CX 100 Name

[wirespokes]

Do any of you know the origin of the CX 100 name? I'll bet the CX means something but I can't find it anywhere.

[antmanbee]

 Maybe this,

The drag coefficient (cx).
The Citroen CX20 was named because of this reference.

[Tusayan]

My theory has been that as a US-only model the name came from the distributor, and was modeled on Honda’s CX naming convention for their longitudinal twins.  The 100 part is consistent with V50, V65 etc for contemporary 500 and 650 cc Guzzis.  I have absolutely no proof… but cannot think of anywhere else for CX to have come from.

[faffi]

I cannot recall the reason behind the designation have been revealed. Here is the full Cycle test from when the bike was new, including an official ad https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/moto%20guzzi/moto_guzzi_cx100.html

[guzzisteve]

Maybe this,

The drag coefficient (cx).
The Citroen CX20 was named because of this reference.

I think you got it, wind tunnel tested fairing & lowers. I never heard what it stood for, the CX part.

[Mr Revhead]

My theory has been that as a US-only model the name came from the distributor, and was modeled on Honda’s CX naming convention for their longitudinal twins.  The 100 part is consistent with V50, V65 etc for contemporary 500 and 650 cc Guzzis.  I have absolutely no proof… but cannot think of anywhere else for CX to have come from.

As utterly awesome as the CX 400,500 and 650s were, I don't think so!

[Tusayan]

If you look at the contemporary CX100 brochure, you’ll find that absolutely no mention is made of the aerodynamics. They do mention that it has an oil filter 





I think you’d have to been at or associated with Berliner in 1979 to know for sure. The only guy like that still alive who comes to mind is Reno Leoni.

[moto]

Maybe this,

The drag coefficient (cx).
The Citroen CX20 was named because of this reference.

Assuming the Citroen had a 0.20 drag coefficient (pretty good) the Guzzi CX100 would be claiming a coefficient of 1.0, which is about as aerodynamic as a solid cube facing square to the wind (terrible). Makes no sense to me. Am I missing something?

[wirespokes]

Coefficient of drag is an idea - except I don't think enough people know what that is. And even if they did, there's nothing promoting that it's super slippery.

Now that it's been mentioned, what does the CX stand for in that copycat Honda V twin?

I sure hope this isn't one of those unsolved mysteries.

[faffi]

Now that it's been mentioned, what does the CX stand for in that copycat Honda V twin?

For Honda, C meant four stroke, I think. B meant standard street bike, L meant scrambler, R meant racer, A commuter. I think. The X in the CX and  CBX may have meant tubeless, as these two where Honda's first bikes made to run tubeless tires. None of these things have been officially confirmed by Honda.

[wirespokes]

Thanks for that faffi! All these years later (since the 60s) and you educated me on the name of my old Hondas - and I didn't even know the CB meant anything. I just knew what a CB450 was, and the
CL305. Way cool!

[frozengoose]

I sure hope this isn't one of those unsolved mysteries.

According to Mr Google, this is why (for what it's worth)...

"A Moto Guzzi CX100 is named as such because it is a variant of the "Le Mans" model, with the "CX" signifying a custom version of the bike, and the "100" indicating its 1000cc engine size, designed to compete with larger displacement bikes in the American market; essentially, it's a "custom 1000cc Le Mans" motorcycle."

[moto]

Thanks for that faffi! All these years later (since the 60s) and you educated me on the name of my old Hondas - and I didn't even know the CB meant anything. I just knew what a CB450 was, and the
CL305. Way cool!

Your "CL305" was really a CL77, I believe.

[Groover]

I think the aerodynamics mention may be correct:

https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coefficiente_di_resistenza_aerodinamica

[Groover]

Or maybe this one:

https://forum.animaguzzista.com/viewtopic.php?t=17624&start=60

"CX = moto con motore a V trasversale"

[frozengoose]

Or maybe this one:

"CX = moto con motore a V trasversale"

Well then my search for one is over, since my T would also be a CX!

[wirespokes]

Well then my search for one is over, since my T would also be a CX!

Funny how they went off on the wrong track (reading more down that thread) trying to figure out what SP (Spada - Sword) meant. LOL

Perhaps you're right. C = street, X = special model

That makes the most sense so far.

[Huzo]

Being an Italian bike, could it be a Roman numeral thing ?
C = 100
X = 10
The multiplication of the two terms is implied in mathematics when there is no sign in between, so CX = 1,000
Is it a description of the displacement of 1,000 cc’s….?

[Walton]

Or maybe this one:

https://forum.animaguzzista.com/viewtopic.php?t=17624&start=60

"CX = moto con motore a V trasversale"

They're just having fun...they also say that the wind tunnel designed SP stands for "Super Penetration"  while another says C= street bike
X= off road bike

[Huzo]

They're just having fun...they also say that the wind tunnel designed SP stands for "Super Penetration"  while another says C= street bike
X= off road bike

Hmmm…
I don’t think so, I googled “super penetration” and something else popped up.

[wirespokes]

Hmmm…
I don’t think so, I googled “super penetration” and something else popped up.

Nothing to do with streamlining?

[Tusayan]

Here's another idea about who could likely answer this question.  Take a look at what Seth Dorfler was doing at the time the CX100 was being conceived. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-dorfler-8813436/

Somebody might want to ask him...

https://www.facebook.com/seth.dorfler/

[Tusayan]

I asked Seth myself and unfortunately he doesn’t know the origin of the CX100 name.  Here is his response.  Seth was in charge of marketing at Premier when the CX100 was imported.

“I'm sorry, but I don't know why it was called the CX 100.  As you know Premier imported the LeMans 850 which was a different motor than that of the 1000 SP.  DOT called for the motors to be tested for USA use.  Premier did not want to pay for the testing of two motors, so the LeMans body was fitted with the SP motor and called the CX 100”

He added:

"Both Michael and Joe Berliner are no longer with us.  These are the two people who would have named the machine"

It may also have been decided in Italy.  I guess the origin of the name may be lost to history…

[Guzzistajohn]

Never gave it much thought, however I do like it when I'm asked "Is that 100 CC's?"

[testa_di_formaggio]

“I'm sorry, but I don't know why it was called the CX 100.  As you know Premier imported the LeMans 850 which was a different motor than that of the 1000 SP.  DOT called for the motors to be tested for USA use.  Premier did not want to pay for the testing of two motors, so the LeMans body was fitted with the SP motor and called the CX 100”

Curious, wouldn't the Convert motor and the SP motor be essentially the same performance and component wise? At that rate, the motor would have already been tested, as the Vert was first. Maybe a different cam profile? Awww, forget what I just said. DOT.....

T d F

[wirespokes]

I wonder if the mystery will ever be solved? There must be someone out there after 45 years who knows.

[blackcat]

Personally, I've never liked the name as it never felt like a name that was appropriate for the bike. LeMans 1000 would have been a better choice IMO.

[Moparnut72]

I always think of the Honda CX series of bikes when this model is mentioned.
kk

[wirespokes]

Yeah, me too. I think of the Honda CX, and the CX in LeMans CX 1000 makes it sound like it's not a real LeMans. Like it's some experimental hybrid.

Maybe that's good - not many produced and sold, so it should make mine more valuable. :-)

[Tkelly]

What’s in a name?