1981 CX500 Deluxe

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After almost buying an yamaha XJ650, I stumbled across this lil (big) girl on craigslist for $400...
1981 Honda CX500 Deluxe

Gonna do a psuedo-cafe build. I'll be glassing a seatpan, doing a rewire, ripping off that damn windjammer obviously, dropping her a bit. I have a lot of wants for the bike, but have set my budget to $1k. So I've got 600 left, take off $150 for some Bridgestone s11's and $50 for a cheap napa battery and i'm only left with $400 to get new bars, headlamp, and all the other fun stuff I'll be needing. I'm hoping to have it ready to ride by march. And I should have her running tomorrow after I finish cleaning the petcock.

 

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RE: '81 CX500 Deluxe

Reserved for final pics....

 

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'81 CX500 Deluxe

10/30/11
Got her in the garage. still need to name her.

10/31/11
Fuel isn't getting to the carb from the tank, so I took off the tank to clean it, and pull the petcock to clean it. I need a bigger wrench to actually get the petcock off, so I gotta run to my dad's later tonight. or run to the hardware store. She's dirty, but im gonna get her kicked over first, and idling, then continue stripping down and cleaning everything off.

 

[flatcurve]

Re: Andrew's '81 CX500 Deluxe

My bike had one of those Windjammers. It may have improved mileage and reduced wind at speed, but it weighed the front of the bike down something fierce and made turning the bike very exciting (in a bad way.) And the screen distorted the view pretty bad too. I don't know what to blame more for their popularity: Craig Vetter's hype or the movie Purple Rain.

I only rode it once with the fairing on.

 

[roflcopter]

Re: '81 CX500 Deluxe

the first thing my buddy said was "jesus. a little prince and apollonia eh?" i cant even jump on the bike without feeling like im gonna smack my head on it. i dont know what it is, but its scary. and its come off soon. probably tonight. the only bad thing, is that it seems to be more out of the way on the bike, then on the floor in my garage, so we'll see...

 

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Re: '81 CX500 Deluxe

took off the fairing tonight. a little bit more work than i thought. I was surprised by how much the windjammer shared mounting points with the engine. worried me a bit, so i through a hydraulic jack under the engine just it case why i did all. came off rather easy once i started moving. most of the bolts were rusted out more or less. makes me a little nervous for the rest of the bike. i kept noticing more and more cables, hoses, grommets/bushings that need to be replaced, just from the age.

Anyone know what the actual name of these bolts are? i didnt have a torque wrench on me anyways, but i need to look up the torque for them. cylinder head mount and upper something i assume?

i marked them with blue tape. the top one is just below the tape and the bottom one is basically running along it. i had to take them off to get the fairing bracket off...
EDIT: My other manual says 10mm flange bolt and nut (25-33 ft-lb)

 

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Re: '81 CX500 Deluxe

I went to do title transfer today, $590 in penalties and back registration to 2007. I'm pretty livid. The seller stated it was non-opped in 07, foolish me believed him. I'm going into DMV to try to get the fees waived pursuant to section 9562 of the California Vehicle Code. Hopefully it all goes well.

 

[cafepenguin]

Re: '81 CX500 Deluxe

Congrats on the Bike... sorry to hear about the DMV... I would be interested in what happens there, I'm looking at a bike right now that may have some back fees on it and wondering if there is a way to get around it...

 

[makenzie71]

Re: '81 CX500 Deluxe

Have someone in Texas title it, then send it back to Cali. Should only be a couple hundred dollars.

The Deluxe makes a GREAT bike and I miss mine dearly!

 

[50gary]

Re: '81 CX500 Deluxe

Michigan title is cheap and easy, maybe $50 Bridgestone S11 are cruiser tires not very sporty for a cafe bike? I don't mean to be negative, just saying. The battle Ax BT45 is the bias sport touring tire in their lineup. Avon Roadrider's are nice too.
Cheers, 50gary

 

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Re: '81 CX500 Deluxe

im not sure how that all would work going out of state and bringing it back. im sure they'd still have it on record in california? im really hoping i can work this all out... you know, since i already started working on it.

@50gary - this is my first bike, i just liked the price of the bridgestones, and they are one of the better stock type car tires. I was just looking for something cheap. i'll check out the avons and battle ax

@mackenzie - is that just the stock seat with the stock cowl removed? what you do for the taillight? is that a 7" headlight? also, are those the stock forks/suspension, or does the clampons and headlight just make it loook like its sitting lower?

