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07-08-2008, 11:34 PM Hughes Joined on 07-05-2008 Renton, WA Posts 36 Floorboards on my '79 CX 500 So I am interested in getting some floor boards for my bike, I like to be comfortable, and I figure my wife does too. So, I hit up the local bike wrecking yard/store, called "Bentbike" in our area. I found where they sell new floorboards for 60 bucks, sort of cheap ones. They might have worked, but I was looking for something different, and didn't want to spend 120 bucks. (I'd really like a Interstate set like I've seen photos of... I can dream right?). So, I found a bunch of old ones in various states of disrepair. I picked out two sets that looked like I could make them work and asked at the front counter, how much they might be? The manager/owner, I don't know who, but he asked if I had a GL1000? (one of the sets was labeled as coming off that bike). I said nope. He asked if I knew how to weld? I said nope... He said that he didn't think I'd be able to mount them on my bike. I explained to him that even though I don't know how to weld, and even though my bike might not have come with them, I'm confident I'll figure something out. He took me out back to look at some bikes and continued to try and disuade me from buying them by showing me different bikes, and how the CX500 wasn't designed to have floorboards (I wasn't the least bit discouraged)... I told him that my father used to say the same thing to me. He pretty much has given up. (ha ha ha!!!!) So, I asked him again, how much? He said, 50 bucks for the big ones, and 40 bucks for the "cobra" labeled ones. Cool. With that, I purchased them and was out the door. First thing. I figured the rear boards would be the easiest to install so worked on those first. And that's all I've done today. I took the rear peg off (14 mm socket if I recall correctly). And noticed that the same exact thread on that bolt holding the rear peg was also the same thread that the Cobra boards had inside them. That got me thinking. I thought maybe if I had a long enough threaded rod I could just attach it to the bike. So, I went down to the local nut and bolts shop (Tacoma Screw), and inquired. I was told that they were a M10 fine thread. Which they didn't have anything but bolts and nuts in that thread size, no threaded rods. OK... I'll try a differnt way. I purchased a 4 bolts and lock washers and figured I'd make a bracket. Stopped at the Hardware store and picked up some flat bar material that actually was intended to hold a gate for a fence. Looked strong enough for a bracket to me. I got two of them. In the photo below you can see the 14mm bolt threaded into the cobra board and the bolts and brackets I purchased to make it work. When I got home, I had intended to cut and drill holes to fit. But, decided to try them just as they were. They worked sort of,  but they flexed too much for my liking. So, I cut them down to size and drilled a hole for the bolt. After looking at it, I probably could trim it even more... maybe later. Worked pretty much like I imagined. Only thing I think I'll have to do is make some "Set screws" to prevent it from rotating. What I did was simply tighten them down really good, but I'm sure that won't last. Took a test run with my wife, and she was so impressed, she absolutely loves the feeling of not worrying about foot placement. They turned out pretty good. Not too close to my feet, and in a good location. This was more difficult that I imagined. I usually just think about how to modify something. This time I was trying to remember to take a photo every once in a while... Funny, how it made it more difficult. But, by in large this wasn't really that difficult a modification at all. Even I could do it with my limited skills and tools. (hack saw and drill... wrenches). 1979 CX 500 Custom    Report

07-09-2008, 5:28 PM tntchitwood Joined on 03-02-2008 Pine Knot, KY Posts 509 Re: Floorboards on my '79 CX 500 Looks good. '82 Silverwing Chopper '02 750 Shadow http://choppercharles.com/cs/forums/29599/ShowPost.aspx    Report

07-09-2008, 6:25 PM Natrik Joined on 04-17-2008 Eugene, Oregon Posts 253 Re: Floorboards on my '79 CX 500 I like those a LOT. I've been pondering a set of GL1000 floorboards over at Cyclepsycho's for a while now, so I'm interested to see what you come up with for those. I wish I could find a set just like those Cobra's for a good deal... If it wasn't for physics and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable..... 1980 CX500 Custom, Hondian    Report

07-10-2008, 6:46 AM Hughes Joined on 07-05-2008 Renton, WA Posts 36 Re: Floorboards on my '79 CX 500 Thanks, and I was looking on line, I don't know if they sell the chrome Cobra's anymore. I found some black ones that looked identical other wise. 200 bucks though (ouch!). I might start on the front boards this weekend, depends on time as always... 1979 CX 500 Custom    Report

