RAGS TO RICHES: A CUSTOM HONDA CX500 STREET TRACKER

[weeksy]

https://www.bikeexif.com/custom-honda-cx500

[Horse]

I quite like that

Nice details (which could be total coincidence) like the red tank paint (perhaps only because of the knee cutouts, it's a stylised Honda wing) aligning with the heads and the line from the frame rail aligning with the seat hump.

[Count Steer]

I like it - the jury is out on the colour scheme though - but I do have a soft spot for the CX500.

I suspect me and Hoss may not be in the majority though.

[Horse]

I like it - the jury is out on the colour scheme though - but I do have a soft spot for the CX500.

I suspect me and Hoss may not be in the majority though.

I do think it ironic that, given the way fairings and bodywork on bikes subsequently developed, that the CX's small headlamp cover and (ok, big) side panels earned it the 'plastic maggot' tag.

Is that soft spot Romney Marsh?

[Count Steer]

I like it - the jury is out on the colour scheme though - but I do have a soft spot for the CX500.

I suspect me and Hoss may not be in the majority though.

I do think it ironic that, given the way fairings and bodywork on bikes subsequently developed, that the CX's small headlamp cover and (ok, big) side panels earned it the 'plastic maggot' tag.

Is that soft spot Romney Marsh?

It did attract a lot of flak for looking a little bit different and for being 'practical'. It was 'workmanlike. A bit wheezy on the power front, a bit on the handling front but a good commuter and despatcher. No chain to constantly faff with, easy peasy maintenance eg valve clearance setting, squirt some OKO in the tyres and you were 'puncture proof.

I did 18k miles in year 1 on mine, all year round, all weathers inc snow

[KungFooBob]

I've travelled this old world of ours from Barnsley to Peru,
I've had sunstroke in the arctic and a swim in Timbuktu,
I've seen unicorns in Burma and a Yeti in Nepal,
And I've danced with ten-foot pygmies in a Montezuma hall,
I've met the King of China and a working Yorkshire miner,
But I've never seen a nice CX500.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I'd like it if it wasn't a CX500, no matter what you do with them the engine looks like a fallen over dustbin with ears.

[Dickyboy]

I really quite like that, nicely done & would be great for blatting about on, not sure about the red engine covers & blue rims but hey that's just being picky.

[MrLongbeard]

Tidy

[Horse]

I don't get how the CX500 acquired this hipster following?

And the BMW K brick too.

Odd

Having owned examples of each is the nearest I've ever been to being kewl

[Count Steer]

If you removed the engine then it wouldn't look bad, but I don't get how the CX500 acquired this hipster following? Is it because of London couriers and trying to appeal to some sort of 'street cred' or old school underground fashion?

There are a lot of them, they're not expensive, they're easy to work on build-wise and low maintenance. They aren't too big, too heavy or too powerful*. Many buyers won't have any idea that they were a favoured couriers weapon (not sure that they were in the USA). They're a relatively cheap way into the custom arena.

*Which won't suit some but has a market.

[Count Steer]

I don't get how the CX500 acquired this hipster following?

And the BMW K brick too.

Odd

Having owned examples of each is the nearest I've ever been to being kewl

I had an old style K too. You and me Hoss, so kewl, hipsters get the chills when we stand near 'em.

[lostboy]

I like that a lot.

[Horse]

@weeksy

Whilst not a rapturous welcome, this has to be the best response so far for any of these you've posted!

[slowsider]

Like.

And it says 650 on the casing.

[Count Steer]

Like.

And it says 650 on the casing.

So it does! Must be American cc's.

Edit: As an aside, when I got mine I was impressed by the tyre size and thought the bike itself was quite big. Saw one again recently, in standard trim, and thought how skinny the tyres looked and how small the bike was. Times change eh?

[Dickyboy]

Like.

And it says 650 on the casing.

So it does! Must be American cc's.

Edit: As an aside, when I got mine I was impressed by the tyre size and thought the bike itself was quite big. Saw one again recently, in standard trim, and thought how skinny the tyres looked and how small the bike was. Times change eh?

More likely the engine is from a gl650 silverwing as the write up explains.. 61hp at the wheel too

[Skub]

Yes,yes. I like that too.

I'm neither a big fan of Homdas in general,nor a CX in particular,but that so easily could have looked naff instead of rather nice.

Skills.

[Taipan]

Bag of shite!

[Count Steer]

Bag of shite!

*plonk*