Honda engineering-tough to beat (limited GC)

[paul in rochester]

For reasons too dreary to go into now, the Jackal is giving me fits, and I've not the time to properly dive down the rabbit hole.
But wait-the back corner of the garage has my old '83 GL650, that herself has north of 80k on her. She's not been run for, what-15 years?
Maybe....

Roll her out, add oil, check the antifreeze, open the petcock (I DID drain the carbs dry), connect a battery.
Crank.
In less than two minutes, she's settled down to a normal idle. Incredible.
And while it's not the Goose, it IS riding.

Now to change the brake fluid and final drive oil, and gingerly head out. For what it's worth, the tires aren't dry rotted or checked that I can see.

It's a start.

[kballowe]

Interesting.

Let us know how it went.

 

[faffi]

Impressive what these old things can muster 

[cookiemech]

Yeah, just MIGHT be a reason that Honda is the #1 motorcycle company in the world.

[Huzo]

Yes…
They are as reliable as a wooden spoon or plastic bucket, for good reason.

[Gustav]

I had 4 Honda cx's, gl's, bullet-proof. My other bike is a 2013 Honda SilverWing scooter, get on and go. Paul

[Huzo]

 Japanese bikes ask for nothing and give you exactly the same in return.
Italian bikes demand everything and give you exactly the same in return.

[guzziart]

Japanese bikes ask for nothing and give you exactly the same in return.

Except value for the money, reliability & longevity.

[chuck peterson]

Well there are exceptions to that rule, Huzo…either of these two will respond if flogged mercilessly to just below redline

[vintagehoarder]

Have an 81 CX500 that doesn't get ridden much, call it old reliable!!

[s1120]

Well there are exceptions to that rule, Huzo…either of these two will respond if flogged mercilessly to just below redline

I had a RD400 for years, and it was a amazing bike, that was packed full of all the feels. She loved hitting the tight back roads in the mountains!  Also the old CB400F has to be one of the best looking of all the old UJM bikes!

[SIR REAL ED]

Japanese bikes ask for nothing and give you exactly the same in return.
Italian bikes demand everything and give you exactly the same in return.

There are those who crave high maintenance bikes like they crave high maintenance women.

I figure they reap what they sow.  I never try to save them from themselves.   

As the saying goes:  "If you want it bad, you're gonna get it... bad!"

[SIR REAL ED]

Have an 81 CX500 that doesn't get ridden much, call it old reliable!!

Yep.  Super reliable machines, but they came out during the performance & HP wars among the Big Four and therefore did not sell well.  I always thought the CX650E was the nicest looking model.  But never sold in the US.

People have made some exceptionally nice looking customs out of the Honda CX models.

[faffi]

My first full-size motorcycle was a CX500, the standard model from 1978. In all its iterations, by 1982 Honda had sold well over 300,000 CX500 and its siblings globally, a huge success. How many more got sold in 1983 in either 500 or 650 form is hard to tell, but a conservative estimate would set the final production number at at least 350.000 units combined over all versions. It was replaced by the VT500 in 1983, which is still in production today in the form of the VT750. The 52-degree V-twin was also used as platform for the Transalp 600/650/700, Deauville 650/700, the NT400/600/650 and more.

Today, I would not want to own either of them, but I was hung up on the standard CX500 for a long time.

[egschade]

FortNine just did a piece on the Honda Silverwing that was both informative and entertaining. Made me appreciate the bike more than before.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeT6WIt4cVc

[Wayne Orwig]

Wish my 83 Honda was reliable.

Looks like I need to pull the head yet again. Once it lost compression because a valve seat had fallen out of the head. I think this time the rings are simply stuck on the POS.

It has about 15,000 miles on it, so it is shot.

[sdcr]

I’ve owned shaft drive Honda’s, Like the CX  as well as shaft drive BMW’s.
It’s perplexing how Honda, who came later to the shaft drive design, can make one that easily last 100,000’s of miles.
But, BMW, exclusively using shaft drive for decades, can’t design a reliable system.
Rant over.

[Stevex]

Japanese bikes ask for nothing and give you exactly the same in return.

I'd have to disagree there. My Honda CB1300 gives me a huge amount of pleasure, both riding and mechanic-ing on it.
It gets a fair amount of tlc, but no more than the Guzzi, Ducati or Aprilia in my garage get, the fact that it asks for so little just confirms the excellent build quality that Honda put in to their bikes.

[Tusayan]

It used to be that Japanese bikes were complex, disposable devices that epitomized planned obsolescence.  European bikes were meanwhile simple, practical machines that came with real tool kits, were sold by less corporate organizations and were designed to be maintained for a lifetime.

