I Bought a $200 Café Motorcycle. How Bad Could It Be?

I buy a $200 1981 Honda cx500 Café motorcycle that has been sitting in a basement for years. How bad could it be? #Honda, #Motorcycle, #Fix,
►SUBSCRIBE: / @2vintage
►MY SECOND CHANNEL: • New Polaris ATV Snow P...
► ADD ME ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA ◄
► FACEBOOK: / 2vintageyoutube
► INSTAGRAM: 2_vintage_ / 2_vintage_
► SNAPCHAT the2vintage
► EMAIL FOR BUSINESS INQUIRIES ONLY: [e-mail]
Thanks for watching and subscribing!
New videos every week!
The following video features activities performed in controlled environments by knowledgeable persons. DO NOT attempt to duplicate, re-create, or perform the same or similar activities at home, as personal injury or property damage may result. 2vintage( Joe Weber, the persons shown in this video and ANY CONTRIBUTOR, ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY such injury or damage. ALL 2vintage( Joe Weber) CONTENT IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY.
2vintage (Joe Weber) makes no representation about the sufficiency of any safety precautions and equipment used in this video.

[@mufuliramark]

My wife just doesn’t understand how watching a random guy, for over an hour, fixing a broken Bike, keeps my attention. Women!🙄

[@brother7238]

Same exept mine complains when im fixing something exept her car Then its ok but when im fixing mine its the "why are you allways working on your car" Because its therapeutic it keeps my mind from shattering into millions of pieces

[@robwilhite1688]

Same here

[@KensSmallEngineRepair]

I’ve learned the proper methodology for determining what’s wrong with bike and quad engines. Very useful info every time!

[@perlidberg7351]

Same here

[@mackay820]

I single handedly blame Joe for the ZX6 I have in my garage. I'm just down to the plastics and she's good to rip.

[@davebarrowcliffe1289]

CX500 engine was a revelation back in the early 80s. Very popular with medium/long trip motorcycle couriers because fuel consumption, service costs, cruising performance and reliability were top-notch. 🇬🇧

[@austenj4539]

I was going to post up the same as a former UK motorcycle courier during the early 1990's. I bought the Honda VT500 at the time when the old CX500s were phased out and everyone still driving a CX just laughed at it! Actually, the VT was pretty reliable too!

[@clivewilliams3661]

I know it as a great commuter bike.that wasn't required to give all out performance.

[@santyclause8034]

This one looks like a rear suspension mono-shock conversion would not be impossible.

[@ianbonnick7640]

And it was comfortable

[@ianbonnick7640]

@@austenj4539liked my VT good bike for the job

[@Jodyrides]

