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CX500 & CX650 Turbo Forum
Started by Anonymous at 03-28-2006 12:41 PM. Topic has 15 replies.
  
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 03-28-2006, 12:41 PM
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Anonymous
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I am looking into buying a CX500 in the near future and was hoping someone could help me out with a few question I have regaurding the bike. I am new motorcycling and this would be my first bike and something to learn on and eventually build up and restore. I am looking to buy a reliable bike that dosent nessesarily need to be in the best cosmetic condition. Due to my price range, many of the bikes i have seen have been sitting for a long time (up to eight years) and i know that this can cause complications. does this bike suffer form anything inparticular as far as sitting around is concerned, could the engine be seized? is it easy to find parts for? any information regaurding these bikes, level of difficulty to repair, or cost to repair, would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Matt
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03-28-2006, 3:14 PM
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ChopperCharles
 
Joined on 02-18-2006
Chapel Hill, NC
Posts 561
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The CX500 is a very good choice as a first bike. You can find a nicely running bike in nice cosmetic shape for right around $1000. I've seen running bikes in bad cosmetic shape go for as low as $300.
The CX is overall a very reliable bike. They don't tend to lockup with sitting (unless the plugs are out or the carbs are off), and they don't tend to have any serious mechanical problems. (200,000 miles is not uncommon on this engine). Parts are cheap and plentiful on eBay. The bike is a decent beginners bike, but it's also a good all-around bike. It can easily cruise at 80mph on the highway, it will do 100mph if you've got the balls, but it's also easy to handle and won't scare you when you're learning. (Hell, my 2003 Ace 750 won't even do 100mph!!)
If you're buying used, it's always good to buy a running bike. Scour eBay and the classifieds and you'll find one eventually.
Things to look out for:
Evidance of coolant or oil leaking on the back of the engine casing, under the carbs. This is an engine-out repair. You can do it yourself for under $100 with all the parts and gaskets. A dealership will charge you $500 or more just in labor to take the engine out.
Check that the battery charges, and on pre-1982 models make sure that the bike runs through the gears without bucking, spitting, or hesitating. While such symptoms may appear to be carb-related, they may be stator related, since the stator runs the CDI ignition system. This is another engine-out repair.
On high mileage engines (50,000 miles or more) listen closely for cam chain rattle from the back cover. If you're hearing a rattle, you may need to replace the cam chain and tensioner. Another engine-out repair. (Not to be confused with the normal sewing machine sounds or the valves ticking, mind you)
Note that well-maintained bikes are much less likely to have any of these problems.
I don't want to scare you off, the CX is a wonderfully reliable bike, and the few major engine-out repairs are really not all that bad. The engine comes out with 6 bolts and drops straight down. You don't even have to remove the radiator. It's much more common to find a CX that has never had any of these problems, and that has given it's owner several decades and many tens of thousands of miles of service without any problems whatsoever.
For a complete beginner, I recommend you buy a nice, but not too nice example. Spend more than $500, but less than $1000. Slap a pair of 11" short shocks on it and scooch the front forks up in the trees. It will make the bike MUCH less top-heavy, and much more suitable to the beginning rider. You can always change it back later if you find you're driving like a maniac and scraping your footpegs everywhere.
Charles.
87 TW200
84 V65 Magna
75 GL1000 (in pieces)
79 CX500 Custom
79 CX500 Deluxe
81 GL500 Interstate
Location: Durham, NC
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03-28-2006, 6:00 PM
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Anonymous
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Thanks for all the useful info, it really helps out. I'll keep searching, i think the CX sounds perfect.
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03-29-2006, 2:19 PM
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Anonymous
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See my "Buying Tips" and "Good and Bad Points" pages.
http://www.cx500.webhop.org
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03-24-2007, 11:02 AM
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Anonymous
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I just bought a cx 650 1983. Got it running, was not running. The right pipe comming out of the cylinder got red hot when I let run for 20 minutes. Is that a radiator problem. How do you change fluid, what is the best way to clean radiator. kalizma13@yahoo.com
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03-24-2007, 1:10 PM
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Phil in VT
Joined on 03-02-2006
Lowgap,NC
Posts 1,041
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This anonymous to anonymous is like eavesdropping on a confessional. Hmmmm?
06 Suzuki S 50 Boulevard Cruiser
ANY WARM DAY ABOVE GROUND IS A GOOD ONE
(unknown senior citizen)
Springfield, VT
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03-24-2007, 2:24 PM
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George in Indiana
Joined on 03-03-2006
Posts 835
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![Devil [6]](/cs/emoticons/emotion-14.gif)
Re: Buying a CX500
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Forgive me Father for I have sinned.
I bought a Suzuki.
CX500 TURBO
CX650 TURBO
'86 Honda Elite 150 Deluxe
'04 GSX1300R Hayabusa
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03-24-2007, 4:55 PM
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Phil in VT
Joined on 03-02-2006
Lowgap,NC
Posts 1,041
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HAHA
06 Suzuki S 50 Boulevard Cruiser
ANY WARM DAY ABOVE GROUND IS A GOOD ONE
(unknown senior citizen)
Springfield, VT
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03-26-2007, 10:08 AM
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RichNCT
Joined on 03-02-2006
Connecticut, USA
Posts 3,194
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Kalizma13, If only one pipe got hot (red hot may be a a little bit of an exaggeration?) I would first think you're (fuel) lean on that side, and that can be very bad for the engine. I'd go for carb cleaning and adjustment or air leak in the intake manifold or carb connections, and check that you have the right spark plugs. And don't continue to run it if it gets too hot, find out what is wrong. The exhaust header is double walled, and the 650s tend to blue the chrome due to heat anyway, but your's sounds like it is excessively hot.
Your 650 has an electric fan, did it come on? I wouldn't think radiator cleaning as a first step, although it might be a good move at some point.
Born to be relatively wild (for a grampa)
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07-01-2009, 5:50 AM
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BORNAGAINBIKER
Joined on 07-01-2009
MANCHESTER UK
Posts 18
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Hello ChopperCharles and greetings to all. can you explain what I would need to do to make my recently purchased cx500 less top heavy. Many thanks and regards from the uk.
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07-02-2009, 11:44 AM
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wildmanwill
Joined on 05-25-2008
Chester County, Pennsylvania
Posts 3,679
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wow way to bring back an old thread...
1983 CX650 T
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07-02-2009, 2:42 PM
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BORNAGAINBIKER
Joined on 07-01-2009
MANCHESTER UK
Posts 18
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"scooch the front forks up in the trees" Please forgive my ignorance but what is meant by this. Thank you guys.
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07-02-2009, 4:35 PM
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RichNCT
Joined on 03-02-2006
Connecticut, USA
Posts 3,194
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Trees refers to the triple tree, the assembly that clamps the two fork tubes and to which the handlebars are connected. Loosen the four clamp bolts and lower the front of the bike an inch or so, then retighten the four clamps.
Born to be relatively wild (for a grampa)
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07-05-2009, 2:11 AM
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BORNAGAINBIKER
Joined on 07-01-2009
MANCHESTER UK
Posts 18
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Thank you for the information. Will look into lowering rear suspension as well but don,t wish to unbalance the bike. Regards from the uk.
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07-08-2009, 7:58 AM
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wildmanwill
Joined on 05-25-2008
Chester County, Pennsylvania
Posts 3,679
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Welcome to the forum, don't forget to add your bike and your location to your profile, see this thread for more info if you don't know how to do it.
1983 CX650 T
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