 

[makenzie71]

Re: '81 CX500 Deluxe

@mackenzie - is that just the stock seat with the stock cowl removed? what you do for the taillight? is that a 7" headlight? also, are those the stock forks/suspension, or does the clampons and headlight just make it loook like its sitting lower?

Stock seat, rear cowl and bracing removed, single taillight bolted to a bracket and then to the frame
Stock headlight I think
GL1000 forks and triples

The bars are just flipped. The CX500 Deluxe bars are the only ones I've seen that can really work that way.

 

[50gary]

Re: '81 CX500 Deluxe


@50gary - this is my first bike, i just liked the price of the Bridgestones, and they are one of the better stock type car tires. I was just looking for something cheap. i'll check out the avons and battle ax
The guys over on the CX forum swear by the B-stone S11 and they are a favorable price point so I'd say go for it. Good luck on your first ride!
Cheers, 50gary

 

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Re: '81 CX500 Deluxe

Got the bike current with DMV for $257 (down from $621). I got all the penalties waived, but not the fees, which was a compromise for me. But after dealing with an unhelpful manager at one branch, the second manager was extremely helpful and pulling it to $257 was a godsend. I detailed my process a little bit here... http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=30939

 

[makenzie71]

Re: '81 CX500 Deluxe

That's great! You probably wouldn't have saved much doing it the unethical way, too.

Now get out and ride the thing...

 

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So what I did in the last week or so and what I still need to do...

1) Drilled and tapped the vacuum petcock to get access inside of it. the rubber disc was in OK shape, but I turned it around anyhow. The X-ring (or quad ring) was broken. I'm getting that replaced and will make a new disc, thanks to bearman on the CX500 forums. But I tested the vacuum on the petcock with a pump and its working. So that's one less problem.

2) Took off the carbs. Cleaned them. Put them back on. Still no vacuum, I had to hand pump the gas into it with a vacuum pump. Still ran kind of funny, nothing at idle, had to push to about 30% throttle to keep her going. So I decided to take it off again, one more cleaning. I found a lot of gunk still. Soaked the jets and needles in some CLR for about 15 minutes, that helped a lot. Compressed air, carb spray, compressed air, carb spray, over and over until I had everything shooting out both sides. Then checked the vacuum port, clogged still. A little carb spray and compressed air and PLOOP! out came some gunk. So hopefully, when I go to put it back on, everything will be fine.

before....

after...

3) I took off the isolator boots when removing the carb the second time and the orings are shot, so I need to replace those.

4) I had a hard time with the airbox boots and those got messed up, so I need to check them, and reseat them and put some RTV silicone on em I think. And make sure they arent leaking.

 

[makenzie71]

I would ditch the airbox and run Uni pods. The bike will run great with them and that stock airbox was heinous. Between the pods, an open exhaust, and ditching the stock ignition for a GL500 transistorized setup mine was screaming everywhere. She would bounce off the top of every gear in a heartbeat...all the way up to the 107mph top speed lol

 

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I would ditch the airbox and run Uni pods. The bike will run great with them and that stock airbox was heinous. Between the pods, an open exhaust, and ditching the stock ignition for a GL500 transistorized setup mine was screaming everywhere. She would bounce off the top of every gear in a heartbeat...all the way up to the 107mph top speed lol

I might in the future. Right now im really trying to get her running as-is. once I have it basically running in stock condition, and serviced, i'm going to start with the handlebars. then the seat/rearcowl/taillight, then maybe the airpods. there are a lot of good discussions for rejetting the cx500 so it won't be too difficult to do. but for now... i just want her running. :-D

 

[makenzie71]

Pods and exhaust I can see holding off on, but probably one of the best "upgrades" I did was the GL500 ignition. I had a ton of "running" problems that were constantly being diagnosed as carb issues. She'd act too lean one day, too rich the next, etc. All turned out to be a bad stator and a struggling CDI. Replacing the stator was a $350 investment (going with a reputable company for the stator). I was able to swap to the transistorized setup for $100 using stuff found on choppercharles. The stator is far more reliable and the ignition is bulletproof.

The stock Deluxe charging system can leave you chasing ghosts...and you have to drop the motor to do the swap...hence my opinion to do it right away instead of waiting.

 

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Once I get the thing to an idle, i'll start checking electrical. I'm gonna test the regulator/rectifier, and stator. I have an extra stator the guy gave me when I bought it, still in the box. I'll have to check out the brand when I get home. The CDIs i'll keep my eye open for. Thanks for the heads up.