keep the 82 honda cx500t or get the 92 suzuki katana

CX500 & CX650 Turbo Forum

keep the 82 honda cx500t or get the 92 suzuki katana


Anonymous 03-25-2008, 5:04 PM
    hello guys, i haven't bought the honda yet. it belongs to my in-law and wants 500 for it. It runs pretty decent, other than at hard accelaration the fuel system light comes on sometimes, and it's a little shaky in neutral. It has only 16K miles on it. The fairing needs repainting and touch-up and needs some TLC for cosmetic reasons. My good friend found me a bike from his friend who doesn't ride as often. it's a 92 suzuki katana. it's either 600 or 750. only has 20K miles and it's in a great condition and spotless. I can get it for 750-800 bucks. i looked them up in kelly blue book and if they were at their top shape, 92 katana goes for $2175 and the 82 cx500t goes for 2550. I cant make up my mind. What do you guys think?

Re: keep the 82 honda cx500t or get the 92 suzuki katana


dozer1 03-25-2008, 6:54 PM
This is a CX500Turbo?For $500?Thats the best deal of the century, from what I hear the turbos are super fast(WAY faster than a Katana)and not to mention much more rare, cool,shaft driven,and if they are anywhere near as reliable as the standard CX.....its a no brainer.If you end up not getting it, where is this bike located?
1980 CX500 Ratbike "Stella"
1979 CX500 Deluxe(Parts)
Dozer1 AKA Snowplow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TK5VY90ILs&feature=related

Re: keep the 82 honda cx500t or get the 92 suzuki katana


Timothy_D 03-25-2008, 7:07 PM
It's probably a sticky wastegate, which is a pretty easy fix with a pair of vise grips and some mouse milk.

$500.00 for as turbo?  hell, if it was a dog, you could part it out and make a killing.

Two CX500 Turbos, GL650I, CX650C, CX650E.

Why do I own five bikes? Because I'm not married. DUH! (and I haven't taken a vacation in two years. . . . )

Re: keep the 82 honda cx500t or get the 92 suzuki katana


George in Indiana 03-25-2008, 9:52 PM

As far as telling you what to buy, that's difficult to say without knowing you. The 500T is a special interest bike. The technology in it puts my Hayabusa to shame. Learning how they work inside and out is all part of the fun of owning one. For instance, when the "fuel system" light turns on, LEDs on the side of the computer light up a code and will tell you what's wrong with the bike. You'd be hard pressed to find a bike from just a few years ago that can do that...completely insane technology for 1982.
Outside of changing tires, most dealers won't touch them and many parts are no longer available from Honda but we find other alternatives.
The biggest problem with the turbo bikes is the stator. If you go more than 15K miles you're lucky. Replacement involves removing the engine and splitting cases.

If you want to own one and enjoy it vs. keeping it as a garage queen investment you need to do research and stay active in the forums. There's an incredible amount of info out there. I don't even want to think of what owning one of these bikes would be like if the internet did not exist.

And that $2550 will get you a CXT in "ok" condition unless you get lucky and find someone who doesn't know what they have. Top shape and low miles could reach nearly double that.

The CXTs are like an '80s Porsche 928...expensive, classic, complicated, rare and exotic.
The '92 Katana is like a '92 V6 Camaro...slow but reliable, dime-a-dozen, parts are everywhere and anyone can fix them. It's "just another bike" but a safe choice for most people.

If you pass on the 500T, please post some info on who's selling it. If it's even remotely close to me I'll buy it.

CX500 TURBO
CX650 TURBO
'86 Honda Elite 150 Deluxe
'04 GSX1300R Hayabusa

Re: keep the 82 honda cx500t or get the 92 suzuki katana


JasonX 03-25-2008, 10:36 PM


well, here are the pics of both bikes. I'm keeping the Honda. I always had a thing for it, just had some extra push to keep it. sorry, forgot to login when i first posted. Thanks again. :) Now, it's time to restore. I'm excited.

