CX500 - will this project ever happen?

[ScrapMetal]

Re: CX500 - engine work has begun... slowly

Ahhh, the title issue. My first CX500 was titled in NC, and then got lost, needless to say, I almost gave up too. Like you, I found a titled CX to use, of course it had a blown engine, but the rest was pretty pristine (9,000 miles).

Looking forward to your progress now. I'm about 2 weeks out from getting dirty and swapping/fabbing all sorts of stuff. So you do the hard work for me and figure some $h^t out!!!

 

[dean owens]

Re: CX500 - engine work has begun... slowly

well, i found a cx500 on craigslist for a few bucks and was just going to part it out. but once i got it it looks pretty good for it's age. i was stuck... should i just build it up and sell all my parts i've amassed or stick to the plan and sell off parts to fund my project? hmmm. then my wife jokingly said, "you're going to build two bikes aren't you?" i hadn't even thought about that... until she said it. actually makes a lot of sense. i'll be able to use the newly aquired bike to make sure i'm putting everything on correctly since it's been a while since i started stripping stuff off.

this weekend i spent time getting some milk crates to make my "lift" and cleaning my area up so i could get cracking. it's going to be slow but it looks like there will be movement. i'll be out of town this weekend, but i plan on doing a little work each weekend i can starting mid to late august. i'll try and get some pictures up later of my newest purchase and "lift".

 

[ScrapMetal]

Slow going is the word around my garage! Just when I thought is was safe to go in the water my forks gave me trouble. Hope your build(s) are smoother.

Funny when someone says something at the right time, isn't it. I love my wife too, she suggested I start buying "good" tools since I'm always doing something, , , , that's dangerous!

So what's your thoughts for your CX then? Rat, Rod, Cafe, Frankencutter?

 

[dean owens]

ewww, haven't reached the point where my wife tells me to go get nice tools. i'll have to write that down if it ever happens.

so here's a picture of the build site and the two bikes.

First, I need to build my platform for my work table. Already have the wood, just need to level the ground and screw everything together. Then I need to track down two decent covers to keep the bikes protected as I'm working on them.


Now onto the bikes. I'll start with bike B in the background. I'm not going to do much to it. The plans are...
the first is a must
- replace camshaft and get it running
-- clean carbs if I have to
From there I'll decide if I want to do anything else to it. My thoughts are...
cosmetics starting from the front and working my way back
- put GL500I forks with a GL1000 front rim
- polish the calipers, paint the fork lowers black and paint the rims black
- put a "standard" headlight and some better turn signals
- replace the bars with something closer to drag bars with a little bit of a rise
- not sure of the color but I'd like to paint it (maybe)
- replace side covers with a set from a custom
- keep the stock exhaust but get some new cans... mainly because one of these is rusted out.
- not sure how, but I'd really like to update the seat and rear fender
All in all, I really don't want to do much to this bike. I'd just like to fix it up a bit and make it look a little better. Minimum work to turn around and sell it.



Bike A is where I'm going to try and let my ideas come out.
- FZ6 front end
- clubman bars
- remove airbox
- I'd really like to get a GL1100 rear rim on it
- rear hugger
- not sure about the exhaust, but not stock
- custom rear sets
- black engine with some parts polished
- if I can find a 650 clutch I'd like to drop one of those in
- "cafe" seat that follows the lines of the frame
- typical empty look under the seat (so I have to figure out where to hide the battery and electrics)
- still can't decide on a color


Now I just have to find the time to do it all :

 

[82COG]

Keep it coming. Helps motivate me! I am waiting on my carbs to get back in and hope to have mine up and going. Good luck.

 

[ScrapMetal]

Don't know if I've listed these guys already or not, but I ran into them at a bike show. Their product looked incredible in person. They had a super sweet black/white custom cafe seat, leather or vinyl on display. The lady I spoke to said they take your existing seat pan and build up from there. Like I said, I was VERY impressed with their work. She said that seat would have been around $250 I think. A little steep maybe, but well worth it in my book.

http://www.pirateupholstery.com/


Of course, I had already purchased my seat from Roc City, which I am thrilled with, but still have to attach the fabbed seat frame and paint/upholster it. So in the end, maybe the $250 wouldn't be so bad?