View Full Version : Restoring the Streetbike.....Nearing the end!!!
300rman
02-20-2010, 09:25 PM
its a 1980 Honda CX500. i get a LOT of looks and questions with this bike. EVERYONE notices it, and the sideways cylinders, and pretty much the whole thing in general. its definitely an antique now, and it runs like a trailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro CHAMP. figured best thing i can do is repaint it and make sure it is still mechanically sound all around. All my buddies diss on it cause its not a Harley, but when we go somewhere, even in its ragged state, people always ask ME about MY bike.
I have already converted the mechanical fan to an electric fan, controlled by a 170 degree thermostatic switch. If you own one of these bikes, it is HANDS DOWN the best upgrade you can do.
here it is before
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/100_0535.jpg
Labeling the harness plugs as i disassemble
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/101_1067.jpg
minus seat, tank, grab bar
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/101_1069.jpg
Minus the radiator and motor
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/101_1070.jpg
color scheme gets decided tomorrow. was going to paint it with auto paint, but with being such small parts, i can get just as good a finish out of a Spray bomb job.
deciding between red/black, yellow/black, yellow/purple, and black/green. it all is going to depend on the shades of colors i find. i want something different that stands out, hence the yellow/purple. a few cars ive seen that are yellow/purple based look killer, so i think in a bike it would be sweet, provided i can find appropriate shades.
any suggestions or criticism is welcomed!
300rman
02-20-2010, 09:26 PM
Well, here she is down to the frame
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/101_1072.jpg
Swinger primed
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/101_1073.jpg
Center stand finished.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/101_1075.jpg
ran into problems with the swinger while i was spraying....nothing ever goes smoothly!
code200k
02-21-2010, 12:53 AM
thats a cool motor set up.. how is it to work on it though?
300rman
02-21-2010, 12:16 PM
havent had to work on it much yet. but everything is pretty simple to get at, besides the carbs, those are a project to get at.
aldochina
02-21-2010, 01:39 PM
nice! i almost bought a cx 500 awhile back. very cool bikes, and pretty reliable too. def unique motor setup. I ended up going with a 750 magna instead. look forward to following your progress man.
atcrider1
02-21-2010, 08:36 PM
someone needs to put a cx motor in a 250sx,
neat bike by the way
300rman
02-22-2010, 01:14 AM
someone needs to put a cx motor in a 250sx,
neat bike by the way
that would be too heavy. taking the motor from the frame to the ground took every bit of what i had. it has to weigh 150 or better. I can get 120 off the ground fairly easily.....not to mention the whole setup is massive in size
ATC-Eric
02-22-2010, 08:45 PM
Really cool bike. Progressing pretty fast!
If it were my bike, I would ditch the windshield, and sissy bar. Just my taste............. Would make it look more sporty. Thats all the criticism I can offer, otherwise your ideas are going to work out good.
300rman
02-22-2010, 10:21 PM
Really cool bike. Progressing pretty fast!
If it were my bike, I would ditch the windshield, and sissy bar. Just my taste............. Would make it look more sporty. Thats all the criticism I can offer, otherwise your ideas are going to work out good.
I actually added the sissy bar, fabbed it myself out of some scrap. The girlfriend loves being able to lean on it,shes a lot less sore. plus, it makes me more comfortable knowing she cant slide off the back.
as for the windshield, for around town, i would agree, but going down the E-Way, the wind really gets irritating, not to mention the substantially fewer bugs you eat :)
ATC-Eric
02-23-2010, 12:27 PM
Yeah I understand they are very functional. Thats why its hard to give that sort of criticism........
300rman
02-24-2010, 03:23 AM
Yeah I understand they are very functional. Thats why its hard to give that sort of criticism........
Yes sir, but its always great to hear what other people think, it helps to look at stuff a different way.
yammer hammer
02-24-2010, 07:19 AM
nice bike man shell be nice when you get er all done.
300rman
02-27-2010, 07:25 PM
Frame done
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/101_1084.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/101_1081.jpg
tonight or tomorrow, I will be re-installing the swingarm and kickstand, then it will slowly get re-assembled, painting and cleaning pieces along the way
Kerick
02-27-2010, 08:29 PM
lookin good
300rman
02-28-2010, 02:36 AM
More progress tonight
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/101_1088.jpg
300rman
03-06-2010, 12:14 AM
I got the decals a few days ago. here they are. the big one is fo the top of the tank, the 2 Monster's are for the sides, and the 2 smaller M's are for the side panels. all decals will go over a black base, underneath the clear coat. the second pic is what the material looks like........its like SEX, the pic doesnt do it justice.
