'81 CX500...Round 2?
- Thread starter GoBears0305
- Start date
GoBears0305
Been Around the Block
sharperdill said:
Thanks for all the positive comments. I'll check on the tire sizes when I get some daylight.
It's kinda like the "onion" analogy...especially with this bike. There were just layers and layers (and layers) of crap (no offense to the PO's) that just had to be pealed back. And underneath it all is actually a pretty unique bike...transverse mounted twin, drive shaft, AWESOME tank, and even the radiator (plan on polishing up the brass portion and letting it patina over time)...all features that should be highlighted and appreciated. Plus the CX motor just has a reputation of being bullet proof.
I'm just happy all the pieces are falling in place.
GoBears0305
Been Around the Block
Re: '81 CX500...Round 2? - Seat all mocked up
Used the cardboard pieces as a template and cut it all out from sheet metal. Now it's ready to take to the welder to just put together! I kept the "H" section of the seat to maintain rigidity.
Gonna wait for the seat to come back before i start reshaping the foam.
Used the cardboard pieces as a template and cut it all out from sheet metal. Now it's ready to take to the welder to just put together! I kept the "H" section of the seat to maintain rigidity.
Gonna wait for the seat to come back before i start reshaping the foam.
fastcat14
Active Member
looking great so far. a 1980 CX500 is my daily rider, they are great bikes. I used to think that the cafe CX500s didnt look "right", mostly because of the comstar wheels. however, with the look you are going for they seem to fit the bill nicely. looking forward to following as you go.
boomshakalaka
Over 1,000 Posts
fastcat14 said:
Im a fan of spoked wheels for cafes too, but I think comstars definitely can be pulled off. And when they are done right it really helps the bike stand apart from the other cafes out there. That being said, I really think the 78's 18" rear looks a thousand times better than the smaller rear from later years.
heres a shot of the larger '78 wheel
GoBears0305
Been Around the Block
Re: '81 CX500...Round 2? new battery box mock up
Got my seat and frame back from the welder.
-Frame is all cleaned up of excess mounts, tabs, etc etc and should be ready for powdercoating.
-Seat is all tacked together, just need to cut out a bit so it fits over the shock mounts and levels out with the frame and tank.
Unfortunately, gonna have to remake the battery box. The first one was meant for a different exhaust setup (2 to 2). But now I have to clear the 2-1 exhaust. There will be plenty of clearance with the new box, so no worries about the battery and heat from the exhaust. It mounts where the old H-box/ collector used to be. I like the idea of shifting the weight (probably a good 10 lbs) to a lower center of gravity. Will this do anything for handling? I don't really know, but to me it's different and looks pretty damn cool.
Got my seat and frame back from the welder.
-Frame is all cleaned up of excess mounts, tabs, etc etc and should be ready for powdercoating.
-Seat is all tacked together, just need to cut out a bit so it fits over the shock mounts and levels out with the frame and tank.
Unfortunately, gonna have to remake the battery box. The first one was meant for a different exhaust setup (2 to 2). But now I have to clear the 2-1 exhaust. There will be plenty of clearance with the new box, so no worries about the battery and heat from the exhaust. It mounts where the old H-box/ collector used to be. I like the idea of shifting the weight (probably a good 10 lbs) to a lower center of gravity. Will this do anything for handling? I don't really know, but to me it's different and looks pretty damn cool.
GoBears0305
Been Around the Block
Re: '81 CX500...Round 2? Heart Transplant arrived
So I got my carburetors back today. I took the dive and sent them off to Larry (very well known on the chopper charles CX forum). All the worn parts were replaced, everything sonic cleaned, bowls and other bits polished, everything synced and tested, and ready to go! As much as I would want to do it myself, I don't have the equipment nor the experience to get these kind of results ($hit, i don't even have a garage).
I'm super psyched to get these installed. Only problem is...the rest of the bike is in pieces. BUT now i'm very motivated to at least bolt everything back onto the motor and fire it up.
So I got my carburetors back today. I took the dive and sent them off to Larry (very well known on the chopper charles CX forum). All the worn parts were replaced, everything sonic cleaned, bowls and other bits polished, everything synced and tested, and ready to go! As much as I would want to do it myself, I don't have the equipment nor the experience to get these kind of results ($hit, i don't even have a garage).
