The one that got away.

[Bungie]

A long time ago, young Steve bought an 83 Honda CX650E - a machine never sold in the US. Canada/Euro/Australia only. He lusted after this bike before purchase. He managed to get financing and finally had it in his possesion. Life was good. A few weeks later, poor Steve got laid off. The bike had to go.

Frig.

That kind of **** can scar a person. Since then, the years have passed. Gray hairs have appeared. But I still LUST after that damn bike. IMO, one of the best looking bikes ever produced. On and off I'd hunt through the classifieds looking for one. Most of those that I found were either 'customized', really high mileage or just plain old pieces of ****.

Until this past week. I found a low mileage unit (24KM = 15,000 miles). 2nd owner (15+ years). It has a couple of minor issues, the worst being a seized rear caliper. No biggie. The ad had no price listed, given the cherry nature of the bike, I was afraid to ask. I told the owner my story of woe with my CX back in 83. He want's it to go to a good home. Somebody who'll treat it right.

When he told me the price, I wanted to hop in the truck and RUN to pick it up. Instead we talked back and forth and I agreed to send him a really minimal deposit.

So I'm traveling this weekend to pick it up. I AM STOKED!

Actual bike:

Original brochure:

All comes to he waits.

 

[dcarver]

Nice bike. Nice guy. Nice story. Nice, Nice, Nice!

 

[Spud]

Very cool bike. I can see the appeal. Just looking at it you know they spent a lot of time on the details--the drilled wheels for example are really cool. Neat looking motor too. Congrats!

 

[ionbeam]

Good score there Bungie! It looks really nice (to someone old enough to think that this looks like a 'modern motorcycle').

One of the firstest firsts is to check out the stator connector, they burn up 100% of the time. If the bike has one of the foil type main fuses you should source spares or consider updating it with an in-line blade fuse.

That air assisted front fork is there as a fool trap. Never use anything more aggressive than a basketball air pump (notice I avoid mentioning a football air pump

), or best yet, just don't pump it up. Putting 6 lb/ft of air in the forks is simply a way to blow out the fork seals.

Polish up that gem and dazzle everyone with your Not HD chrome machine.

 

[Bungie]

I've done the research on these bikes Alan. I'll be metering the stator connector first thing. Typical Honda electrical system - do you suppose Lucas was under the employ of Toshiro.. In fact, I'll be giving the bike a through inspection before it ever gets ridden anywhere other than test rides.

 

[ionbeam]

The stator tends to be ok, it's the electrical connector on the stator output wires that Honda insisted on using in the 80's that fries. If not fried today, then tomorrow. This was also the time when Honda tried using a battery voltage sense wire to control the regulator. When it worked it was good and when it didn't you got good at replacing batteries or got a continuous fault light on the dash.

 

[bluesdog]

Sweet! More pics after you bring baby home, please.

 

[gregory]

Congrats! That's a nice looking bike

+1 on more photos when you get her home

 

[JamesW]

It always amazes me, the amount of knowledge tucked away on this forum...

 

[Uncle Hud]

That's a good looking bike, and it comes with it's own trunk! You know it's true: you meet the nicest people on a Honda.

 

[HotRodZilla]

That's cool. Nice bike!

 

[metalman]

Wow! Great looking machine. PO took VERY good care of this one.

 

[rushes]

I love it!

Looks like a mini Guzzi...

Congrats!

 

[wheatonFJR]

A long time ago, young Steve bought an 83 Honda CX650E - a machine never sold in the US. Canada/Euro/Australia only. He lusted after this bike before purchase. He managed to get financing and finally had it in his possesion. Life was good. A few weeks later, poor Steve got laid off. The bike had to go.
Frig.

That kind of **** can scar a person. Since then, the years have passed. Gray hairs have appeared. But I still LUST after that damn bike. IMO, one of the best looking bikes ever produced. On and off I'd hunt through the classifieds looking for one. Most of those that I found were either 'customized', really high mileage or just plain old pieces of ****.

Until this past week. I found a low mileage unit (24KM = 15,000 miles). 2nd owner (15+ years). It has a couple of minor issues, the worst being a seized rear caliper. No biggie. The ad had no price listed, given the cherry nature of the bike, I was afraid to ask. I told the owner my story of woe with my CX back in 83. He want's it to go to a good home. Somebody who'll treat it right.

When he told me the price, I wanted to hop in the truck and RUN to pick it up. Instead we talked back and forth and I agreed to send him a really minimal deposit.

So I'm traveling this weekend to pick it up. I AM STOKED!

Actual bike:

Original brochure:

All comes to he waits.

Good for you Steve! This reminds me of the 70s and 80s when Honda was an innovator and cared about new designs. The CX500 came out in the late 70s I believe...really "out of the box" for its day...the 650 is obviously the big brother.

 

[Bungie]

It always amazes me, the amount of knowledge tucked away on this forum...

I know right! When Ionbeam speaks, you'd be wise to listen.

 

[Bungie]

12 hours of driving while getting 15mpg towing a trailer. The CX is now in my possession. Bike isn't as cherry as I'd hoped, but for the price, I'm can't complain.

Geez I had totally forgotten how fantastic these bikes sound. Honestly, they sound like a leaned on small block.

Anyway I'm bushed.pics tomorrow. I suspect this thread will turn into resto/fixer upper thread.

 

[TomInPA]

The picture in the first post looks mint. the bike is 32 years old, so if it isn't a basket case, that's not bad.

 

[Bungie]

Noice!

 

[wheatonFJR]

12 hours of driving while getting 15mpg towing a trailer. The CX is now in my possession. Bike isn't as cherry as I'd hoped, but for the price, I'm can't complain.Geez I had totally forgotten how fantastic these bikes sound. Honestly, they sound like a leaned on small block.

Anyway I'm bushed.pics tomorrow. I suspect this thread will turn into resto/fixer upper thread.

Dammit...soundbite please.