The CX 500 was designed from the beginning to be a turbo charged motorcycle.. it was a variation/improvement over the moto guzzi design. when you are making a motorcycle that is going to be shaft to drive, it is far better to only have the power flow from the engine/transmission change direction one time at 90°, which is at the rear wheel, like moto guzzi, BMW, the Goldwing does it. You lose about 15% of your power to the rear wheel every time you make the power changed directions at 90°… these bikes are water cooled, which is 4000 times more efficient than air cooling. They twisted the cylinders 23° to bring the intake manifolds/carburetors closer together so they could operate the carburetors with one cable on a bell crank and bring the carburetors out of the riders way , so his knees would not have to deal with the carburetors and the intake plumbing from the air cleaner… twisting the cylinders like that also made the exhaust ports miss the radiator, and the frame down tubes. unlike BMW and moto guzzi, Honda spins the crankshaft in the opposite direction of the clutch mass to counteract the torque reaction of the engine when blipping the throttle .. if you ever rode a moto guzzi or a BMW you know what I was talking about, when you blip the throttle when you are stopped at a red light, the bike torques to the right or to the left, depending on which way the crankshaft is spinning, I forget.. these engines were designed from the start to be for the Honda CX 500 turbo which was released in the United States in 1982. I spent many hours riding the CX 500 turbo which had 71 hp and a bit of turbo lag. But they were pretty perfect. In 1983 they came out with a 650 cc turbo charged CX 650 turbo. Both of those machines were fuel injected, and I believe those were the first fuel injected motorcycles Honda ever made for street use. A friend of mine, my best long-term riding buddy since high school bought the only CX 500 turbo the dealership I worked at could get, each dealership got one machine, and I was able to reserve that machine for my buddy. The price was $4995… The early CX 500 I believe were released in the United States in 1978. It was a standard/my favorite design, it had the larger gas tank that came on the deluxe also. The one you have is a custom gas tank. I had a. CX 500 deluxe that I picked up for $500 back around 1997 when I was working part time in a Yamaha/suzuki shop selling motorcycles evenings and Saturdays.. I put the stock seat from a Canadian only model CX 500 on my machine, a set of lower bars, KONI shocks, Progressive brand Fork Springs to match the shock springs and a set of continental blitz tires, which were very rounded profile that I actually helped develop when I was a test writer for continental tires.. I have always had two or three street bikes at the same time sometimes as many as five. I’ve had over 100 motorcycles counting dirt bikes, trails, bikes, road racing machines, street bikes, dual sports, motocross, commuters, and long distance, touring machines, and sport touring machines. .. I can honestly say that that CX 500 I had was my favorite engine. It made the right kind of power for street use and it was so pleasant. It could put along, then it had a Jekyll/hyde personality when you took the revs past 5000. He could actually get out of its own way for a push rod twin. Honda made this a push rod engine that rev to 10,000 RPMs because when you have the cam in the block instead of in the heads, you have the cylinders are very much lower height, the way BMW and moto guzzi and Honda does with the Goldwing, an internal camshaft.. these bikes had one weakness in the first few years, they had capacitor discharge ignition system systems. You can be pushing the start button, and the engine will be cranking over, and not starting. Then when you let go of the start button, the bike will start . That’s because the starter is robbing power from the system, and when you let go of the start button, at that split second the engine is still turning over, the ignition system gets the boost in power that the starter was taking, and the bike will start.. Honda improved to the ignition system by going to a transistor ignition later .. the water pump seal is a real bear to change.. it is at the rear of the engine very close to the frame to get that cover plate off of the water pump impeller. I’ve done it, it can be done, but it’s a little tough. These bikes make 50 hp. there was a guy that rode around the world on a CX 500 with his girlfriend on the back. One of the magazines I think it was motorcyclist. It may have been cycle world did two stories on his travels on this machine. After the first year, he stored the bike in the bilge area of a small sailboat he bought to transport him, his girlfriend and his bike across some large body of water from India to somewhere I forget. But the bike sat in that build water for a year, he got the bike out of the boat and went out and went around the world a second time. I believe the only problem he ever had was a shock mount broke, and he had to have it welded by what he called a jungle mechanic., he said he’d rather have a jungle mechanic help him do repairs than one of those guys in white coveralls that throws their hands up in horror if you bring them a bike with dirt on it.. the CX 500 was one of the favorites of the 10,000 motorcycle couriers in London back in the day. Many of their machines had over 200,000 km on them… the CX 500 was not built to be a quarter mile hooligan bike, not even the turbo was. The problem with the turbo bikes of the early 80s that only lasted for three or four years then they dropped the turbos, the problem was, you could buy 1000 cc or even a 750 cc machine that was faster. The Kawasaki 750 turbo was the fastest of the turbos, but they were filled with problems, this suzuki Turbo that they put on the GS 650 four-cylinder was pretty good, the Yamaha was the worst/least developed. It was a 650 Yamaha with a turbo added just like the Kawasaki and the Suzuki. But the Honda CX 500 was designed to be turbo charged right from the drawing board. The turbo impeller on the CX 500 actually spun at over 100,000 RPMs and it was the size of a dime. It was a very pleasant motorcycle to ride.. those wheels you have on this machine in the video are called comstar wheels they were designed to give the soft ride of a wire wheel that will flex when hitting large bumps slightly, unlike a mag wheel that hits bumps really hard. But they were also designed to be easy to clean, which they are.. I don’t know why Honda discontinued that style of wheel because they were the best of both worlds .. I rode my CX 500 to work one day at the motorcycle shop I worked at. A customer came in and asked if we had any used bikes. We didn’t. He saw my bike sitting on the side of the building and asked about that. I told him that’s my bike . He asked if I would sell it. I thought about it for a while, I had about $800 in it. And I really really liked it. At the time I had an FJ 1200, a moto guzzi SP 1000, and the CX 500… he was an older guy in his late 50s.. I told him about the bike and about the engine design and the improvements I made to the suspension and how I liked the low head profile because it’s a pushrod engine and it makes really nice usable power right when you need it at low RPMs and mid range. I wasn’t trying to sell the bike, I was just passing the time with him..i let him sit on it..He said I’ll give you $1600 for it right now.. now this was in the late 1990s. And I thought about it .. if I didn’t accept his offer, that would be the same as me paying $1600 for it. So I took his offer, and regretted ever since.. to this day, I have never found a machine as well rounded and as pleasant and comfortable to ride as that CX 500.. that guy would stop in the shop every so often to buy oil or something or ask me a question on the bike, he wrote that thing a lot, his daughter moved from here in Western Pennsylvania to Seattle Washington. He being a truck driver rented a truck, they packed up all of his daughters stuff and he drove the rental truck with his motorcycle in the back to Seattle, he came back the long way on the CX 500 by himself. He drove down to San Diego, came across. I think it’s I 10 saw the Grand Canyon, stopped in some famous places along the way, like El Paso, Dallas, New Orleans, he went to Florida, and came up some old road. I think it’s route 17 through the Carolinas and Georgia back to Pittsburgh, he took three weeks to do that. Then he came into the shop to tell me about how wonderful the bike is again..

[@davehertle]

I had just moved to Spokane WA at the beginning of '80. One of the guys was commuting to work on a CX 500. I was in the market when I got moved back to Seattle. Too much rain there for a bike to make commutes. Thanks for your love story about the bike.

