The Honda CX500 is a surprise hit with cafe racer builders. It’s relatively heavy, it’s water cooled, and it has shaft drive. The frame has an odd, inelegant curve at the rear, and it isn’t particularly stiff either.
On the up side, there are quite a few CX500s still kicking around. The engine looks good, with a Moto Guzzi-style V-twin layout. And because the CX500 doesn’t have the cachet of Honda’s CB series, in most markets a CX500 is cheaper to buy secondhand for a cafe racer project.
Honda made several variants between 1978 and 1983, including the slightly mad Turbo—which boosted engine output from a sensible 48 horsepower to a reputed 82.
When Honda released the CX500 in 1978, they had no idea how significant it would become in the custom world roughly four decades later. Initially released to scores of adoring fans, it eventually fell out of favor—and its design hasn’t aged well. But the revival of the café racer scene has meant a resurgence in…
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A Honda CX500 headlines this week, resplendent in classic John Player Special colors. We also cover a 1957 Indian Trailblazer, a Magni MV Agusta, a Super73 e-bike destined for Burning Man, and a look back at this year’s Auerberg Klassik event.
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There’s nothing pretty about the Honda CX500, but it does have its charms. Case in point: the owner of this CX500 picked the bike for its engine’s industrial looks and rev-happy nature. For the rest, he turned to BJ English at Brick House Builds in Missouri. BJ’s no stranger to the humble Honda V-twin, and…
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Some motorcycles lend themselves to customization, and need just a few tasteful mods to look great. But the Honda CX500 is not one of them. Sure, there’s potential there—but you have to know how to extract it. Harry Blaise Fryer has cracked the code. Built with help from London’s Jackson Motorcycles, his CX500 is a…
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Against all odds, the eternally goofy Honda CX500 has become a popular choice for custom projects. But it’s hard to get ‘right,’…
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It seems strange to see tire warmers on a Honda CX500. The CX is known for its unique engine layout, shaft drive…
Read more »For better or worse, some mods have become commonplace. Air boxes get removed, smaller batteries get installed, and subframes are almost always…
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Remember the notorious Honda ATC250R three-wheeler? Now you can get that funky 1980s style without the dodgy third wheel. And if you…
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Most marques have a golden era—that time when they dominated a race series, etching into memory iconic motorcycles and liveries. Honda has…
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We live in strange times. So it feels right to kick off 2017 with one of the strangest customs we’ve seen in…
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When faced with a Honda CX500 in the shop, the first thing most builders do is ‘fix’ the frame. It looks awkward…
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The turnaround in the reputation of the Honda CX500 is quite remarkable. Despite its unsavory nicknames, the water-cooled V-twin is now in…
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