Honda CX500 Custom 80's Plastic Maggot gets a Cafe facelift
- Thread starter CUNNINGHAMMER
- Start date
CUNNINGHAMMER
Active Member
Shocks are just as long as the ones that were on the bike. I relocated the shock mounts to a lower position. I am content with everything about the bike for the time being. Still a lot of work to be done. I'll let you all know if I run into issues with the positioning of my swing arm since this seems to be a concern to multiple people. I really havent touched the bike over the past month, it's just too damn hot to work in a 105 degree garage right now. Once the end of august rolls around I believe I will be able to make some progress on it.
50gary
Under the Limelight
It's been 95F here but the humidity is 100% some days and 90% most days!
For your info on shocks I have ZRX Kawasaki 1200R rear shocks and they are 14.25" free length and raise the rear some, not too bad I have had them rebuilt and re-sprung for my bike weight it's 423# total with 50.2%/213# front and 49.8%/210# rear with me on the bike it scaled (Digital race car scales) 46% front and 54% rear. I weigh 170+ gear. From memory the springs are 158#
Note: Having a greater shock angle will slow the action down a bit, it will take more axle movement to get the shock to do the same work as with it more vertical. It will lower the wheel rate (effective spring rate) a tad bit.
Cheers, 50gary
For your info on shocks I have ZRX Kawasaki 1200R rear shocks and they are 14.25" free length and raise the rear some, not too bad I have had them rebuilt and re-sprung for my bike weight it's 423# total with 50.2%/213# front and 49.8%/210# rear with me on the bike it scaled (Digital race car scales) 46% front and 54% rear. I weigh 170+ gear. From memory the springs are 158#
Note: Having a greater shock angle will slow the action down a bit, it will take more axle movement to get the shock to do the same work as with it more vertical. It will lower the wheel rate (effective spring rate) a tad bit.
Cheers, 50gary
Bozz
Coast to Coast
I would be concerned with that much angle in the swingarm due to the fact it is a shaft drive.
The Universal joints in the drive shaft can only handle so much of an angle before things get tough.
If you look at some of the extreme BMW's and such they have angled the motor in the frame to reduce that output shaft angle.
It would be a shame if the thing didn't run after all that work.
It looks really good otherwise!
The Universal joints in the drive shaft can only handle so much of an angle before things get tough.
If you look at some of the extreme BMW's and such they have angled the motor in the frame to reduce that output shaft angle.
It would be a shame if the thing didn't run after all that work.
It looks really good otherwise!
Nojokirk 75cl360
DT250 project in the works!
Hey cunninghammer, a lil off topic but nice pomp, whatcha usin? Im rockin Royal Crown
CUNNINGHAMMER
Active Member
YogiBear said:
Hey Yogi, while working on the carbs I got an easy-out/extractor stuck in my (pressed in) idle jet in my carb, which put a halt on my build for a while. But I have the fire under me again to get this thing on the road and it will be moving again. I got it running but it wouldn't idle on the right side. I will have to find a new set of carbs or atleast carb bodies and start there. I also picked up a set of '39 chevy tail lights as I was wanting Bullet style tail lights... they are pretty wide, so I'm going to try to find someone who can "FRENCH" them into my seat cowl.
CUNNINGHAMMER
Active Member
Von Kirk 75 dt250 said:
Hey Von, I've used a lot of different things since I started styling my hair like this. I really like Layrite, smells soo good, but its expensive and I'd have to drive far to get it or order it online. I recently started using Murray's and I really dig it. I used to hate putting shit in my hair that wouldn't wash out, but I've come to terms with that finally haha. I usually use some sort of hair spray to get a gloss to it as well.
CUNNINGHAMMER
Active Member
New Name for the Bike. It is the Honda WTFive-hundred
Got another set of carbs on the bike last week and it was idling, god did that feel good! Took the carbs back off and will give them a thorough cleaning before installing them again.
I also picked up a parts bike off of Clist that is rather pristine and only has 2k miles on it. I'm hoping to get both of them up and running, but the cafe bike is my main focus for sure. I have to start working on the foot controls so that I can start taking it for test runs. Super excited to finally be this far with it!