[@jamesweber4938]

The longest comment on a video I have ever seen ! Well done :)

[@bretcappola6904]

Man if they still printed motorcycle mags you could write for one

[@Coldwarrior7781]

The Tolstoy of commentors

[@knowone6214]

Damn guy....ya just wrote a mini novel

[@tonehunter59]

Dude! Your skills are incredibly impressive. As an old fart, I love watching you younguns really understanding and getting to grips with these classic bikes. Just brilliant!

[@MrTruckerf]

Surprising how nice that thing sounds!

[@808v1]

yeah, and I kinda like the way it looks.

[@bustedback]

It does sound pretty darn good. A lot of sound from only a 500cc engine.

[@calholli]

It sounds like a Harley if you just pull the mufflers off... Revs much higher though........ but this is only running one one cylinder right now.. I can tell his Right side is good but the left side is not firing at all.... I'm sure he'll make another video about it once he notices.. I bet that's why it's only $200 bucks... The owner knows that one side is dead for some reason.. Hopefully it's just a carb issue.

[@voornaam3191]

No, both CX500 and CX650 sound great. Don't you guys even KNOW the CX? Barbarians?

[@calholli]

@@voornaam3191 This bike is only running on one cylinder.. So they still don't even know what it actually sounds like.. (59:35) ... Listen to it.. that is ONE cylinder, not both

[@deangentles4966]

Hi I have a 1980 cx500 which we call the plastic maggot here in the UK this model is bulletproof hope you have a lot of fun on this love watching you work

[@MrScorpiomoon]

I had the CX500 when they appeared in the Honda Shop here in the UK. got a loan from my mother to buy it On startup the bike would rock from side to side until i was warm. reving it up it sounded like a nuclear reactor amazing machine for its time sadly i put it through a brick wall before paying the loan back. I went to a bike junk yard and bought all the bits i needed and rebuilt it. I left the down pipes as they were and added custom pipes to them from a car. just hollow tubes basically. when you revved it up blue fire would appear. I got it road worthy and ridden to a major motorcycle rally fo a long weekend of music. beer, tents and Hells Angels. bringing back happy memories joe thank you so much.

[@lukejohnson1866]

you should glue a magnet onto the back of your compression tester then you can stick it to whatever, then you won’t always have to hastle with it

[@johndoe248]

.... seems like a magnet would screw with the needle readings...

[@michaelbrinks8089]

That or a simple metal wire hook....Which I'm gonna do to mine....A hook & magnet 🧲 .

[@lukejohnson1866]

@@johndoe248 very well could, just a thought and maybe be able to gear something up

[@Razzaqabuali]

Or make the wife hold the tester .😂

[@kevinsellsit5584]

​@@Razzaqabuali It takes her 20 minutes to help me for 2. There is always a better way. (Girlfriend, mistress, C-clamp) Just kidding.

[@bikermann42]

With the pod filters replacing the airbox, there is no longer enough restriction to create the vacuum necessary to make the slides lift quickly in the carbs, leading to a massive hesitation/flat spot. So, although you turn the throttle which opens the butterfly valves mechanically, the airflow is still blocked by the slides. The usual cure is to drill the air bleed hole in the slide larger, which will transfer vacuum to the top of the slide faster, causing the slide to lift more in synch with the butterflies, giving better throttle response. A weaker spring can help as well, and the slides in those carbs are very heavy and can be lightened, but must be the same weight on both sides. Tuned with proper jetting and the slides modified to be responsive, these are excellent carbs.

[@Bob-xp5fk]

lol no… it is not a good sign to come with a wire schematic. You never disappoint with how throughly you go over everything and explain the whole way! You’re a hell of a teacher dude!

[@greathornedowl3644]

Ditto, he should be teaching small engine repair to high schoolers and an evening class for adults

[@nlxl2160]

Nice find! Before changing to bigger mains I would (1) check the inlet manifold for leaks. Start the bike on a steady slightly higher idle and spray brake cleaner on the manifolds. If the revs goes up, you'll know there's a leak. (2) New diaphragms for the accellerator pumps. Just take one step at a time when changing things.

[@AL4N.]

I agree you can see cracks in the manifold, he mentions putting gasket sealer on them.

[@johns.4708]

And source an airbox - worth it I think. And spray paint the battery box black.

[@nlxl2160]

@@AL4N. Agree, but that's a bush fix. My point is; just check the obvious before going to bigger mains. Try airbox or good K&N pods. Bigger mains is often used as a cure, but basically it's just a paracetamol for a bad running engine :)

[@Bumblingbimbler]

If those are keihins they will take some running on pods. If they have velocity stacks built in it would be easier

[@stormrider8236]

Originally, that was a CX500C Custom, a nice bike and easy to ride too. They are reliable, but age is now starting to tell on the components. Check the stator outputs - if the indicators start to slow down and then stop, beware you charging circuit has failed. The stock CDI's are now getting long in the tooth and if it packs up then the only recourse is to replace it, there are modern parts available. A distinct 'slapping' sound, which disappears as the engine is rev'd indicates a worn cam chain or failed slipper blade(s), in either case replace asap or the chain starts to eat its way out from the inside. If you notice a few drips of coolant under the bike then its giving you a warning that the 'mechanical seal' on the end of the cam shaft, behind the water pump impeller is on its way out - heed the warning, other wise not only will you have to replace it, but probably the main shell bearings too! If you put it back to stock, which in real terms probably won't cost you that much, it would be worth far more than it is as it stands now.

