Honda CX500 & GL500 Forum

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02-02-2010, 7:00 PM nvr2old Joined on 02-02-2010 Spokane, WA USA Posts 12 New member-my CX500 Turbo Just came on board after owning my Turbo for the last 18 years or so.  I love this bike.  Other than the dreaded stator replacement, it's been absolutely bulletproof reliable.  It's the only bike I own that after sitting through 6 months of winter, lights off immediately and idles away w/o touching the throttle.  It's got about 53K on it now, and runs as good as the day it came out of the crate.  I mostly just use it for touring now, trying to keep the mileage down a bit.  I want this thing forever.  Here's a few pics.  I painted it to look more like the prototype right after I bought it.  I actually did 4 paint jobs like this in all, all 4 of the bikes coming from the dealership I used to work at when they came out. 1982 Honda CX500 Turbo 1982 Honda MB5-CR80 engine 1976 Honda CB550F SS cafe' 1972 Honda XL250-street fighter/motard 1977 Honda GL1000 naked Goldwing 1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley replica    Report

02-02-2010, 10:39 PM phogroian Joined on 01-23-2009 Falls Church, VA USA Posts 94 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo It's a beautiful paint job and it really compliments the gold anodized wheels and fork.  Have you polished or clear coated the engine, or is that the original finish?  Congratulations on keeping the rubber side down for 53K miles- it doesn't look as if it has ever fallen over!    Report

02-03-2010, 1:02 AM spanish bandit Joined on 02-12-2009 southern spain Posts 4,998 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo wow nvr2old,that is stunning,something to be really proud of. i see you have just joined,so a big welcome from the south of spain. can you spend a few minutes to update your signiture and avitar , including your bikes details,and where in the world you live this will help you  http://choppercharles.com/cs/forums/93116/ShowPost.aspx#93116 when i feel the need,i do it,llego,ve 60,s ----------------------------- 2008.1982 honda gli silverwing [uk model ] 2010.1981 honda gli silverwing [uk model ]    Report

02-03-2010, 1:04 PM showkey Joined on 03-02-2007 Northern IL Posts 70 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo Best non stock Turbo paint...............hands down CX500T 1982 (3) Transalp 1989 GL1100 1983 XL250R 1987 NT650 1988 TRX250 1986 CT90 1972 C70 1981 XR250R 1994    Report

02-03-2010, 3:23 PM nvr2old Joined on 02-02-2010 Spokane, WA USA Posts 12 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo  phogroian wrote: It's a beautiful paint job and it really compliments the gold anodized wheels and fork.  Have you polished or clear coated the engine, or is that the original finish?  Congratulations on keeping the rubber side down for 53K miles- it doesn't look as if it has ever fallen over! Thanks for the compliment.  When we saw the CX500TC prototype at the Las Vegas Dealer Convention, (1980, I believe) the gold paint blew us away.  When the bike was released with the grey and florescent orange stripes, I have to admit, I was a little disappointed, so I painted one like mine right out of the crate for a co-worker.  Several customers saw that and wanted the same treatment.  I had to wait a few years to get one, but immediately painted it, too. .l always thought the gold looked so right.  Same stripe design, too, just different colors.  The engine finish is original.  I've touched up and polished the valve covers, but everything else is factory.  This bike has never fallen over or been down before, and I hope to never have to pick it up from one..knock on wood.. 1982 Honda CX500 Turbo 1982 Honda MB5-CR80 engine 1976 Honda CB550F SS cafe' 1972 Honda XL250-street fighter/motard 1977 Honda GL1000 naked Goldwing 1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley replica    Report

