
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: chuck peterson on August 04, 2021, 03:40:21 AM
But is it fast? Are the details there for action?, or looks?


(https://i.ibb.co/fGshDqh/870-AAE4-D-FB7-C-4-F37-8-B9-E-EAA89-F8-E9-A82.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fGshDqh)
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: Rough Edge racing on August 04, 2021, 06:48:46 AM
There area few well tuned CX Hondas running land speed racing in the pushrod 500 and 650 cc classes dominated by Old British bikes, mostly Triumphs. So far the 1930's technology  Brit turds have held their ground for the most part.
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: larrys on August 04, 2021, 09:01:01 AM
If it was a CX650 Turbo it might be something...
Larry
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: SIR REAL ED on August 04, 2021, 04:11:23 PM
If it was a CX650 Turbo it might be something...
Larry

From what I remember of the 1980's all of the Turbo bikes made by the big four were mistakes.  Probably have some collector's value now.  I recently saw an ad for four Yamaha Seca 650 Turbo's with a $4500 price.

The time tested method of buying two junkers to make one good bike squared!
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: SIR REAL ED on August 04, 2021, 04:13:31 PM
I think it’s the nicest CX500 custom I have seen, very well executed. Is it worth $12K? Not to me but it only takes one person who wants it to make a sale. I like customs and built a couple XT and TT500 customs but never came close to recovering my investment. Customs should be done for the love of the work and never to break even.

I'd like to see some pictures of your XT and TT Yamaha's.

Customs for oneself are a lot more fun if you don't keep track of how much you spend.  Kinda like having children!
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: twowheeladdict on August 04, 2021, 08:43:25 PM

Customs for oneself are a lot more fun if you don't keep track of how much you spend.  Kinda like having children!

...and if you really want grandchildren don't share with your children how much it cost to raise them! 
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: Scout63 on August 05, 2021, 07:45:22 AM
I'd like to see some pictures of your XT and TT Yamaha's.

Customs for oneself are a lot more fun if you don't keep track of how much you spend.  Kinda like having children!

Absolutely. I always keep the slips for my builds but have yet to look at any of them other than to remind me if I replaced something. I could never build a true custom like this since it involves fabrication skills way above my abilities. Also, to be able to visualize a combination that will look great and function is a rare skill.  Restorations require care and skill, but not so much pure free styling.  Sort of like creating high cuisine vs. getting Thanksgiving dinner right.
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: guzzi771 on August 05, 2021, 09:30:14 PM
 :thumb:
Title: Re: What do you think of this CX500 build.
Post by: Snowman on August 06, 2021, 09:06:46 AM
For a work bike in London it did the job. Other than the charging system it was a reliable machine. Lots of bikes in the fleet saw 100,000 miles but it wasn't a bike I would buy for riding enjoyment.
I appreciate the quality of the build on this custom but it is a bit like a body builder with a 2 inch d**k.