1978 Honda CX500 Cafe Build

[downtown809]

Thanks Teazer, I will have to see how it settles out when everything is on, might have to go longer shocks, will see..

 

[downtown809]

Headers arrived this week, Mac 2 to 1 of course. Added fluids and started it up, it's alive, it's alive..

 

[Tolka]

Another nice cafe will be on the road soon..
Nice tank..

 

[downtown809]

Have you guys come to an agreement as to what jets go in these with headers and pod filters?

 

[downtown809]

The seat arrived today, it needs to be attached yet but it is just what we wanted, think old school fighter plane meets bomber jacket.. the lighting makes it look purple but it is a nice dark brown color..

 

[downtown809]

Ok so looking at the headlight bucket and that mess of wires and connectors who would have dreamed they would have all fit but they did..

 

[downtown809]

On the muffler topic, the Emgo muffler showed up and you were right, this might work if I was running two. So I ordered a Cherry Bomb now I just have to figure how to make chrome headers and a black muffler look ok without wrapping them..

 

[Pattheswede]

Looking really nice!
Frameparts, tank, seat... yeah, I like the lines

 

[Barnburner]

This is a cool looking build! I may just have to pick up a CX for my next bike. The polished tank is perfect and you definitely handled the cafe-seat-with-awkward-frame-rails situation very nicely. The other ones I've seen all attempt to bridge that space and run a normal flat seat. Wrapping it looks very professional IMO.

 

[downtown809]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I am giving up on the idea of coating this tank with something that I am sure will look like I did it myself so it is off to the plate tank to get a coat of copper then nickel to make it look vintage. The carbs are off to get rebuilt and bigger jets installed, the k&n filters are on the way and I have a cherry bomb muffler that I am undecided how to finish as I don't want to wrap the pipes.

 

[downtown809]

With the tank off getting nickel platted the project has been on hold until I nailed down what I wanted for turn signals. I found these in town at Cycle Gear for $40. The front were bolt on as they are the same threads as the headlight bucket. The rears are installed into the existing holes that I drilled out. I got a couple of furniture tee nuts as the studs were not long enough to reach through the frame. Now if I could remember how to work Photobucket??

 

[downtown809]

Pictures

 

[Tim]

Can't wait to see the nickel plate - I explored the option for my frame, but got scared away by some 'show chrome' guy's cost estimate. Need to call up my local 'regular' plater to see what he says.

 

[downtown809]

It is a trailer fender I picked up @ 6 robblies. The tank is off getting nickel plated so when it gets back the work will begin again. I plan on making up a bracket to mount the seat on and mounting the fender to it also. The plating location is either the best in town or very slow. Keep an eye on the build I will pick up again soon. Peter

 

[downtown809]

I picked up the tank today, wow..

 

[theprep]

thing of beauty right there.

 

[downtown809]

a nickel plated think of beauty..

 

[theprep]

if you don't mind what's the cost?

 

[downtown809]

$275, I wanted to paint but the wife wanted naked. I looked into Por15 but was thinking I would botch the diy job so went with nickel, looks so nice but not to chrome.

 

[theprep]

that's a good deal, it turned out well.