[@lawrenceklein3524]

Thanks for the great info! 👍

[@markhorrell9213]

Yeah. Water leak from the back requires new impeller seal asap...nb several sizes available so Mike up yr original...mike up where it fits..compare! I got caught once

[@donscott6431]

I think you got a good deal. Impressed that there’s no smoking and the compression is good.

[@scaranogaryj]

I've worked on a couple of those, the carbs are real tricky. Watch the slides when it's running they won't be syncing you have to adjust them till they move together, vacuum lines have to be right, no air leaks.... great work getting it to run so good on the choke that's awesome! Try that speedo it'll be awesome! Keep on wrenching! 💥☠️💥

[@thebigguy8306]

A chill ran up my spine, worked on a friend's Honda Valkyrie (think 1999-2000), 6 carbs = painful

[@geraldscott4302]

It's what's left of a 1981 Honda CX500 Custom, the cruiser model of the CX500. I bought a brand new one back in 1981 at age 18. Over 20 years later I bought a well used '82 Honda GL500 Silverwing. The Honda CX/GL 500/650 is one of my all time favorite motorcycle engines. One of the CX500s few design problems is the cooling fan is run off the camshaft instead of being electric, and the shaft seal tends to leak on all of them. Too bad about what they did to the bars. I couldn't begin to reach those bars. Both mine has MUCH higher bars that came back closer to the seat for a very upright riding position. No parts are available for these bikes anymore, so if something breaks, you are just out of luck. Be especially careful with the car manifolds and cylinder head cover gaskets, they tend to crack. A vacuum operated petcock is not a fuel pump. It just requires engine vacuum to open the petcock. What you are calling the fuel screw is actually the pilot screw, which controls idle air. What you are calling the pilot jet is actually the emulsion tube, sometimes called the needle jet, because the needle goes down into it. You are right about CV carbs needing the stock airbox. The air inlet to the stock airbox is tuned to provide just the right amount of air. Pod filters allow way too much air to enter the carburetors. I have been able to get bikes to run fairly well with CV carbs and pod filters, as long as they had the complete stock exhaust by rejetting the carburetors richer to compensate for the extra air. But the tuning range of the carburetors is limited. With both pod filters and a non stock exhaust, which almost certainly has less back pressure than stock, it is likely well out of the carburetors tuning range. It will likely run well within a certain RPM range, but will be off everywhere else. I use a Harbor Freight flux core welder. Yes it can be a bit splattery, but does a good job on stuff like that, and doesn't require any gas.

[@wmason1961]

I once borrowed an 81 silverwing for a day in Tucson in around 82. It was incredibly smooth. I have dreamed of owning one since. I never have managed to, though. I haven't ridden one since.

A masterful answer/reply Sir!

[@raphaelr8703]

You rattling a metal flashlight against the inside of that gas tank--absolutely terrified me! The thought of a static discharge igniting fumes...omg!

[@dustcommander100]

I'm glad to see you caught a well-deserved break on that one, after all those side-by-sides with busted cylinders and bad rod bearings! Brought back some memories for me - I always thought a CX would make a cool chopper. I had the 1981 VF750C Magna - only new bike I ever bought. Great video!

[@msh_3612]

VF750C Magna didn't come out until 1982...........

[@tommynikon2283]

lol…the ‘79 CX-500 Standard was my 1st bike. My gf’s brother had one, rode from SF to Eugene, OR- and gave me a ride in Seattle. I was instantly hooked, buying the same NEW a month later. 68, still riding- but not the CX.

[@keithcrampton1438]

200 BUCKS IS A SUPER DEAL FOR A POSSIBLY STYLISH CAFE RACER! BUT IT NEEDS SOME FENDERS

[@AnthonyRufo-py4yr]

That's what I thought by the looks of the seat & handle bars.

[@epicci4428]

That's not stylish. That's a classic chopped up and ruined, almost made useless. People who do this belong in a prison.

[@ianhill4585]

Opinions may vary.

[@ethancknight]

@@epicci4428not sure how it’s made useless just because the fenders are missing and it has clip ons.

[@epicci4428]

@@ethancknight You can only ride it on perfect conditions, without fenders it sprays everything on the road into your face, without airbox it sucks all the moisture in. You add fenders and its no longer a cafe racer, just a stripped out bike with a horridly uncomfortable seat. Whats the point, all you accomplished was ruining a beautiful classic bike? Originally the point of a cafe racer was to race and no ones gonna race their cafe racer. It's just a pointless stupid fad.

[@acvn-hg9gy]

its so much fun to see someone work on a bike you took apart multiple times yourself. I'm re-living so many good memories watching this

[@laurentoutan4856]

Ce qui et bien chez vous c'est que vous appliquer les mêmes plans caméras pour toute vos restauration. Merci beaucoup de nous faire partager ta passion.

[@jamesweber4938]

When they were first introduced in the U.K in the 70's there were some issues with rod/crank clearances and some of them seized which put a damper on sales. Once the problem was sorted out at the factory and confidence in the bike was restored they became a decent seller and a favourite with courier companies.

