The Japanese Moto Guzzi...

[JJ]

As someone posted, "the Lilac". Check it out.

Yes...and here it is...in all its glory!!

[twowheeladdict]

I owned the CX500s ugly stepsister the GL500 “Silverwing” for a short time.
Woefully underpowered but had a little fun with it.

I've never owned a bike that I thought was woefully underpowered.  Mmm.  My first street bike at 19 years old was a 750cc triple,  It was replaced with a 700cc V-twin, which was replaced with a 500cc I-4, which was replaced with a 400cc thumper.  I guess I went the opposite direction of many riders because my buddies kept telling me I wouldn't be happy unless I bought a 750cc bike.  LOL!  Boy did I fall for that one. 

My Van Van 200 makes like 12 HP and it is perfectly powered for it's intended purpose. 

[zedXmick]

I was really interested in a 1983 650,looked for one for years, finally a local one popped up for sale last summer, even got a test ride on it, thought for sure I would buy it...until I road it. It rode like a 1983 motorcycle...stoppe d like a 1983 motorcycle, and handled like a pig on wheels. It was a well looked after example too. A total letdown. Couldn’t wait to get off the thing.  Cured me of ever thinking about that model again.

[Ncdan]

I still have a soft spot for them. Back in '78 I was riding a 400/4 - a decent commuter for someone of my size & build, but not so good for long distance touring, so looked for something else. Tried the Guzzi dealer - surly lot - "No test rides, No trade ins". And expensive - a factor, being cash poor, as well as time poor, well, poverty stricken, time-wise. With a $1,700 trade in on the brand new $2,200 on the road CX500 Shadow, it was a no brainer. Comfortable seat, especially for long distance (would regularly do 500-600 miles overnight - not so much traffic at night those days), decent commuter, reliable, undemanding. Several years later, it stopped firing on one cylinder - not trusting any motorcycle mechanic, with no garage space and working 70 hour weeks, I set it aside - to get a round tuit later. It's still there, deteriorating. Much later, only a few years back, borrowed a mate's CX for ride around NZ'd South Island. It's NOT a Guzzi. No torque, you have to double the revs you're used to to get anywhere, but still a very comfortable, decent handling, unassuming machine. It won't fire the blood, but it will get you there.

Ran across a chap who said he used to race them. !!! "Do you realise you can reduce the CX's weight by 65kg", he says. A 135kg CX would be interesting.





I've a mate who has picked up a couple of them over the last few years - he recommends the CX650 Euro - a little more punch in it, despite the unfortunate 80's styling, a la Lario.

I had the 82 gl500i and the totally redesigned 83 650, which was actually 674cc and they were no comparison between the two motors or interstate models. The GL650 was a very capable one up tourer and in a pinch two up. It had plenty of power and the torque range was acceptable. Fuel mileage was excellent. Yes, it was a mostly plastic motorcycle but it was quality plastic and almost indestructible, would not break with the same impact that would ruin a steel fender. All in all I found both to be acceptable to have fun on.

[oldbike54]

Yes...and here it is...in all its glory!!

 The Fabulous Miss Julie Newmar rode a Lilac .

 Dusty

[Indypikes]

Magazine road tests from when the turbo CX650T was new list an actual 1/4 mile time of high 11's with good midrange power. Rather portly at 575 pounds....

One of my favorite looking bikes at Barber.......

[paul in rochester]

I still have a GL650; but she's been neglected since the Jackal.
I told the reps from Honda at a rally that if they made an 850 in a standard-ish configuration, I'd buy one sight unseen.

[analog kid]

Since the CX 500 and 650 are pushrod engines they have been making an appearance in the pushrod  classes in land speed racing. They have had a bit of success but the Triumphs ,1930's technology,  still dominate....The Honda is an ok bike however for street use.

not my bikes, just pics I took at bike shows.

note the silver one still has a salt trail up the rad.

[analog kid]

I bought an 81 GL500 Interstate around 2005 so the wife could ride with me. We could have removable luggage and she could have a backrest. I didn't want a Goldwing so the Little Wing was a great compromise. I thought I wouldn't use it much by myself....
Turns out I had a blast on it. It extended my riding season until the snow fell.

It was such fun that when an unfaired GL500 came up for sale near me, I bought that for summer riding.
Then I bought a parts bike previously used as a sidecar tug.
All gone now.

Pics are from 2018 when I recommissioned the stored-for-10-years GL standard, and added the Interstate saddlebags and trunk to make it more saleable.
I loved the convertibility and luggage interchangeability of those bikes. In seconds, you could have saddlebags or not; a solo seat and a short trunk for in-town ; a solo seat and a tall trunk with backrest (which could hold my full-face helmet); or two seats. Or have 2 seats, then install a luggage rack on back and mount the tall trunk to it so the pax has a backrest. Every item latched quickly and securely to the bike.
and no matter what your config - you always had access to two helmet locks. A forgotten item on modern whiz-bangs.

Has any other OEM done that ? Not that I can think of...
I'd buy a modern version of this immediately.

[Tom]

  on the turbo 650

[Bulldog9]

...only liquid-cooled!!!   Brought to you by the folks at BAT (Bring-A-Trailer)

I remember YEARS ago reading a story about a guy who took one of these around the world. Even disassembled it to load in some native canoes to cross a river or something. A cool little bike. If it was air cooled, it may have been on my 'list'

[JJ]

I remember YEARS ago reading a story about a guy who took one of these around the world. Even disassembled it to load in some native canoes to cross a river or something. A cool little bike. If it was air cooled, it may have been on my 'list'

Here is an "air-cooled" 500cc single Honda that now has a HUGE cult following....from BAT (Bring-A-Trailer)

[Tom]

Cool looking bike.  BTT original.

[creaky99]

I still have my '83 GL650, can't seem to part with it.

[Mr Revhead]

Yep I've got two 82 CX500 Customs  7 apart in frame numbers!
Great bikes, although after being on a Guzzi you do need to ring their necks to get anywhere

[Tom]

I think that's what Honda figured out after turbo-charging the 650.  "No replacement for displacement" in the American market. 

[Roebling3]

A very close friend got out of Nam with a dose or 2 of the agent. Getting back into motorcycling he bought an R65. It was too heavy, right away. He stored it and bought the CX 650. It handled better than the bmw, but I doubt it weighed less. When he passed his wife gave the R65 to me.
Having ridden mostly 2 strokes - many with less than 1/2 the displacement, everything was new. Into the R65 after a few years, and thinking I was now respectable(?) I decided a 'Blitz Kit' from some bmw go fast? guy in CA would do the trick. Over bore got it to 855cc's, porting, relieving, huge intake valves, cam, ignition and blue printing, +900cc mufflers made that weenie faster than any air head on the east coast. Big Delortos didn't help much though. I knew there would be much less low speed power but the top end was very cool. My son swapped them out for Mikuni's. Nice ride! Silly amount of top end. Rode it to Toronto, on business.

On the 401East I came upon another bike w/Jersey tags, on an R65! Neither of us would stop turning more on. His engine blew @ maybe 105-10? We were close to Belleville. (Pre-cell phone). My prize was his fuel tank. I had a friend add its' middle to my tank, for more capacity. I used the rear as part of a seat cowl.

BTW: Both rods were wound tight on their respective journals, The cam shaft broke betwixt cam pairs and the timing gear disintegrated. 
BTW II: That engine wound up as the worst choice for a bmw GS.  Still running smooth.     Your Mileage May Vary.   R3~