Honda CX500 V Twin > Reviews > CXing here and there

Author's product rating:   

Comfort	Good
Handling	Excellent
Looks	Good
Features	Good
Fuel consumption	Excellent

Advantages:	Good tourer and all rounder
Disadvantages:	Should attend Weight Watchers

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

It’s not small, in fact it has a weight problem. But the CX500, made from the late seventies to eighties, was the couriers dream machine. It wasn’t overly excessive with power, 498cc, and were – and still are – cheap and reliable.

Okay, so heres some facts:

It is water cooled (Check coolant level – just like a car!)
It’s shaft driven (No chain, it’s driven by a series of adjoining metal pieces)
It’s 498cc (Top speed of about 105MPH)
It’s a V-Twin (It has 2 cylinders, in a V shape)
There are several models (Custom, Eurosport, 1980)

Okay, you have 750 pounds burning a hole in your pocket. You want a nice, comfortable bike suitable for the daily 25 mile commute and for occasional touring. You want something reliable, economical but not too daunting. You head down to your local Bike garage, and ask what they have. They show you a grotty old CB550 and a CB400N. Then, they show you a tidy little CX. As you bask in the glory of the bike, you can’t help but think “Is this the Bike for me?”
So, you ask to take it for a test drive. You put the key in the ignition, and all the little lights flash up. You press the Electric Start button, and you hear that little V twin burst into life. It settles with a little hum – you could get used to this!
You get yourself in gear, and head off out the showroom down the road, and decide to let the throttle go. As you do, you feel a sudden burst of acceleration. You find yourself in traffic, no problem you think. I have a CX...

And it sets in. You have a CX. You have power, style and looks. You head off back to the dealer, settle the finance and drive away on your new bike................

Now back to the real world – I have a 1981 CX500, no special modifications except a 2-1 Motad (Exhaust). In 1 year it only ever needed fork seals and brake pads. Good, especially as insurance was about 90 pounds!

These bikes handle really well, and do upwards of 60MPG.

Like I said earlier, there are 4 variants: Eurosport, 1980 and Custom.
Eurosport – Looks better. Not much else.
1980 – Again looks better. Not much else.
Custom – Looks alot better. Very similar to Silverwing, the Goldwinsg younger brother.
Regular – Just a plain ‘ole CX.
They also made CX400s, CX650s. CX650 eurosport is quite nice.

Okay, some technical info for you:

Brakes – Twin front disk and rear drum.
Suspension – Regular twinshock front and rear
Engine – 498cc V Twin with OHC? And OHV?

Regular Problems – Overheating if coolant is no good. Tyres can wear, buy expensive ones. Shaft is terribly expensive, especially if it is badly looked after.
Check the oil, and keep it filled up right to the top.

Selling for about 500 – 1000 pounds now. Still popular with Despatch riders – beat those damn congestion charges.

That’s about it. What more can I say? It’s solid, reliable, not a bad looker and suitable for touring.