Greetings from England and thanks for your observations. I bought a really nice low mileage blue 1981 CX500 off eBay and rode it home 200 miles. Had some carb problems with sticking float needles and a broken tachometer cable but all fixed now. The forum is helpful and I've used it to document my fettling. I'm looking forward to many years of CX500 riding. Thanks again.
Glad you’re enjoying your new ride. I recommend you thoroughly check and clean all the electrical connections and grounds for corrosion. The stators can be a weak spot on these bikes so minimizing resistance in the whole electrical system can help prevent stator failure. Also be sure to use Honda coolant or at least a coolant with no silicates, silicates can wipe out the ceramic mechanical water pump seal. The mechanical seal is a great seal as long as the correct coolant is used. Also be sure to set the cam chain adjuster at the suggested intervals. If left without adjustment it will start so slap and wear prematurely. Just a few little maintenance tips to keep your ride trouble free … or at least to a minimum. Enjoy 👍
One more thing….check the plastic cooling fan hub for cracks , it can explode and wipe out the radiator. Be aware that new old stock fans can have fishers and even very noticeable cracks. ( I think a mentioned that in the video). I couldn’t find a good fan after mine exploded so I opted for an electric fan . I would have preferred the oem fan though. Maybe more plentiful in your area.
Yep, thumbs up from Germany, too. At 74 years old now, just had me one of those bikes which we used to make fun of in the earlier years. Nowadays, I don´t need bikes with 100 and excess horsepower any longer. Actually never did. Even more as they are restricting speeds here more and more. So thanks for some really worthy informations and points to know about the "mudpump" as it is nicknamed over here.
I’ve never heard the term “Mud Pump”. It’s amazing how someone will not like something about a bike and start using a derogatory “title” to describe it. This can cause the masses to pick up on the remark and continue its uncalled for journey through the unwitting crowd. For us it has turned out to be a good thing because many who couldn’t overlook the ignorance of those that follow the crowd have left us very good, easily restored specimens…that’s a good thing. 👍 BYW, I now also own one of the rarer gl650s . I love it for interstate rides calling for higher speeds…only because I enjoy the sound of the lower rpm’s. In mind it feels easier on the cam chain, although it’s probably not an issue , just something in the mind of an old guy who drives around in a 29 Model A 😂
@@cobbleup Good example how things can be interpreted wrongly. Fact is I love my cx as well as most of their owners here, and the term mud-pump is understood as a nickname by at least 90 % of all !! bike-owners over here without any negative interpretation whatsoever. Just the opposite !The term was taken from a quite successful comic-movie (they actually made 4 of them ) about the adventures of a young character called "Werner". The story is that he cut the downpipes of a cx, added hoses to both and by starting the engine pumped mud. Physically seen rubbish but as a joke it "did it" ! Eversince the CXs had their nickname and is easily identified where it came from. So, Sir, a little less serious and perhaps just a little more sense of humor (will make the day wherever you live). Regards
I see the humor now that I have the information. Yes it’s easy to come to the wrong conclusion when you’re on the other side of the globe and have no knowledge of what’s been going on over there . 😂
@@cobbleup yes, you are absolutely right. Kind regards from "over the pond" combined with best wishes for some troublefree tours through your "wide country". Was happy enough to visit SD/WY/NE/IO/KY coupla times !
A guy locally on FB marketplace is selling a 1979 cx 500 for $1000. New battery, fresh oil change, carbs cleaned. He states that the speedometer isn't correct and has small oil and coolant leak, but nothing serious. 13,767 original miles. Should I buy it as my first bike?
It could need a new water pump seal. Not necessarily a deal breaker but it may be more than you want to bite off unless you’re willing to do that job. It’s a little intimidating but RU-vid has some very good teachers. If you decide to go for it, it might be wise to do the complete “triple bypass” including a shifter seal and output shaft seal. Be sure to use oem output shaft seal, it has a lip on the outside that retains the drive shaft boot. Other things to watch for is loose)worn steering head bearings, fork seals etc. If you like working on old stuff it can be a welcome challenge but if you’d rather be riding than tinkering you may not want to get involved. But this is true with anything that’s old…. You either love the tinkering and have the time and the heart for it or you don’t.
@cobbleup thanks for the detailed reply. Unfortunately I'm not well versed in this type of tinkering, I may just look for a newer used bike at my local dealership, being new to motorcycles and not having any mechanical know how on them may put me behind the 8 ball and cost me more money in the long run
