Honda CX500 & GL500 Forum

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06-23-2007, 8:07 PM mine_us_3 Joined on 06-24-2007 Stevens Point, WI Posts 67 CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) I picked up this cx for $100 and started instantly to rip it down.  I'm a 23 year old, own a rocket, and want a chopper/rat bike.  I cut the frame, and raked it out, removed alot of extra crap, made it a hardtail, got a new headlight, and will be painting it gloss and flat black very soon... Here is what I've done so far.  Have a look at the pictures and let me know what ya think!!  its definately not done yet.  <p> Origionally... <p> Now... <p> <p> <p> <p> <p> I removed that big ugly bar that I had holding the rear end up that you see in the other pictures, and tacked these little black tubes in place to make the hard tail... <p>    Report

06-23-2007, 8:45 PM Isaac Joined on 06-04-2007 Orlando, FL Posts 106 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) Good GOD does that thing ever look wicked. It's so long and low now. Did you put new triples in there to rake it out? Cut the frame backbone and reweld at an angle? How'd you do that? Bravo on the bike so far. That's a really nice looking project. Where do you plan on stashing the electrics and battery from the rear? BTW if you've never seen bratstyle customs, I suggest you go there. They have beautiful choppers along the lines of what you're doing. www.bratstyle.com I create steel Frankensteins.    Report

06-23-2007, 8:52 PM R80Dave Joined on 03-03-2006 Appleton, WI Posts 851 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) While it looks cool stretched out like that there are a few things to be considered. I am worried how long the driveshaft will last when it is running at the angles that it is turning. Good thing you are young ... you will need a strong back to ride that any further than around the block with the hard tail. Also, one of the weak links in many people's minds are the forks on a 500. They may not support the weight when they are stretched out that far verses going up and down. David in Wisconsin    Report

06-24-2007, 4:09 AM jamii t reverb Joined on 06-03-2007 harrisburg, pa Posts 29 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) nice, looks cool as hell. if we wanted wussies we wouldve named them "dr quinn" and "medicine woman"    Report

06-24-2007, 7:50 AM mine_us_3 Joined on 06-24-2007 Stevens Point, WI Posts 67 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) About the drve shaft, I'm not super worried about it. I figure that if there was ever a 250 lb guy on it with his 150 lb g/f or wife, (just an example), that the back will squat...thus having the same angle on the rear.  I just see it now as an invisible larger couple sitting on it.    And I'm not super worried about the forks, as the wall thickness is the same as some honda cb400 6" over forks that I have laying around.  And those are meant to be raked out.  If worse comes to worse, I have an extra set of cm400 forks laying around that are the same as my cx forks.   -And about the neck stuff, yeah, I cut it up from the bottom, re welded the inside tube, then re-enforced the outside with I think 1/8" steel.  I'll post some more pics... Thanks for your input!! . Here's the neck, still unpainted. . different headlight . here's where the battery box will go. .    Report

06-24-2007, 8:22 AM Phil in VT Joined on 03-02-2006 Lowgap,NC Posts 1,028 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) It's your bike and it looks cool.  You have really lowered the center of gravity on it in fact it's so low I'll be surprised if you don't center hang going into some parking areas, like I said first, It's your bike and it looks cool. 82 Honda GL 500 SilverWing Trike "Old Yeller" 06 Suzuki S 50 Boulevard Cruiser ANY WARM DAY ABOVE GROUND IS A GOOD ONE (unknown senior citizen) Springfield, VT    Report

06-24-2007, 11:17 AM mine_us_3 Joined on 06-24-2007 Stevens Point, WI Posts 67 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) Ha ha!!  Phil, thats exactly what my wife said.  The first thing she said was...your not going to be able to get into any parking lots just like your volkswagen...  I thought it was funny. -my typical guy answer was...I don't care.  I'm guessing I will tho when I hear a scraping and come to a hault...    Report

06-24-2007, 2:24 PM jamii t reverb Joined on 06-03-2007 harrisburg, pa Posts 29 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) sweet, another cx /vw modder if we wanted wussies we wouldve named them "dr quinn" and "medicine woman"    Report

06-24-2007, 5:41 PM b100koczur Joined on 06-12-2006 duluth minnesota Posts 169 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) Cx and VW are good friends in my garage.  Cx cafe, and VWtdi with Koni's all the way arround. Brian Duluth MN    Report

06-24-2007, 7:31 PM mine_us_3 Joined on 06-24-2007 Stevens Point, WI Posts 67 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) I've got a 92 corrado g60 with lambo doors, lowered, kmc trio rims, and a 2000 watt system...but this is in my "car only" garage.  My bikes have their own "bike only" garage so they don't see much of each other...    Report