Stay tuned for the gauges.....i already have the plates mailed off to my guy to work his magic. I will be mailing 9 parts out to be polished. that will halt most assembly until I get the carbs back. In the meantime, i will be cleaning parts, and painting small pieces.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/101_1095.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/101_1096.jpg
Vealmonkey
03-06-2010, 12:53 AM
Customizing a CX500. Not too many people have done that. And you don't need to put a CX500 engine into a trike, Honda did that years ago. It just wouldn't work too well off road. Honda did it after Harley ceased production of their servicars in 1973. I don't know how many years Honda made their police trike for though. Way more modern looking than the venerable old servicar. And the engine was way modern than the Harley engine which had been designed in the 30s. I don't think the Honda trikes caught on that well though. You see way more Harley servicars than you see of the Honda trikes.
300rman
03-10-2010, 02:08 AM
Well, the parts are done, getting shipped back to me tomorrow.
Before and after. THANKS G_KING!!!
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/workpartsmarch10002.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/workpartsmarch10004.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/workpartsmarch10005.jpg
300rman
03-12-2010, 11:40 PM
As promised, here is a sneak peek at the tach gauge. the green will be reflective, like my other decals.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/Tach-1.jpg
300rman
03-14-2010, 03:43 AM
It seems the pic isnt showing for 90% of people, so i re-formatted and re-uploaded it. the colors arent as bright. but the green will be the same as the reflective material used on the other decals.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/Tach2.gif
300rman
03-14-2010, 03:45 AM
Today's progress
Handlebars and all other chrome parts were scrubbed with a Brillo pad. they are as clean as they will come.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/101_1120.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/101_1119.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/101_1118.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/101_1117.jpg
300rman
04-07-2010, 06:11 PM
Motor is in, other adds and ends buttoned up.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/101_1144.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/101_1143.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/101_1142.jpg
Xpress
04-07-2010, 09:28 PM
Looking great! :)
300rman
04-08-2010, 12:46 AM
Oh....valve covers and starter end caps. Thanks G-King!
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/workpartsheadpc006.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/workpartsheadpc007.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/workpartsheadpc008.jpg
dcreel
04-08-2010, 07:43 PM
What is the color you used for the frame and where did you get it?
nice job man, its gunna look hella better!!
300rman
04-21-2010, 06:12 PM
Here are some updated pix. ive been working on it slow as heck, i cant stop riding the dirt bike lmao.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/100_1183.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/100_1184.jpg
THE GAUGES ARE FINISHED!!!!!!
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/100_1187.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/100_1188.jpg
300rman
05-23-2010, 12:27 AM
FINALLY! an UPDATE! i ran into problem after problem after problem doing the tank, then i had to tear the motor back out and back apart......ive done everything on most of this project 3 times.
not quite done yet, still have to paint the other turn signal, put the headlight in, put the windshield on and fab up mounting for the new seat (old seat pictured)....but thats about it.
The covers got a little dusty, that isnt crud in the paint.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/100_1193.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/100_1194.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/100_1195.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/100_1197.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/100_1196.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/100_1198.jpg
SWIGIN
05-23-2010, 04:53 AM
WOW!
I LOVE the gauges, did you come up with that or is it a decal kit?
Looks great!
atc350xer
05-23-2010, 09:17 AM
wow! what a difference! looks great man!
300rman
05-23-2010, 12:45 PM
WOW!
I LOVE the gauges, did you come up with that or is it a decal kit?
Looks great!
i drew them up and had them made.
aldochina
06-04-2010, 10:21 PM
coming along awsome. Gonna be one sweet custom cx. lotsa bling thanks to Greg huh!! Is the paint a deep purple, or is it black? You gonna go with black seat, or are you incorperating the monster logo into the vinyl?
Thorpe
06-04-2010, 10:56 PM
I think you should black out the fenders to match the tank and side covers... (just IMO)
300rman
06-05-2010, 04:28 AM
the seat is black, its just 30 years old lol. ive got a new seat that is going on, but i have to get the bike out somewhere so i can fab up new mounts. I had it on the road for one lousy day......and back apart it came....oil leak and something came apart in the trans......never ends. ive had the motor in and out 8 times through the courrse of this project for never ending coolant and oil leaks. oh, and the trans shifting linkage is real tricky to get the rear cover back on without it flying apart.....didnt know this until....you guessed it, i got raped.
The tank is black, its just so black that any seat looks dull in comparison.
Yep, Greg polished quite a few parts on there, i'm real happy with his services.
heres how she sat before it got tore back down.....
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n313/NightBiker07/CX%20500/100_1399.jpg
aldochina
06-05-2010, 10:35 AM
looks killer man!! Hopefully you get all the kinks worked out, and start to enjoy the open road on it!! atleast with all that clean, and bling its gotta be easy to spot the leaks!! Lol
300rman
06-05-2010, 12:34 PM
nope. this leak is elusive. it only leaks when running, ut it is leaking in a way that "mists" the whole front of the motor. it isnt dripping. and the radiator keeps me from closer inspection while running.
aldochina
06-05-2010, 01:55 PM
we'll dont give up man, youve come so far with it.
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