[@cedhome7945]

Not to forget the water pump seal......

[@HorseMalone]

"Knock,knock" Who's there ? "CX 500" lol.

[@subd3]

Joe, just like to state that I really enjoy your problem solving. Even though I'm not a mechanic or own a motorcycle, I really enjoy your great attitude and clean channel. I used to be an artist for the MX VS ATV video game. I made digital versions of these bikes. Thank you for the great content.

[@CBR600_Dad]

I’ve learned so much by watching your videos over the past years I remember you and your brother at your house

[@willwaconsya3433]

Joe, dont forget to sync the carbs with vaccum guages. But put a muffler on the missing side and the air boxes. Syncing the carbs will far advance the power output and balance of the motor.

[@Odder-Being]

Don't you know by now? Joe doesn't read comments or interact with his subscribers what so ever, zero/nada/niets

[@timsussenbach5376]

​@@Odder-Beinglach me dood

[@willwaconsya3433]

He does here and there. He mentioned about a subscriber or subscribers comments in another post. And then explained why or about a new tool to get. Like the Milwaukee right angle battery operated 3/8 drive. I bought one

[@Yaboidkilla]

Bout to rebuild my 98 kx125 using your video from a few months ago. Thanks Joe!

[@mikehudgens7007]

Great video - brings back memory's from the early 90's when I owned 2 of these bikes and they were my main transportation at that time , forgot that I owned them lol one was a silverwing and the other a custom as well !!! Great running engines and very smooth , I rebuilt my custom ( top end ) at 30,000 miles and it is quite a complicated engine with ALOT of moving parts !!!! To this day I still see it around town as the paint job my buddy did is still on it !!!! Memory lane with Joe today !!!!

[@fairandbalanced65]

Drove one for years, excellent engine, drive shaft is pretty maintenance free. This was quality engineering back in the days.

[@holsen78]

Am I the only one yelling emulsion tube? 🙂 You'd already removed the pilot jet 😀 Great video nonetheless and looking forward to you looking into the instrumentation 🙂

[@billarmstrong7155]

No I also said it.

[@HorseMalone]

This bloke thinks emulsion tubes are what you paint with !

[@krisley5178]

That thing is awesome! Those front turn signals are actually bar-end blinkers. They're pretty cool when installed in the ends of the handlebars.

[@donvanasse3150]

The first street bike I ever owned was a cx 500, I loved that little bike!!! Mine sounded fantastic, and lots of power!

[@calholli]

Then you should know... He's only running on one cylinder.. Go back and watch it again; especially when he revs it. (59:35)... It does NOT have that double burble that this thing normally sounds like.

[@shartne]

Man that bike looks so nice. Very cool looking bike. Plus it was only 200 dollars. You did a great job getting it running. LOVE IT!

[@gutsngorrrr]

I have no idea how you keep finding deals like this, but here in the UK, I wouldn't get a complete basket case for that. This thing looked to be in great condition, regardless of the fact it was in parts. This bike has turned out to be a really nice Café Racer and worth a lot more that the $200 😊

[@overbuiltautomotive1299]

offer only that much auctions and crap laying in yards in the county just asking around all sources

[@nicktasker4287]

I think American isn’t restricted on earnings like we are,

[@claudioplentz1053]

I wish I had that knowledge to start buying old bikes and fix them! I'm 56 y.o. who never had the pleasure to own a motorcycle before but I just bought an old XR200R (I call it "the mouse trap") to learn how to ride a bike on dirt only, and I'm having the time of my life! Your videos inspire me to build an garage to start fixing the easy stuff.... I'd like you to get one xr200r would be so nice!! Thank you for sharing it with us...greetings from Brazil!

[@jetstreek17]

Nice work Joe. That's a pretty cool bike. Maybe give those air mixture screws a half turn out on each carb as well. Thanks for the great content.

[@calisubs6509]

Great bike! I picked up 2 of them , 15 years ago to teach my sons how to ride. Your vids are awesome! CX500/650 has a cult following and probably the best online forums for support. Enjoy.

[@user-cs5ln8bu1c]

Hi there man - these cv carbs have a diaphragm like the one on the accelerator pump on their side, this needs to be checked for the bike to run right. If they are gone, it will behave like it does here.. Plus there is another jet under this black rubber plug you need to clean. Keep up the good work!

[@true-moto-resto]

Yes - right on ! the jet under the plug must be drilled and tapped to remove it - 1981 was a press fit jet, 1982 they added screw in jet there

[@calholli]

Then you should know... He's only running on one cylinder.. Go back and watch it again; especially when he revs it. (59:35)... It does NOT have that double burble that this thing normally sounds like. I think it's the left side that's dead. He's going to be in for a treat once he sees the other side running too.

[@holyngrace]

Loved my CX500. Fork rake was really good for around town and tight maneuvering but still out far enough for stability on long cruises. Damn good bike.