07-13-2008, 5:29 PM Hughes Joined on 07-05-2008 Renton, WA Posts 36 Re: Floorboards on my '79 CX 500 Started on the front units today... too hot and too much other stuff to do so I only did one side, and the fabrication/attachment is more involved... I figured I could attach them using 1/8 inch thick flat steel I had laying around. So, I made this little bracket after much pondering and holding the floorboards up to the bike where I'd like them. I decided to cut them down as I made them too long (much other fiddeling and changing things around also goes on during this process) and I bent it so that board would lay flat or lean in slightly. On the bike: I decided to attach to the fairing bracket, it seemed stout enough to hold half my resting leg. Other angles of the "Finished" job (I don't know that I'm ever finished...). My long legs reach it quite easily, and it doesn't interfer with the steering of the front wheel. The advantage of the board is that there are many more positions my foot can be in, as opposed to a freeway bar. Stoked. Now to test ride with one foot up... 1979 CX 500 Custom    Report

07-13-2008, 8:32 PM Blindstitch2002 Joined on 05-16-2007 Greenfield Wisconsin Posts 1,708 Re: Floorboards on my '79 CX 500 Not to criticize but something about that 4th picture doesn't look safe. Are you sure they don't interfer? 1979 Honda Cx500 Custom    Report

07-14-2008, 7:09 AM Hughes Joined on 07-05-2008 Renton, WA Posts 36 Re: Floorboards on my '79 CX 500 This one? I know it looks awfully close. There really isn't any clearance issue. While setting it up I had the front wheel cranked over so I could see how much room I had. I rode it for about an hour yesterday and put it through it's paces. Only thing was it rattled, or something has started rattling, it could be the radiator trim... that bugged me, I'll have to track that down. The other thing I thought of, that I didn't before, was the idea of using flat bar, makes it like a wing, so that it's more susceptible to head winds or cross winds... Might have to re-think that. But, over all I was happy, and riding with one foot out like that was rather relaxing! 1979 CX 500 Custom    Report

07-14-2008, 8:43 AM Blindstitch2002 Joined on 05-16-2007 Greenfield Wisconsin Posts 1,708 Re: Floorboards on my '79 CX 500 That's the image. It just looks way out there. How long are your legs. Any longer you could just put some pegs on the forks. 1979 Honda Cx500 Custom    Report

07-14-2008, 8:49 AM Blindstitch2002 Joined on 05-16-2007 Greenfield Wisconsin Posts 1,708 Re: Floorboards on my '79 CX 500 If you had another set like the smaller ones I would suggest that you make up a bar like Natrik that was shorter across with a nut on the end to do what you did with the rears. 640)this.width=640;if(this.height>480)this.height=480;" border="0"> 640)this.width=640;if(this.height>480)this.height=480;" border="0"> 1979 Honda Cx500 Custom    Report

07-15-2008, 3:32 PM Hughes Joined on 07-05-2008 Renton, WA Posts 36 Re: Floorboards on my '79 CX 500 I like those bars and was thinking about them as I fabricated my own. I don't weld though so.... If both sides were done, I'd really like it. It's nearly a perfect spot to stretch my legs. A couple more photos. Maybe you can see the clearance from the wheel? side shot: 1979 CX 500 Custom    Report

07-15-2008, 3:41 PM Natrik Joined on 04-17-2008 Eugene, Oregon Posts 253 Re: Floorboards on my '79 CX 500 That doesn't look bad at all. It looks as though you have as much leg stretch as I do with my highway bar. The first pic made them look a lot bigger than these new pics do. That's going to be comfortable! If it wasn't for physics and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable..... 1980 CX500 Custom, Hondian    Report

07-15-2008, 6:19 PM Hughes Joined on 07-05-2008 Renton, WA Posts 36 Re: Floorboards on my '79 CX 500 Thanks. I want it to be comfortable. I thought about the angle and position. I wanted the angle to be not too steep so when I rest my foot there, that bumps and things don't bounce it off, and that I can move my foot around to get slightly different position. I'll have to get one of me driving by.... 1979 CX 500 Custom    Report

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