Re: keep the 82 honda cx500t or get the 92 suzuki katana


JasonX 03-26-2008, 8:58 PM
when you said sticky wastegate, do you mean for the shaking problem in neutral, or the fuel system light at hard accelaration? mouse milk? btw don't know where the wastegate is yet and what i'll do with the vise grips, but i'll figure it out. thanks a bunch.

Re: keep the 82 honda cx500t or get the 92 suzuki katana


Timothy_D 03-26-2008, 10:24 PM
First thing, you'll need a cx500 turbo shop manual.  IMMEDIATELY.

The wastegate is an integral part of the turbo system.  The IHI turbocharger is fully capable of generating 40 lbs of boost, but the system and engine are designed for about 19 lbs.  The wastegate opens to vent excess pressure.
When it malfunctions (namely seizes, or won't open properly), it will trigger a failsafe mode at full boost.  I recently had this problem, but was able to solve it with an aviation grade penetrating oil called "Mouse Milk" (available from a company called Airline Spruce)
.
You spray the oil on the wastegate actuating rod at the wastegate spring.  The vise grips are attached to the actuating rod and you use a crescent wrench, slowly (and very carefully) putting pressure on the rod to break the stuck wastegate free. 

You can also go to the Australian forum to get a different approach by making a wastegate freeing tool.

Two CX500 Turbos, GL650I, CX650C, CX650E.

Why do I own five bikes? Because I'm not married. DUH! (and I haven't taken a vacation in two years. . . . )

Re: keep the 82 honda cx500t or get the 92 suzuki katana


Anonymous 06-21-2008, 6:16 PM

Interesting problem. I have an '82 CXT and if I use full throttle the fuel system light comes on probably due to a sticking waste gate. However, if I use about half throttle the light doesn't come on and I get phenomenal acceleration when overtaking in top gear from about 60mph. I assume that I am getting more than the designed boost of 19psi using it like this and as long as I don't experience any mechanical failures like it is I prefer it the way it is and adjust my throttle use to suit. Sometimes the waste gate doesn't stick and the boost builds more steadily, probably as designed but it isn't half as exciting or fun as using it the way it is. It is far more driveable and has much less turbo lag the way it is and yet still returns over 50mpg. Maybe there's a case for altering the wastegate opening mechanism to simulate my experience but I wouldn't advise it for possible reliability issues. But, the way it is, I love it's instant punch in top gear and would be loathed to "fix it" permanently. I remember reading about experiences with some aftermarket turbo instalations on normaly aspirated bikes and they had adjustable wastegates to allow you to choose the amount of boost you wanted. I wonder if this is possible on the CXT by some simple modification and will investigate as an exercise soon. I will add that I do not get any detonation problems as it is and the bike accelerates as smooth as silk, just extremely rapidly, all it requires is measured throttle use. I am now used to it to feel when the excess boost will suddenly open the wastgate and trigger the warning light, and use the throttle to keep boost just below that threshold and wow, does it fly!!!

Andy.

Re: keep the 82 honda cx500t or get the 92 suzuki katana


Timothy_D 06-26-2008, 8:51 PM
You can get the same effect by putting a boost valve on your bike and fixing your wastegate.

Cost of boost valve: $41.99.
Cost of Mouse Milk: $5.25.
Cost of shipping: $10.00
Never having to worry about tripping failsafe mode:
PRICELESS.


Two CX500 Turbos, GL650I, CX650C, CX650E.

Why do I own five bikes? Because I'm not married. DUH! (and I haven't taken a vacation in two years. . . . )

Re: keep the 82 honda cx500t or get the 92 suzuki katana


CXTURBOBOOST 06-27-2008, 6:15 AM
Computer goes into "safe" mode just before 22 psi. You can remove the waste gate to work on it, or send it to a shop and have them rebuild it to spec and be done with it.

Pete

Re: keep the 82 honda cx500t or get the 92 suzuki katana


Anonymous 06-27-2008, 9:14 PM
Well, for those prices, why not buy both. That way you can discover which one matches your style...Who knows, it may be neither. In my opinion, the turbos are not for everyone. Boosting can get quite addictive.... some people have a hard time riding sanely when it is called for..

J.T.

Copyright 1978-2006 Charles E. Smith

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