[@Brandon-cd4ts]

I'm sitting in the dark in WV bad ice storm but I got Jo to watch early this morning good day

[@patrickmcgee8556]

I'm in southeast KY......same here

[@aaronrichards5814]

Spruce Knob ,WV,lights still on but lots of snow

[@MalleusSemperVictor]

In CO, nary a flake or a patch of ice on the ground here. Good luck and stay warm.

[@patrickmcgee8556]

@MalleusSemperVictor since the previous post the temp dropped to 27 degrees and it started snowing again...I'm just chilling in bed binge watching TV and scrolling around on KZbin on a tablet 😁

[@blairguinea6811]

That distinct CX500 sound, yep back in the day all the boys had them, I had a CX400...............always a great job Joe, thank you

[@LaLaLand.Germany]

The CX500 is an absolute legend! In the UK they were (are) used by delivery drivers for their reliability. If at least the oil gets changed they do run awsome. I don´t like the "café" thing, I like em better stock. Nice, light and quiet and comfy, even on long rides. And they like to rev. Honda 4strokes all rev to the moon… Drive em like You stole em! Happy New Year!

[@waynebuff1078]

Thank you so very much for the video. It brought back lots of good memories for me. I bought a 1980 CX500 Deluxe in 1980 and rode it until I replaced it with a 2005 Goldwing in 2005. My friend’s boy bought my CX500 and is still riding it today.

[@johntilson2535]

Ahhh, the 'SilverWing' Interstate. Honda's version of a MotoGuzzi! This one's been stripped of all it's 'Interstateliness' and aside from the weird frame design, looks kinda cool!

[@michaelbrinks8089]

I'm pretty sure the SilverWing was a GL500 and used a rear mono shock....While the CX500 used 2 rear shocks.

[@cedhome7945]

Cx 500L custom by the tank shape

[@michaelbrinks8089]

​@cedhome7945 Looks like a CX 500C to me....I was trying a CX 500L pic or video and couldn't find one....But found a CX500C video with the same tank & color scheme as this one.

[@thebigguy8306]

Ah, Motoguzzi, the neighbor kid owned a Moto Guzzi 1000SP in the late 70s. Great bike, but a pain to repair/maintain

[@djantix1200]

Worst part of acquiring a failed cafe build is the wiring! The CX500 is a pretty cool machine though.

[@myleswilliamson5177]

Hi this bike in the UK makes big bucks. Any thing from easy £1000 to £8000 depending on model and condition. Still parts also on UK Ebay. This was my first brand new bike in 1982.

[@HorseMalone]

On Ebay sold listings from £ 800 to £1300... You call that big bucks ? lol. The plus 2k ones have been up for DECADES.

[@allseeingotto2912]

They have dropped off a lot , there was a phase when everyone was building cafe racers from them .

[@ojsefg]

I’ve owned several of those. They’re great bikes. I’d replace the fan right away if I were you. The hubs are notorious for developing cracks and flying apart.

[@harunbakak285]

Very good and confident mechanic. From Sarawak,Borneo

[@eiguch]

I am going to look forward to you fixing this bike. It looks like quite the puzzle.

[@hermanackey5150]

You can fix any bike or side by side anybody gives you your a master my guy I love watching you fix these broken machines

[@JimParvin-o9e]

I've never seen a bike that you couldn't diagnose and fix. You absolutely thrive on a good challenge. Looks kinda like what the Gang that rode with the TOE CUTTER on Mad Max would have rode! 😅

[@lukejohnson1866]

looking forward to the new year! keep it up joe

[@vyger6336]

Not bad for $200 bucks...I really miss my Kawasaki 650 , Honda 750 etc,,etc,,etc ! You did a great job tracking down the problems and getting it to run..

[@dirkhuman760]

One of the most solid machines Honda ever did. Cool find! Pity it got messed up into a project bike. Just a bit of a tank slapper so be careful.

[@Ridesfar]

Where in the world did you find such a great project bike for $200? Enjoyed the video and can't wait to see the finished bike running.

[@evdallas123]

That thing sounds awesome! That is one bad CX

[@bobcat1]

I had a 1979 CX500. I loved the sound. I liked it so well That I bought a new 1983 CX650 custom in black. I became really good at riding wheelies and became well known in my town. Back then, riding wheelies on street bikes were not a common practice. Unfortunately, I became a target of law enforcement. Traded it even for a 1973 Z28.

[@poulsonarrow]

For $200 bucks that is a sweet prospect

[@smileydave3907]

I love the consistent methodology to examining each vehicle.

[@daviddownie5622]

What an absolute crime to F*** up a great classic motorcycle!!! rode one of these for many years with absolutely no trouble ever.

[@AmosBHaven]

Only problem I had on my '81 GL 500 was those solid lifters. After awhile? The tappets made like little peck marks on top of the valves! Made 'em a bugger to adjust and keep 'em adjusted correctly. I could hear those tappets on the motor Joe was working on. It SHOULD sound something of a sewing machine when done correctly! My solution? The flat side of a cutting wheel with the adjusters taken out (which I prettied up on a drill press and emory cloth), stuff some rage down the head to keep the grindings from finding there way into the oil. Ground off those peck marks, and that motor sounded and ran SCHWEET! 👍 Oh yeah! GOTSTA do the valves every 3,000 miles along with oil change. That'll keep that motor absolutely BULLET PROOF!