02-03-2010, 3:33 PM nvr2old Joined on 02-02-2010 Spokane, WA USA Posts 12 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo  spanish bandit wrote: wow nvr2old,that is stunning,something to be really proud of. i see you have just joined,so a big welcome from the south of spain. can you spend a few minutes to update your signiture and avitar , including your bikes details,and where in the world you live this will help you  http://choppercharles.com/cs/forums/93116/ShowPost.aspx#93116 My Dad was in the military.  We spent 18 months just outside of Madrid.  Beautiful country, would love to go back some day.  I live in Spokane, Washington, USA now.  My CX was used when I bought it with just under 30K on the clock.  First thing I did was put a 140 mph speedo in it from a CB900F.  Perfect match. All I've done is to maintain it with a very strict adherence to oil, coolant, and correct spark plug changes, plus valve adjustments.  It's had a few fork seal replacements, rear end oil, good tires and brake pads always.  The seat was recovered before I bought it.  I would love to find a nice original with the white pin stripes, but have yet to run across one.  If anyone knows of one, I'd be very interested.  I'll also update as suggested.  Thanks. 1982 Honda CX500 Turbo 1982 Honda MB5-CR80 engine 1976 Honda CB550F SS cafe' 1972 Honda XL250-street fighter/motard 1977 Honda GL1000 naked Goldwing 1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley replica    Report

02-03-2010, 3:41 PM nvr2old Joined on 02-02-2010 Spokane, WA USA Posts 12 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo  showkey wrote: Best non stock Turbo paint...............hands down Very kind of you.  It was important to me to keep it as stock looking as possible but with what I always thought Honda should've done. 1982 Honda CX500 Turbo 1982 Honda MB5-CR80 engine 1976 Honda CB550F SS cafe' 1972 Honda XL250-street fighter/motard 1977 Honda GL1000 naked Goldwing 1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley replica    Report

02-03-2010, 4:16 PM Timothy_D Joined on 04-22-2006 Santa Rosa, CA Posts 1,580 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo If you are interested in restoring the seat, you can get a stencil from www.bdesigns.ca. Prep the seat, stencil it, paint it, and ya done. Gonna be a whole lot cheaper than buying a NOS seat.  I paid $300.00 for mine, and it was the Canadian model with the dummy strap. CX500 Turbo, GL650I, Two CX650E's, and one Crown Jewel of the CX line- CX650T. Why do I own five CX/GL bikes? Ask an alcoholic why he drinks. Donating Member. Sold: 1981 CX500D, 2- 1982 CX500T's, 1983 CX650C.    Report

02-03-2010, 4:30 PM nvr2old Joined on 02-02-2010 Spokane, WA USA Posts 12 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo I  thought that might work.  The stripes are no problem..it was always the tiny Honda script..argh.  Thanks for a link to a stencil.  That would be very cool and much cheaper.  1982 Honda CX500 Turbo 1982 Honda MB5-CR80 engine 1976 Honda CB550F SS cafe' 1972 Honda XL250-street fighter/motard 1977 Honda GL1000 naked Goldwing 1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley replica    Report

02-03-2010, 5:36 PM Spacetiger Joined on 05-16-2009 Chantilly, VA Posts 1,353 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo nvr2old, Swap out the front discs with GL 1100 or CP900C front discs. Same diameter and I thing same bolt pattern. These are the brake discs on the pre 1982 CX 500 Turbo models. Check out some of the preproduction pics and you will see what I mean. I think there are some other little changes, but harder to do. You did the hardest one when you painted the bike. Very nice. Jerry 90 PC 800 (commuting steed) 82 GL500I (50+mpg, great bike) 66 BMW R 50/2 (No brakes/HP) 80 CX500C (Loved this bike) 74 CB360 (Fun; but too small) 79 CX500D (40,000+ mi in 3 years) 76 CB550 (step up from 200cc) 74 KZ200 (1st bike!)    Report

02-03-2010, 7:17 PM nvr2old Joined on 02-02-2010 Spokane, WA USA Posts 12 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo Ya know..every CX500 Turbo that I've ever ridden has had  "mushy" feeling front brakes.  Even with stainless lines, different pads, bleeding with no air bubbles..very frustrating.  I've just learned to live with it and adjust to it.  My best friend, whose 500 brand new was the same, now has a 650 Turbo and the brakes are night and day difference.  They're firm at the lever and work waaayy better.  The components all look the same, but the 500's have always been less effective.  If that disk swap helps cure that, I'm all for it.  As much as I love this bike, I'm also blown away by the improvements in the 650. 1982 Honda CX500 Turbo 1982 Honda MB5-CR80 engine 1976 Honda CB550F SS cafe' 1972 Honda XL250-street fighter/motard 1977 Honda GL1000 naked Goldwing 1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley replica    Report

