[slightly.dusty]

Hello everyone! Last week I purchased a 1982 CX500 that someone had stripped down to cafe before life got in the way for them. It came as a block, a frame, and several boxes of parts.

I paid $800, 22k miles on the odo. Frame is rust free. Did I get ripped off?

Over the week I’ve done some basic engine integrity checks and started throwing it all back together. Basically all the bare minimum safety and legal stuff to get it rolling and riding. My intent is to ride it mostly as-is this summer and then over the rainy Seattle winter.. cafe it!

Some of the progress pics are below.

 

[Randall-in-Mpls]

Welcome aboard, and welcome to the old motorcycle adventure.

 

[FuzzFace2]

I think the only way you could have done better and not gotten ripped off is if the bike was together and got it for the $800
Enjoy
Dave ----

 

[nolimitz]

been there done that with my sons GL basket case. 5 years later she's still running with constant upkeep!
Welcome aboard

 

[Sidecar Bob]

Welcome to the forum. Please add your location and your bike's model and model year to your profile so that you don't have to remember to tell us every time and we don't have to keep asking when you forget (see Forum Settings link in my signature).

And welcome to the world of antique vehicle ownership (they own us, not the other way around). Your bike is about 4 decades old and may or may not have had all of the maintenance necessary to keep it safe & reliable so it is highly recommended to download the Factory Shop Manual for your model (available through the CX Wiki - link in my signature) and go through all of the service procedures, regardless of whether your bike has reached the specified mileage.
I also recommend looking on all rubber parts with suspicion because rubber does not age gracefully. Check the date codes on your tires and replace them if they are over 5 years old no matter how good they look & feel (old rubber simply cannot flow around the irregularities in the asphalt well enough to grip, especially if it is cool or wet). If your bike still has the original rubber brake line(s) (should be replaced every 2 or 3 fluid changes = 5 or 6 years) I recommend shopping for modern stainless braided ones (they last practically forever and double the life of the fluid). And don't forget things like the rad hoses and the boot between the engine and swingarm (they can crack on the bottom where you don't see it).

The best advice anyone can give you about customizing any vehicle is to get it safe & reliable in more or less original condition and use it for a while before you start making any changes so it can tell you what changes it needs to make it do what you want/need better. That approach almost always results in something you actually want to keep and use but making changes based on style or on what someone else (who may or may not really understand how the changes affect the way it works) has done often results in a piece of expensive yard art that you can't stand sitting on for more than a few minutes and might even be dangerous.

 

[sacruickshank]

looks like a reasonable deal since the tank appears to be in good shape

 

[Rayman]

years ago - before anyone but owners knew what a cx500 was - I bought one that had been dismantled and put in boxes - it was my second CX -
i paid the princely sum of $AU200 + trailer hire to get it home.
when I say dismantled - down to the bare crank ....

the amazing part - putting it back together - the only piece missing - the front oil jet that feeds to the gearbox ( and I cant be certain I wasnt tthe one who lost it)....

wont see that sort of bargain again I guess !

Rayman