[@matttaylor373]

That is a cool old bike! thanks for the videos. you have been on a winning streak for a while now!

[@ForeverARaver2000]

Happy Days Joe Has Posted 🔥🔥🔥

[@andyredvolvo9434]

🥉

[@EpifanioMerancio]

Absolutely! Add a filter to the fuel to the carburetors if you can replace the gas tank with a aluminum gas tank so you don't have problems with rust

[@gundwane4247]

it was my first bike, blue colour, chopper configuration, 50 HP, love at first side. Sad to see it ruined into cafejunk.

[@mackay820]

Speak for yourself. I can't stand the 80 chic windshield/cowl and the back swept bars.

[@xwaterparksx]

@@mackay820 😅😂

[@joemomma9177]

You're crazy, it looks way better than stock

[@gundwane4247]

@@mackay820 it´s a matter of style and preference. Besides we are not allowed such drastic changes in Europe due to saftey reasons, so you have to make due with what you got

[@larrycone8821]

Just try to find bone stock Harleys.

[@robertamatt4532]

I bought a low mileage 1983 CX 500EC in 1986 and ran it as a summer tourer until 2009, doing circa 50,000 miles, it and I saw just about every corner of Europe, it never missed a beat. It was an amazing bike, 60mpg, lots of room for camping gear---

[@nicknelson9450]

Lovely smooth quiet bulletproof bike turned into an uncomfortable obnoxious unreliable brat, which got sold for a couple of hundred bucks...so short-sighted...when will people learn?

[@gzo313]

Well being honest it’s a 40+ year old bike that sat for years… a few bugs to be worked through is expected.

[@everyoneknowsadave3580]

It was a pretty slow bike at the time it came out …. Whoever butchered it like that frankly made it into a slower bike!! Mind you it looks like its probably got more than $200 of decent EBay bits on it … but then that wouldn’t make a very good video would it !?!? 😂

[@TerryClarkAccordioncrazy]

What I came here to say, they were reasonable bikes at the time but this modification like most modifications made the original bike worse.

[@Chopper650]

People are free to do what they like with their bikes.... whether u like it or not but here u are... watching and commenting... adding to the algorithm

[@jimgriggs7193]

Yep That's what a Cafe racer is. Different people like different things. But I'm not do sure about unreliable. What did he do to it to get it running. . .hmm. put in the battery. Cleaned the carbs, and fresh gas. A 40 year old neglected bike that required a new battery and a can of carb cleaner. Less than 100 bucks. Seems like that Ebay fender didn't hurt reliability as much as you might hope it did.

[@HodgeAutomotive]

Loved this video, not sure how people don't understand watching people struggle to fix up bikes for an hour straight, its my favourite thing to do, thats why i started making my own videos doing the same haha.

[@Vini-rm2ss]

Bonjour et bravo Joe, très bon achat... Aujourd'hui pour 200 dollars t'a plus rien... Cette machine fait un super bruit, un peu comme les motos Guzzi 👌!... Bonne année à tous, santé bonheur 💯🎉🍾🥂🎊👌👍😉

[@tomparker7140]

Nice to see you bring back a road cycle. Wasn't sure you could. All I see you work on is dirt bikes and 3-4 wheelers.

[@grendel1960a]

lovely bikes, I had one for a few years back in the day

[@brendandoherty2159]

Me too, I had a 500 for a few years then a 650.

[@stevecoscia]

Thanks for the video - very informative. In 1980, I bought a new Honda CM400 but I really wanted the CX500. Unfortunately it was beyond what I could afford. There were boatloads of CX500s on the road in the early 1980s - the bike had a very cool look. I didn't regret owning a CM400, it was reliable, durable and versatile.

[@martinstone3656]

Better known as "The Slug" over here, couriers loved them for there durability and reliability but that was about it.

[@clivewilliams3661]

Honda's take on a baby Guzzi?

[@aeromarine6780]

Never heard it called a slug only the Plastic maggot

[@decoydave]

Back in the day I had a GL400 (same as a CX). Fun bike and the horizontal V twin sounded good. Rock solid engine in these bikes.

[@JoshuaBennett-z7t]

Nice would love to ride that

[@rememberthis8795]

That is a good looking bobber/cafe racer. I sure hope you restore it either as a resto-mod or what Honda produced.

[@EpicATVvlogs]

200 thats my luckey number when it comes to buying bikes 🤣💯🔥

[@lewistaylor1965]

I think the Honda CX500 was the go to motorcycle for a lot of UK courier riders from the 80's into the 90's...I remember seeing them all the time back then and speaking to couriers...The bike was notoriously a bullet proof daily work horse...up there with the BMW R80 of the time...

[@empiresrikesfat]

sounds like Rambo's boat

[@foodpedlarofficial2019]

Joe needs a headband and a compound bow. Getting Vinny to wrestle a cobra or 2.