02-03-2010, 7:49 PM CXTURBOBOOST Joined on 05-02-2007 Lincoln, NE Posts 436 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo The 650 has some performance improvements, but the fit and finish of the 500T is far in excess of that of the 650T. The 500T was the original... The 650T was "let's make it cheaper" I like your paint job, but I also appreciate the original for what it is. Obviously you are a turbo enthusiast, and that is something to be admired. You can get the 500T breaks firm with steel lines, a reuild master kit, and proper bleeding. The 650T front calipers house bigger pistons...Thus the master cylinder is also different. I'm not so sure why you couldn't put 650 front brake system on the 500. I 've never tried to know if all the caliper mounting is the same? Pete    Report

02-03-2010, 8:01 PM Timothy_D Joined on 04-22-2006 Santa Rosa, CA Posts 1,580 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo Actually, my 500T with steel braided lines stops MUCH better than my 650T. CX500 Turbo, GL650I, Two CX650E's, and one Crown Jewel of the CX line- CX650T. Why do I own five CX/GL bikes? Ask an alcoholic why he drinks. Donating Member. Sold: 1981 CX500D, 2- 1982 CX500T's, 1983 CX650C.    Report

02-03-2010, 8:48 PM showkey Joined on 03-02-2007 Northern IL Posts 70 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo <BLOCKQUOTE><table width="85%"><tr><td class="txt4"><img src="/cs/Themes/default/images/icon-quote.gif">&nbsp;<strong>Timothy_D wrote:</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="quoteTable"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="100%" valign="top" class="txt4">Actually, my 500T with steel braided lines stops MUCH better than my 650T.<br><br><br></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE> My 500T front brake feels better than my Goldwing.....riding the bikes back to back really gets your attention CX500T 1982 (3) Transalp 1989 GL1100 1983 XL250R 1987 NT650 1988 TRX250 1986 CT90 1972 C70 1981 XR250R 1994    Report

02-03-2010, 10:53 PM Pim206Gti Joined on 11-26-2009 Netherlands, Europe Posts 71 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo  nvr2old wrote: First thing I did was put a 140 mph speedo in it from a CB900F.  Perfect match. Is your trip reset knob then still functional ? Which model CB900F ( A,B,C,D) ?? The closest model speedometer I have seen was from a GL1200. Pim Honda CBX1000 A ( exploded in my garage ) Honda CX500 Turbo ( summer fun ) Honda CB450S ( cheap - winter fun ) Golden boomerang wheels rock ............    Report

02-04-2010, 12:03 AM spanish bandit Joined on 02-12-2009 southern spain Posts 4,998 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo  nvr2old wrote:  spanish bandit wrote: wow nvr2old,that is stunning,something to be really proud of. i see you have just joined,so a big welcome from the south of spain. can you spend a few minutes to update your signiture and avitar , including your bikes details,and where in the world you live this will help you  http://choppercharles.com/cs/forums/93116/ShowPost.aspx#93116 My Dad was in the military.  We spent 18 months just outside of Madrid.  Beautiful country, would love to go back some day.  I live in Spokane, Washington, USA now.  My CX was used when I bought it with just under 30K on the clock.  First thing I did was put a 140 mph speedo in it from a CB900F.  Perfect match. All I've done is to maintain it with a very strict adherence to oil, coolant, and correct spark plug changes, plus valve adjustments.  It's had a few fork seal replacements, rear end oil, good tires and brake pads always.  The seat was recovered before I bought it.  I would love to find a nice original with the white pin stripes, but have yet to run across one.  If anyone knows of one, I'd be very interested.  I'll also update as suggested.  Thanks. thanks for updating.if you ever come this way again,look me up.all the best with your superb bike when i feel the need,i do it,llego,ve 60,s ----------------------------- 2008.1982 honda gli silverwing [uk model ] 2010.1981 honda gli silverwing [uk model ]    Report