How the world turns - the European manufacturers like BMW, Piaggio and KTM with their dealer only service lights and often non-existent service manuals are now more Japanese than the Japanese, except in the positive sense and in 2023 Honda makes a product that I think you could more successfully plan to ride and maintain for a lifetime.

[twowheeladdict]

Yeah, just MIGHT be a reason that Honda is the #1 motorcycle company in the world.

Couldn't be because they sell more small displacement motorcycles than any other major brand?

I just looked it up and Harley Davidson is the number 2 motorcycle company in the world.

https://www.mbaskool.com/fun-corner/top-brand-lists/17638-top-10-bike-companies-in-world.html#:~:text=Rank%201.-,Honda,leading%20positions%20in%20automotive%20industry.&text=At%20present%2C%20the%20company%20has,countries%20with%2033%20production%20plants.

[guido guzzi]

 Honda makes a great lawn mower. 

[faffi]

I definitely prefer Japanese motorcycles, but I have also owned a BMW, a few Triumphs and now ride a Guzzi. I had actually decided to buy a Honda, but when the one I wanted had been sold, I decided to go for the Roamer. The two did not even compete, as they were made for different uses, so it was a bit of an odd choice. I choice I am very happy to have made, because it is a very relaxing motorcycle to be on. But my somewhat upgraded 41 year old Yamaha is outperforming my Guzzi in many areas. It is faster, the suspension is both more comfortable and bottom out less, and there is more cornering clearance. There is also a lot less noise from the drive train. Front brake, though, are a LOT worse, the engine vibrates more and it is a much heavier bike.

[faffi]

This is how my CX looked like

[9fingers]

This is how my CX looked like

That is the best looking one I have seen.
Scott

[9fingers]

I have been a Honda guy all my life and currently have 5 old Honda trials bikes. But they seem to have lost their way, at least in the USA. Their scramblers, CL500, and cruisers, are just butt ugly! I'd like to try an NT1100 but they can't decide if they should import it. And the new 750 Transalp is probably a great ADV bike, but then they go and used tubed rims on it while everyone else (except the butt ugly Suzuki 800) have tubeless rims. I guess Honda and Suzuki are trying to out cheap one another. I suppose the USA bike market just doesn't matter any more. And now I am a Moto Guzzi guy! As far as other Japanese bikes, I do have a 650 V Strom XT and it is an excellent bike, not exciting, no passion, but an excellent bike for travel on roads, paved or not.
Scott

[s1120]

I have been a Honda guy all my life and currently have 5 old Honda trials bikes. But they seem to have lost their way, at least in the USA. Their scramblers, CL500, and cruisers, are just butt ugly! I'd like to try an NT1100 but they can't decide if they should import it. And the new 750 Transalp is probably a great ADV bike, but then they go and used tubed rims on it while everyone else (except the butt ugly Suzuki 800) have tubeless rims. I guess Honda and Suzuki are trying to out cheap one another. I suppose the USA bike market just doesn't matter any more. And now I am a Moto Guzzi guy! As far as other Japanese bikes, I do have a 650 V Strom XT and it is an excellent bike, not exciting, no passion, but an excellent bike for travel on roads, paved or not.
Scott

Same feeling about honda. I really have zero intrest about the whole street bike line. Nothing at all even starts to peak any interest. Well I do kinda like the new 125 trail..  but thats different.

[9fingers]

I actually want a Trail 125! And one of my friends just bought one and when it is properly run in I will give it a go. It has to be a hoot and as I get old that 259 lbs will be easier to handle. They got THAT one right but it is almost a copy of the original.
Scott

[Scout63]

I’m definitely a Euro bike guy, but I love my SR500.  We owe so much to the Japanese for their contributions to motorcycle technology.

And Huzo, you asked quite a bit of that Honda 90 and it gave you that and more.  That level of quiet reliability has its own romanticism.

[Motormike]

While Japanese motorcycles are usually quite reliable (I said usually, read about the DCT Africa Twin transmission failures leaving riders stranded) I find riding one about as exciting as watching paint dry. Fast sewing machines, for the most part.  With the exception of Honda's GB500, can't think of a single one I'd spend my money on.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I've never been a Honda fan, more than a few models seem over-rated to me. That said, like many riders I started out on a series of Z50 Mini-Trails (most bought as "barn finds" and fixed up), and I owned a CL100 when I was 14 and that was great fun. That was my last one except for a CB350F that I "saved" from rotting away under a tarp, and a Z50 that I fixed up - both sold as soon as they were done.

Honda has made a few models over the years that have appealed to me: I considered buying a leftover VFR1000R in '86 instead of a Le Mans 1000, I'd like to try an NT650 Hawk GT and GB500. Lately I've become quite interested in the 2023 XR150L - the simplicity and low cost are appealing to me.