[@bejayme]

In 1988 i drove a secondhand (the C) one from Johannesburg to Namibia, around the country and back. Repaired the coolingsystem in Windhoek with Parts from Police bikes .. they drove the CX also and it never let me down. Tough thing ! 0:14

[@calholli]

I can tell you RIGHT NOW>. You're only running on one cylinder bud.. I know that sound. You're only running on one side. It sounds way different when both sides are firing. It sounds like you're' only running on the RIGHT side and not the left... I can hear that left side backfiring every now and then --- but it's not pulling on that side. (at least not in the clips you showed)... If you don't believe me- start it and let it idle for a few seconds and touch the pipes... Do it quick before they heat up too much....... I guarantee you one side will be cold. This thing feels WAY more powerful when they are both firing... and you can rev it to like 9000 RPM's.. Don't be afraid to let it SCREAM like a crotch rocket.

[@shedenvy691]

It needs a spacer between the carb and pod filter or a material sock over the pod filter to create greater vacuum then play with jets. Massive fan of the channel by the way

[@gymshoe8862]

I'm three minutes in and I'm shaking my head--how many thousands of great bikes were sacrificed to the effort to create something "different"-- most were EXACTLY the same as all the others--the only thing missing here is the bias-ply Firestone tires so popular with these hacks. The engine/frame/wheels are worth saving, but the rest is a crime than needs to be undone--good luck!

[@Stergos69]

That cafe is awesome, has so much potential. Cant wait to see you get this running perfect & also installing the gauges

[@chrisgolding6771]

Had a cx 500 for a few years and many miles. Shame to see so many modified to cafe racers. A lovely bike and pretty bulletproof.

[@richardrogers4335]

My first bike after passing my test in London . A high-mileage despatch rider's bike that had a bent fork , but damn it that engine was a marvel . Great find

[@patrickmcgee8556]

Why would someone make a cafe style bike from a bike that looks incredibly HEAVY....isn't the point of a cafe bike to be light as possible?

[@rickrandom6734]

Weight is same as in Honda CB 500 four. Not so heavy at all.

[@pirklk]

Thanks for the video. I had this bike in the late 80's. Was my fathers bike and it was a great ride. Great engine, great sound and a reliable sound ride..

[@jasonjgr8580]

Hate when people destroy motorcycles when they turn them into cafe bike.

[@blutey]

The Honda CX500 was very popular with dispatch riders in London UK in the 1980s. Remember it well, seeing them going up and down the streets at the time.

[@ashtonclifford103]

Ccafe bikes are cool lol

[@ThedarkBasshide]

Due to the geometry and shape of that bike, it would be a perfect lowrider custom. It would be much more curious than that modification that "pseudo-coffee racer" now has. Good video! 👍

[@rafaelgeorge-bd7mq]

Firstt🎉🎉

[@Rabenov-wq8qy2qg5t]

That's what HE said 🤣😅😂

[@andyredvolvo9434]

🏅

[@edwinjames6283]

I bought a CX500 brand new back then. Great bike and super dependable. The cafe' mods look cool. Have fun with it.

[@boofer875]

I just came across your site. Don't have time to watch, but I have an '81 GL500. The ONLY thing I don't like is it seems the COG is high with those big cast-in heads. Nearly 50 HP for merging, smooth, quiet, comfortable, inexpensive, simple. Will go home on one cylinder. I have no fairing; just a Spitfire S-06 shield. The 81 GL has transistor ignition, which is good. I use Rotella in all my bikes.

[@antonia4722]

I had 3 of these back in the day. I was a dispatch rider in London and they were great for that job with shaft drive and good ground clearance. Really reliable too. Just to say, they did have a problem with the Cam Chain Tensioner so be aware! Love the Comstar wheels too! Looks quite good as a cafe racer...a bit Moto Guzzi. They had a good design in that the Clutch, which is heavy rotates in the opposite direction to the Crankshaft to counteract Torque reaction, a problem many inline Crankshaft engines have. BMW for example. Nice video..subbed!

[@AnthonyRBlacker]

15:00 in and man so far talk about a diamond in the rough! It is about time you got one like this in such great shape.. this thing is SO good so far!

[@kennethewertz9313]

I would really like for you to bring this bike back for the upgrades and a real ride after that. I dig the look of this bike. Really cool!

[@IronLeague416]

Apologies for not reading all of the comments prior to posting this. 1. It's really hard to get a CX to run correct when you take off the stock exhaust and the stock air filters. You can get close with re-jetting, but it's a pain. 2. Double check that your pod filters are not blocking the venturies at the entrance of the carb. Most "pods" have a lip inside that will block the inlets on the carb throat causing it to run poorly. 3. You saved a lot of money on buying the bike so cheap; invest in a set of Murray's carbs. They are tuned exactly for what you are doing. 4. Enjoy the heck out of it. a 78 CX500 was my first street bike and I have regretted selling it since. Best bike I've ridden.

[@TailSpinRCSpain]

My friend had a CX500, a classic bike, but the early models had a camshaft oiling issue. I rode a Suzuki GS850G at the time.

[@tonnaboy1]

add original silencers and let it be a quiet cruiser again, they sounded so nice in their day, lovely bikes😊

[@ejsman36]

I really hope you have that bike on again after it's running like a beast! That video was such a te!