02-04-2010, 3:14 PM nvr2old Joined on 02-02-2010 Spokane, WA USA Posts 12 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo  CXTURBOBOOST wrote: The 650 has some performance improvements, but the fit and finish of the 500T is far in excess of that of the 650T. The 500T was the original... The 650T was "let's make it cheaper" I like your paint job, but I also appreciate the original for what it is. Obviously you are a turbo enthusiast, and that is something to be admired. You can get the 500T breaks firm with steel lines, a reuild master kit, and proper bleeding. The 650T front calipers house bigger pistons...Thus the master cylinder is also different. I'm not so sure why you couldn't put 650 front brake system on the 500. I 've never tried to know if all the caliper mounting is the same? Pete I think what I like most with the 650 is the power delivery compared to the 500.  It feels more like it's supercharged with so little time spent spooling up compared to the 500.  20 extra ponies and 175 more cc's made a huge difference.  Honda also shaved some weight off the 650 just by making the fairing out of ABS instead of fiberglass.  What I didn't care so much for was the taller bars and mirrors, and discontinuing the gold anodized wheels.  The 650 also seems to vibrate at highway speeds a bit more than the 500.  But boy, twist the throttle, and the 650 hauls butt!  Nice collection lined up there, by the way..pretty easy to make comparisons I'm assuming.. 1982 Honda CX500 Turbo 1982 Honda MB5-CR80 engine 1976 Honda CB550F SS cafe' 1972 Honda XL250-street fighter/motard 1977 Honda GL1000 naked Goldwing 1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley replica    Report

02-04-2010, 3:26 PM nvr2old Joined on 02-02-2010 Spokane, WA USA Posts 12 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo  Pim206Gti wrote:  nvr2old wrote: First thing I did was put a 140 mph speedo in it from a CB900F.  Perfect match. Is your trip reset knob then still functional ? Which model CB900F ( A,B,C,D) ?? The closest model speedometer I have seen was from a GL1200. Pim Yep, an '81 Honda CB900F Super Sport speedometer fit right in.  Same gauge face as the CX500TC, and the trip meter works the same.  Not sure what the A-B-C-D designation is..a European-only-thing possibly (?).  Stateside, as far as I know, they were just called CB900F's. 1982 Honda CX500 Turbo 1982 Honda MB5-CR80 engine 1976 Honda CB550F SS cafe' 1972 Honda XL250-street fighter/motard 1977 Honda GL1000 naked Goldwing 1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley replica    Report

02-04-2010, 4:01 PM Abes_CW Joined on 04-17-2007 saskatoon Posts 3,007 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo nvr2old, well done, beautiful bike sir! 1983 GL650i Had 4 CX/GL's at one point this year, down to one, next spring is another adventure! age 38 (29 plus tax)    Report

02-04-2010, 4:51 PM CXTURBOBOOST Joined on 05-02-2007 Lincoln, NE Posts 436 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo Europe kept the gold anodized wheels. Yes, the extra torque is nice. If they would have started with the 650, the CXT may not have flopped. Many things are missing including the resonance chamber on the 650T. Pete    Report

02-04-2010, 5:42 PM nvr2old Joined on 02-02-2010 Spokane, WA USA Posts 12 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo Europeans get all the cool stuff..  (just kidding..sort of..)  I wish Honda would have sold the CX650E model here.  I really liked that bike, too.  Would love to ride one.  I'm always amazed, and forgive me if you've heard this a 1,000 times on this site, how misunderstood the Turbo's are. They might not have beaten the liter bikes of the time like all the magazines hoped, and the technology freaked out a lot of people.  I remember customers backing away because they thought.." the computer certainly couldn't last, and, $5,000..I can buy a CBX for that."  Mine has been a great bike.  All the parts (including the computer) have worked perfectly for almost 30 years now.  It does everything I want, quickly and smoothly.  Loaded with gear or two up makes no difference in power or handling.  How can you go wrong with a self-diagnosing, turbo charged, fuel injected, shaft drive, liquid cooled, foot peg scratching piece of art?. 1982 Honda CX500 Turbo 1982 Honda MB5-CR80 engine 1976 Honda CB550F SS cafe' 1972 Honda XL250-street fighter/motard 1977 Honda GL1000 naked Goldwing 1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley replica    Report

