[Leo.G (Leo)]

My apologies, I had no intention of hijacking the thread with mention of the mighty Honda CX500, my favourite all time motorcycle.



The CX I have is black but it looks so ratty, even with a genuine 39,000 on the clock. I have to get the engine out one day and get it slush blasted to take all of that horrid peeling lacquer off it. Plus I really need to get the forks hard chromed. It's been sitting so long but I do slip it in gear every now and then and turn the back wheel to make sure it hasn't seized.


When my son was born in 94 I only got to ride for a couple of years past then (full time) because his hearing impairment gave him an imbalance (middle ear never formed) and it was prudent I put money into having a car because I wasn't comfortable putting him on a motorbike and he was far from comfortable getting on one.

I keep saying I'll do a ground up restoration one day, just like my 64 Austin Healey Sprite sitting rusting away in my back yard, a project I acquired a lot of years ago already stripped for restoration ( a friend paid a debt with the car). With my migraines I don't get to stuff all I should be doing.


Unipol as I mentioned there were a few tricks with the CX500 (though I would have loved a 650, could never get my hands on one).
I put good Marzocci shocks on the rear, better springs and fork oil in the front forks and slid the front forks up through the triple clamps by around 10mm. This made the steering so much more responsive. Add a good quality fork brace and I used to embarrass sports bike riders on a daily basis. Plus I put the best Pirelli tyres and best brake pads (on the front, drum rear) money could buy. Plus braided brake lines up front.


Timing chain issues were addressed by the 81 model I owned. I can't remember if the 80 model had the upgrade too. I know it was only the original which got the single front disc. Funny, going back 25 odd years ago I was given the EC model and an original 78 model but didn't get to collecting them because I was moving to Young from Sydney and already had a lot of stuff to move. Though now people are doing the cafe conversions and they are very popular for the purpose. Personally I think they all look like crap but each to their own.




I did 200,000 kilometres on my original one two up and carrying a lot of gear (passed it onto my ex brother in law (sans fairing). Everyone says they were ugly but once you realised the reliability and performance of the bikes they were a keeper and they soon grew on you.
I got my first CX by chance, my house mates ( a best friend and his older brother) bought me the CX because the older brother wanted company on a ride to Philip Island in 85 to the 100th anniversary of motorcycling rally and knew I rode. I'd just started a new job and didn't have the cash to buy a bike so they bought it for me and I paid them back a few weeks later. At first I thought "old man's putt putt machine", took it for a test ride, put the thing straight up on the back wheel, got the shock of my life and turned up at the sellers house with the biggest grin. I was sold, instantly.


I miss riding, just waiting for the lotto gods to make it possible.
Oh, I want the impossible in a bike, something I can carry a young lady on, a young lady that may not be a contortionist or gymnast (younger than me, I haven't met her yet). New bikes pillion carrying capacity, seats and pillion pegs are BEYOND STUPID!


Here's a question, I religiously read Australian road rider and constantly see mention by the editor of a 90HP motorcycle being fine for solo riding and occasional pillion work with minimal gear. I could sit my original CX on 180 (indicated) all day, tank bag, Gearsack panniers and Gearsack rack bag and my the wife was NO lightweight (though I was wringing wet at 60Kg). That 50HP carried us and our gear tens of thousands of kilometres without ever missing a beat. The bike never felt sluggish with the load, didn't have the best mid range but was a 500. What's with needing 150HP to carry a pillion and gear or the constant implication without that power it's just not feasible?
Plus the mention they just aren't designed to carry the extra weight?


I had a Honda CB 250 with a Westcar (steel sidecar) and my ex still has (possibly) a Suzuki GT250A with matching Westcar (in very ratty condition, she may not still have it, she never learnt to ride the outfit). Both bikes were capable of hitting 80kph with a passenger (downhill in the slip stream of a semi-trailer with a good tail wind) but the GT250 2 stroke I had to wring it's neck and NEVER put it in 6th.
The CB250 I had I learnt to ride at a young age (with sidecar). It was Richard West's own personal machine to advertise the light weight of the steel sidecar. My CB250 featured in a Two wheels Christmas edition in 75 from memory, photos and story done before I took possession of the rig.


I had an interesting job some years back, I used to ride for East Coast Harley tours. Rhe first mob in Aus doing it. I got to thump around on a new Harley Fat boy with mostly pretty, young ladies on the back and I got $30 per hour for riding. I did some nice rides doing that but must confess, the highlight of my day was always parking the Harley in the owners shed and jumping on my Honda CBX1000 and go for a better ruin through the national park down Sutherland way.