I'm super psyched to get these installed. Only problem is...the rest of the bike is in pieces. BUT now i'm very motivated to at least bolt everything back onto the motor and fire it up.
boomshakalaka
Over 1,000 Posts
Staffy said:
ya, those are tits.
GoBears0305
Been Around the Block
Re: '81 CX500...Round 2? New legs
Picked up an '81 CB900F front end today. My first front end swap didn't work out because I had too many pieces from different models. But this is a complete front end and will move me from a single 1-piston caliper and 33mm forks, to dual 2-piston caliper and 39mm forks. And I like the idea of keeping it from the same era.
CX500 front:
CB900F front:
Picked up an '81 CB900F front end today. My first front end swap didn't work out because I had too many pieces from different models. But this is a complete front end and will move me from a single 1-piston caliper and 33mm forks, to dual 2-piston caliper and 39mm forks. And I like the idea of keeping it from the same era.
CX500 front:
CB900F front:
thompsonmx100
Over 1,000 Posts
Looks good. i really like the way this bike is turning out. I am impressed at how good a cx can really look.
GoBears0305
Been Around the Block
;D Thanksthompsonmx100 said:
GoBears0305
Been Around the Block
Staffy said:
I'll be sure to take plenty of photos. I first tried a CB900C fork setup with a GL1000 triple (I think a '78). The triple is supposed to be a direct swap for the CX, and it can accept the 37mm forks of the CB900C. And the CB900C also has dual 2-piston calipers. But I never got around to it and ended up selling all the parts.
Next on the list...pick up new clip-ons, brake master cylinder, stainless brake lines, pads, caliper pistons, etc etc
haha it's like it never ends...
GoBears0305
Been Around the Block
bikeboy said:
The wheel is the same, but it was painted over in flat black. But both front and rear wheel are going to get powder coated anyways, so I didn't mind the paint.
GoBears0305
Been Around the Block
Got to fitting the CB900F front end and ran into a little snag..the steering stops. I ended up cutting the lower stop from the frame (and keeping the stop on the triple). Should be easy enough to weld new stops back onto the neck of the frame.
Snag 2...bearing sizes are different in height and width (but they have the same inner diameter...woohoo). I need to be able to use CX500 bearings on a CB900 stem. But more good news is that the distance on the stem between the bearings on both bikes is 5cm. All I need is a 2.4mm tall washer to press in before pressing in the lower bearing to make up for the slightly shorter CX500 bearing (14.4mm) vs. CB900 bearing (17mm). ehhh the bearings would need to be replace anyways.
despite these 2 small snags, i'm giddy that it's fitting together. You can see the rough cut where I removed the lower steering stop.
<img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_QyRp90QRE_w/S7wfhNeKzEI/AAAAAAAABno/mfoidtCGRvQ/s720/DSC_0006.JPG"></img>
<img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_QyRp90QRE_w/S7wf2odFLlI/AAAAAAAABns/oH1uzOENR1s/s720/DSC_0005.JPG"></img>
Snag 2...bearing sizes are different in height and width (but they have the same inner diameter...woohoo). I need to be able to use CX500 bearings on a CB900 stem. But more good news is that the distance on the stem between the bearings on both bikes is 5cm. All I need is a 2.4mm tall washer to press in before pressing in the lower bearing to make up for the slightly shorter CX500 bearing (14.4mm) vs. CB900 bearing (17mm). ehhh the bearings would need to be replace anyways.
despite these 2 small snags, i'm giddy that it's fitting together. You can see the rough cut where I removed the lower steering stop.
<img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_QyRp90QRE_w/S7wfhNeKzEI/AAAAAAAABno/mfoidtCGRvQ/s720/DSC_0006.JPG"></img>
<img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_QyRp90QRE_w/S7wf2odFLlI/AAAAAAAABns/oH1uzOENR1s/s720/DSC_0005.JPG"></img>
GoBears0305
Been Around the Block
Staffy said:
So far it is a straight bolt-on, except for modifying the steering stops. I'll be using CX500 tapered roller bearings on the CB900 stem. The difference size between the CX's and the CB900's:
CB900F
Upper: 26 x 47 x 15
Lower: 30 x 55 x 17
CX500
Upper: 26 x 48.5 x 15.2
Lower: 30 x 50 x 14.4
There's a 2.4mm difference in height between the CB's and the CX's lower bearings, so I just need to fit a washer below the bearing before I press it in to make up that difference. Other than that, it mates up to the frame just fine!!!