02-04-2010, 5:49 PM Spacetiger Joined on 05-16-2009 Chantilly, VA Posts 1,353 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo take a look at the caliper bodies. THere is a number on the side (could be 25, 30, or 32). I think they will be 30. One change could be to swap to 32 dual piston calipers and change out the master cylinder for one with a smaller diameter cylinder (stock is 14mm). You can get expensive [aftermarket] ones or less expensive [stock] ones. I went with Suzuki GS450 master cyclinder (12.7mm); cost less than $45. The changes should get you to about a 25 to 1 ratio. If you get the air out of the system, it should have a great feel. One day I'll finish my project of swapping over. Jerry 90 PC 800 (commuting steed) 82 GL500I (50+mpg, great bike) 66 BMW R 50/2 (No brakes/HP) 80 CX500C (Loved this bike) 74 CB360 (Fun; but too small) 79 CX500D (40,000+ mi in 3 years) 76 CB550 (step up from 200cc) 74 KZ200 (1st bike!)    Report

04-02-2010, 10:56 AM TonyG Joined on 04-05-2006 Central Pa Posts 745 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo I'm agreed, by far, the best non stock paint job on a 500 turbo I've seen; and am of the opinion that it is better than what they brought out in production. Could you give a rundown on the colors? The red has a candy apple depth to it. Is the the gold a metal flake? So it's candy apple red, blue/gray and goldish brown? White with Pearl and gold with gold metal flake (actual Gold) would be too cool. I see your alos missing the Helmet holder sticker... unless it didn't come on the 500. BD designs also has those.    Report

04-02-2010, 11:03 AM TonyG Joined on 04-05-2006 Central Pa Posts 745 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo Wondering also if the rear fender is off of an "E" or if there were different types of rear fenders. The one I have has a small reflector near the bottom of the fender.    Report

04-02-2010, 2:02 PM nvr2old Joined on 02-02-2010 Spokane, WA USA Posts 12 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo  TonyG wrote: I'm agreed, by far, the best non stock paint job on a 500 turbo I've seen; and am of the opinion that it is better than what they brought out in production. Could you give a rundown on the colors? The red has a candy apple depth to it. Is the the gold a metal flake? So it's candy apple red, blue/gray and goldish brown? White with Pearl and gold with gold metal flake (actual Gold) would be too cool. I see your alos missing the Helmet holder sticker... unless it didn't come on the 500. BD designs also has those. Thanks very much for the compliment.  The colors are:  As close to the factory pearl white as I could get with a dusting of gold pearl..  The gold is a mid 70's Lincoln color that came on Mark IV's, the red is a candy Honda Antares red, (the same that came out on Goldwings) that needed a silver base coat first, and the gray is as close to the factory gray as I could get, all buried under clear.  I removed all the decals and stickers for a cleaner look.  I really wanted to make this paint job look as factory as I could, but with what I thought the factory should've done.  I never cared for the day-glo orange stripes, although some would disagree. 1982 Honda CX500 Turbo 1982 Honda MB5-CR80 engine 1976 Honda CB550F SS cafe' 1972 Honda XL250-street fighter/motard 1977 Honda GL1000 naked Goldwing 1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley replica    Report

04-02-2010, 2:10 PM nvr2old Joined on 02-02-2010 Spokane, WA USA Posts 12 Re: New member-my CX500 Turbo  TonyG wrote: Wondering also if the rear fender is off of an "E" or if there were different types of rear fenders. The one I have has a small reflector near the bottom of the fender. It is the stock fender.  I just removed the reflector and filled the hole with a hard rubber plug that I sanded smooth to fit the contour, then repainted the fender with black semi-gloss Plasti-Coat paint.  I also removed the reflectors from the forks, all just to clean it up a little.  ( I do still have those reflectors stashed away, though.) 1982 Honda CX500 Turbo 1982 Honda MB5-CR80 engine 1976 Honda CB550F SS cafe' 1972 Honda XL250-street fighter/motard 1977 Honda GL1000 naked Goldwing 1979 Suzuki GS1000S Wes Cooley replica    Report

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