Welcome to 80s Honda CX500 vs CB500 vs GB500 (standard models)

**Merlin.pgd** · 14th March 2013, 16:14

Hey guys and girls,

For my next bike I'm looking at getting a cafe racer (flat seat) and I'm tossing between the CX500, CB500 and GB500 to change the seat, handlebar and the muffler to my liking, but I haven't got any knowledge on these bikes and the attached pictures are very similar to what I have in mind.

Please let me know if you have any recommendation on which model is the best for this type of conversion or is less likely require engine rebuild.

Cheers

**ducatilover** · 14th March 2013, 16:34

Can't go wrong with any of them. There's a few real neat GBs on Tardme at the mo.
I'd love to have one of each, but if I were to pick one it'd be the CX

Engine rebuild depends more on the bike's history

The GB is the simplest but also the most common and overdone one in NZ
CX in my head is the coolest (just for the mini-Guzzi style)
CB is probably the best all round machine and can look amazeballs as a cafe.

**Cam_Valk** · 14th March 2013, 18:50

bikeexif.com is a great source of inspiration.

Im hanging out for a decent CB/GB.

**AllanB** · 14th March 2013, 20:10

I spied three cafe Cx500 (might have been a 400 in there, they are identical other than cc) fatting along in CHCH last Sunday. Having fun!

CB500/4? seen some tidy cafe examples.

CX is a good base to play with and way ahead of it's time when released. Honda should reinvent it as a CX1200 and out Guzz Guzzi!

**Matt_TG** · 14th March 2013, 21:06

I had a CX and it was easy to work on - the only hassle with them is the stator can fry and to get to it requires removal and splitting the engine case - if you can get a second hand stator that is. It's not impossible though and I even managed it. The engine style suits a modded cafe racer style for sure!

**Merlin.pgd** · 15th March 2013, 08:02

Thanks for the great comments guys!

I prefer the CX myself, but I wasn't sure if I had made the right decision, but by the sound of it I have made the right decision

**ducatilover** · 15th March 2013, 08:31

Originally Posted by Matt_TG

I had a CX and it was easy to work on - the only hassle with them is the stator can fry and to get to it requires removal and splitting the engine case - if you can get a second hand stator that is. It's not impossible though and I even managed it. The engine style suits a modded cafe racer style for sure!

Early ones had a poo ignition system didn't they? I may be thinking of something else though.

**leathel** · 15th March 2013, 08:31

there was a couple of CX bikes sold on trademe recently...soooo tempted to buy one but I ended up with a cruiser

They are a true classic

**Merlin.pgd** · 15th March 2013, 08:50

Originally Posted by leathel

there was a couple of CX bikes sold on trademe recently...soooo tempted to buy one but I ended up with a cruiser

They are a true classic

Good on you mate! That would be my future plan to get a Yamaha XVS and make it in to a bobber, it would look good next to the cafe racer

**leathel** · 15th March 2013, 10:34

Originally Posted by Merlin.pgd

Good on you mate! That would be my future plan to get a Yamaha XVS and make it in to a bobber, it would look good next to the cafe racer

Do they make other brands of bikes..... every one I have owned has been a Honda

One day I might end up with another brand.... just they way it has gone

**Merlin.pgd** · 15th March 2013, 14:51

Originally Posted by leathel

Do they make other brands of bikes..... every one I have owned has been a Honda

One day I might end up with another brand.... just they way it has gone

OK, xvs or the Shadow

**munster** · 15th March 2013, 20:10

Originally Posted by leathel

Do they make other brands of bikes..... every one I have owned has been a Honda

Dave - Shhhh - Don't mention Honda's on here . . . . . .

**Road kill** · 16th March 2013, 10:22

Many years ago I was moving 100 2 year old bulls down the road to a new paddock an while dog looked after things at the back I ducked ahead on the XR to open the road gate into the new paddock just to find two guys on new CX Hondas sitting in the shade under a tree just inside the gate.
Stopped to tell em' what was coming an mentioned that I had a T500 Suzuki and then found they were up an coming KB members when they both started taking the piss out of my old T.
So I said nothing but did stand back an watch them shit bricks when 100 young bulls came through the gate and went into fresh grass mode.

Funny as fuck and I always think of that day when I hear of Hondas fucking horrible CX thing.

**AllanB** · 16th March 2013, 12:02

Originally Posted by Road kill

Many years ago I was moving 100 2 year old bulls down the road to a new paddock an while dog looked after things at the back I ducked ahead on the XR to open the road gate into the new paddock just to find two guys on new CX Hondas sitting in the shade under a tree just inside the gate.
Stopped to tell em' what was coming an mentioned that I had a T500 Suzuki and then found they were up an coming KB members when they both started taking the piss out of my old T.
So I said nothing but did stand back an watch them shit bricks when 100 young bulls came through the gate and went into fresh grass mode.

Funny as fuck and I always think of that day when I hear of Hondas fucking horrible CX thing.

That cannot be true - "you meet the nicest people on a Honda"

Still for the T? I loved the sound of them on full song.

**gammaguy** · 16th March 2013, 16:31

Originally Posted by Matt_TG

I had a CX and it was easy to work on - the only hassle with them is the stator can fry and to get to it requires removal and splitting the engine case - if you can get a second hand stator that is. It's not impossible though and I even managed it. The engine style suits a modded cafe racer style for sure!

New stators still available and engine has to be removed but not split