Okay, so I’ve been seeing these Honda CX bikes pop up all over the place, and I gotta say, I was intrigued. The retro styling, that classic V-twin engine… it just looked cool. So, I decided to jump in and grab one myself to tinker with. This is how it all went down.
The Hunt
First things first, I needed to find one. These bikes aren’t exactly rolling off the production line anymore, so it was straight to the used market. I spent weeks scouring online classifieds, checking out local listings, and even calling up a few motorcycle salvage yards. Finally, I found one – a 1980 CX500 that had definitely seen better days, but it was complete and the engine turned over, which were my main criteria. So, I bought it.
Getting Started
Once I got the bike home, the real work started. The first step was a thorough inspection. I mean, really thorough. I went over every nut and bolt, checked the wiring, looked for rust, and basically tried to assess the overall condition. Let me tell you, there were some surprises. Nothing major, thankfully, mostly just years of accumulated grime and a few minor electrical gremlins.
The Teardown
Then came the fun part – taking it apart! I started by removing the obvious stuff: the seat, the tank, the side covers. Then I moved on to the more complex components, carefully labeling everything and taking tons of pictures as I went. This is crucial, by the way, because you will forget how things go back together. Trust me.
Cleaning and Repairing
- Carburetors: These were gunked up, as expected. A full cleaning and rebuild kit were in order.
- Forks: The seals were shot, so I replaced those and refilled the forks with fresh oil.
- Brakes: New pads and a thorough bleeding of the brake lines were necessary.
- Wiring: I spent a good chunk of time tracing wires and fixing some questionable connections.
I had to take the engine apart and clean all the corbon deposite.
Putting It All Back Together
After what felt like an eternity of cleaning, repairing, and replacing parts, it was time for reassembly. This is where those pictures and labels really paid off. Slowly but surely, the bike started to take shape again. There were a few moments of frustration, of course, like when I dropped a bolt into the engine case (don’t ask), but overall, it went pretty smoothly.
The First Ride
Finally, the moment of truth. I rolled the bike out of the garage, turned the key, and hit the starter. It sputtered for a few seconds, then roared to life. Success! The first ride was a mix of excitement and nervousness. I took it easy, listening for any strange noises and checking for leaks. It felt amazing to be riding a bike that I had essentially brought back from the dead.
Ongoing Project
Of course, it’s still a work in progress. There are always little things to tweak and improve. But that’s part of the fun, right? I’ve already got some ideas for modifications, like a custom seat and maybe a different exhaust. It’s become a real passion project, and I’m excited to see where it goes from here.