Got another set of carbs on the bike last week and it was idling, god did that feel good! Took the carbs back off and will give them a thorough cleaning before installing them again.
I also picked up a parts bike off of Clist that is rather pristine and only has 2k miles on it. I'm hoping to get both of them up and running, but the cafe bike is my main focus for sure. I have to start working on the foot controls so that I can start taking it for test runs. Super excited to finally be this far with it!
CUNNINGHAMMER
Active Member
Easy now Frankenfe! I'll post pics soon! lol
Carbs are the same Keihin CV's, I boiled them in CLR and took a power steamer to them to blast out all of the ports etc. It is now idling and responding very well to throttle. I still have a ton of work to do, I will more than likely mount the foot pegs to the frame and because of the orientation of the shifter, I will essentially be making custom pedals for shifting and braking. (See Little Horse Customs CX500) I'm probably going to make it look close to the pedals on that bike.
Still no seat pan or seat yet, but body work and seat are going to move up in priority now that the thing runs! I intend to ride it down to the 3rd party DMV to get the Vin inspected once I have the foot controls done. Not looking forward to the bonded title process...
Pics soon to come.
Carbs are the same Keihin CV's, I boiled them in CLR and took a power steamer to them to blast out all of the ports etc. It is now idling and responding very well to throttle. I still have a ton of work to do, I will more than likely mount the foot pegs to the frame and because of the orientation of the shifter, I will essentially be making custom pedals for shifting and braking. (See Little Horse Customs CX500) I'm probably going to make it look close to the pedals on that bike.
Still no seat pan or seat yet, but body work and seat are going to move up in priority now that the thing runs! I intend to ride it down to the 3rd party DMV to get the Vin inspected once I have the foot controls done. Not looking forward to the bonded title process...
Pics soon to come.
Frankenfe
Coast to Coast
front drum.... ck it out
http://silodrome.com/honda-cx500-cafe-racer/
He sold it on eBay in June 2012 for $4,650 with 18 Bids.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1981-honda-cx500-cafe-racer-one-kind-biuld-touch-vintage-style-/261041244724?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item3cc7454a34#ht_500wt_1182
http://silodrome.com/honda-cx500-cafe-racer/
He sold it on eBay in June 2012 for $4,650 with 18 Bids.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1981-honda-cx500-cafe-racer-one-kind-biuld-touch-vintage-style-/261041244724?pt=US_motorcycles&hash=item3cc7454a34#ht_500wt_1182
CUNNINGHAMMER
Active Member
Thanks for the inspiration Frankenfe! That bike is rad, I had seen it recently. No major update, started the bike again today and it is still idling on two cylinders (Thank God). Haven't had much time to mess with it, but I should be getting to welding up the foot controls some time very soon. I have a contact for the metal work that I'd like to get done to incorporate my tail lights in the rear section. Its starting to come together.
And Finally for a couple of pictures. The WTFive-Hundred posing with my buddies 1971 CL350. You may also see the other CX500 custom lurking in the back ground, and I thought it was cool that I was able to catch all 4 front bike wheels in 1 picture.
And Finally for a couple of pictures. The WTFive-Hundred posing with my buddies 1971 CL350. You may also see the other CX500 custom lurking in the back ground, and I thought it was cool that I was able to catch all 4 front bike wheels in 1 picture.
CUNNINGHAMMER
Active Member
Actually that's my Uncle's Triumph Bonneville bobber, 800cc twin. He got it on the road after hard tailing the frame and lots of custom work DNA springer, and ended up laying it down due to loss of a front axle nut.
Hard lesson learned, use LOCKTITE and SAFETY WIRE brothers! Actually he and the bike faired very well, the bars, pegs and battery box took most of the slide. The tank was crushed but the damn thing started and idled once we got it out of my truck.
I'm still alive and kickin', and this bike WILL be on the road by the End of March. Whether it's legal or not haha!
Hard lesson learned, use LOCKTITE and SAFETY WIRE brothers! Actually he and the bike faired very well, the bars, pegs and battery box took most of the slide. The tank was crushed but the damn thing started and idled once we got it out of my truck.
I'm still alive and kickin', and this bike WILL be on the road by the End of March. Whether it's legal or not haha!