06-25-2007, 8:06 AM b100koczur Joined on 06-12-2006 duluth minnesota Posts 169 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) I'm afraid I've only one garage, but it's bigger than my house, so it can accomodate me OK.  Although my house is VERY small. Brian Duluth MN    Report

06-25-2007, 8:17 PM R80Dave Joined on 03-03-2006 Appleton, WI Posts 851 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) Brian, I thought I was the only person with a garage larger than my house ... nice isn't it??? David in Wisconsin    Report

06-25-2007, 8:25 PM Jason in PA Joined on 02-04-2007 Reading PA Posts 37 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) Bad Ass!! I think it's great. I thought the com stars looked out of place with the directing my bike is going. But I think they look great on your ground pounder. I would weld some gussets on the rigid tubing. I would imagine they would break off in no time in the fashion their in on the pictures. If this is just a mock up then I'll shut up now! 82 GL500    Report

06-25-2007, 9:42 PM gheadbarry Joined on 06-26-2007 de per wisconsin Posts 2 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) the raked look is kickass,  keep it up! glad i found you guys.    Report

06-26-2007, 10:13 AM malcolm in UK Joined on 03-02-2006 Tring, UK Posts 61 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) When I saw the "before" pic, I thiught, NO, don't ruin it!  Sell it on for a profit! But looking at how you've lowered it is really good. I particularly like the way the rear mudguard hugs the tyre. Now you've gone this far, please don't "rat" it, (if ratting is the same over there as in uk - matt black and looks as if no-one owns or loves it) add plenty of cosmetic detail - and lots of shiny stuff!!! Malcolm malcolm in UK    Report

06-26-2007, 10:39 AM b100koczur Joined on 06-12-2006 duluth minnesota Posts 169 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) To Dave, Very nice to have a working space you can shut the door on, and walk away to refresh yourself. Brian Duluth MN    Report

06-26-2007, 6:16 PM mine_us_3 Joined on 06-24-2007 Stevens Point, WI Posts 67 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) I made these velocity stacks at work.  I think they look pretty cool.    Report

06-26-2007, 9:44 PM Isaac Joined on 06-04-2007 Orlando, FL Posts 106 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked)  mine_us_3 wrote: I made these velocity stacks at work.  I think they look pretty cool. Damn, that makes me wish my "at work" wasn't a newspaper. I create steel Frankensteins.    Report

06-27-2007, 1:09 PM Anonymous Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) Like Malcolm, I would be hesitant to chop and rat a bike that looked so nice as when you bought it.  My 1978, on the other hand, is quite ratty right now and I would have gladly traded it and an extra '79 engine for the one you started with.  LOL!  But then, I'm not very much of a chopper or rat bike afficionado.  My butt won't stand the hardtail and the apehanger bars you chopper guys like so much causes the blood to run out of my hands and arms.  With the low seats and forward controls choppers have, your riding position is like getting a gyno exam at the sex clinic!  LOL! HOWEVER, if that's what you like, do the best job you can and make it truly yours!  There is nothing quite like living life your own way and being somewhat original.  I know a lot about that!   Good Luck! Shari

06-27-2007, 6:19 PM mine_us_3 Joined on 06-24-2007 Stevens Point, WI Posts 67 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) I painted the front end today, mounted the headlight, and the speedo.  I used the stock speedo and centered it and painted it.  So as it sits, the front should be finished, except for the random wiring.  All I have left for wiring is for the headlight, kill switch, start button and light for the speedo...everything else has been removed. And I will let you all know, that when I "rat" it out, I was gunna go all flat black and stuff, but now I am doing this just like my rocket.  Flat black frame, forks, bars, and engine, and gloss black rims, tank, fender, and rims.  I want this bike to look all origional , like nothing you've seen made out of a honda cx, or such.  here is a link to see the finished pictures of my rocket http://www.fzrarchives.com/ipb/index.php?showtopic=32667&st=0 .    Report

06-27-2007, 8:59 PM Jay in NYC Joined on 04-29-2007 Brooklyn, NY Posts 153 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) Damn.  That thing looks bad-ass. 1978 CX 500 MAC 2-1 Drag Bars Cafe headlight/turn signals    Report

06-27-2007, 9:33 PM ChopperCharles Joined on 02-18-2006 Chapel Hill, NC Posts 432 Re: CX Chopper project. (lowered and raked) Also, one of the weak links in many people's minds are the forks on a 500. They may not support the weight when they are stretched out that far verses going up and down. I ran 8" over tubes and had a massively raked steering stem and no problems with the forks. I went through fork seals every 6000 miles or so, but the forks themselves worked fine. I did have a fork brace, though.  Charles. 87 TW200 84 V65 Magna (x2) 75 GL1000 (in pieces) 78 CB550K 82 VT500C Shadow Location: Durham, NC