[Zen_]

Hey guys, I'm looking at a CX500 for my first bike. Gona be taking the MSF course in two weeks and this guy just popped up locally on craigslist.



http://lincoln.craigslist.org/mcy/2354052796.html



I'm a little scarred about buying someone I don't know much about but at the same time don't want to pass on a good deal when we're moving into riding season and the used bike market seems to be brisk. So what are some things I should look for as red flags? I noticed cheesy graphics on the tank, which is something I can't live with so worst case how much does a tank job run?



Thanks for any tips!

 

[Blindstitch]

The tank is the least of your worries so live with it. It's going to cost $200-300 to do the tank and you mise well get the side panels to match.



If you figure cosmetics are the problem then you should remember the cost of a repaint and calculate that into a vehicles worth and the amount you are willing to pay.



Check the tire age. Anything over 5 years you can consider needs to be replaced at $135 for the tires alone and not mounting.



Start the bike and listen to how it runs. The bike will chatter because that's how they are. There are videos on youtube of how they run. Shep's bikes run/idle really clean where as some like mine make a bit more chatter. Nothing bad just tap, tap, tap really fast. Ride the bike. See how well it accelerates over 5,000 rpms.



You can check the charge output at the battery with a multimeter. It should be 14-14.5



Look at the forks. Pump them up and down looking for oil leaks or weak springs.



The best thing you could do is ride it. If it really has as low mileage as stated then it should be good to go on the inside of the engine.



If you had a compression tester you could check the compression after warming the bike up. Max should be about 171pounds. But bikes as low as 100 will still do good. Make sure to hold the bike wide open throttle while cranking the engine with the kill switch on. This will give an accurate compression reading.



We could give you a list of infinity if you really wanted.



I've seen that bike before on here. Anyone remember an owner or if it was just a craigslist post?

 

[Trickster]

Looks like a decent ride, needs tires, so offer $750, ultra low mileage if correct, and PO says original tires on it,



so maybe correct. At the bottom of Blindstitchs post is a link to "Quick references", check it out.



Remember $1000 is the sellers starting point, should be able to get $150-200 off because it needs rubber.



Go ahead buy it, you know you want it.

Join the fraternity of CX/GL owners and get on board.



Good luck and keep us posted. This forum knows more about these bikes than any Honda Dealer.

 

[marshallf3]

Worst case take off the tank, mask off the filler cap and petcock area, lightly sand it with 400 wet/dry then shoot it with your choice of Duplicolor enamel paint.



Same thing with the sides.

 

[Tron Ruiz]

not to try to steer you away from that CX but if you're gonna spend $1000 on a CX there's a CL450 Scrambler for almost the same $$$ (<---- that smiley guy is the link )



Definitely offer him less. As a point of reference I just paid $700 for a CX with the same miles that had just had the carbs done and has brand new (about 200 miles on em) tires and I feel like I got a fair deal. There must be a CX fairy cuz some of the dudes on this site have gotten some ridiculous deals.

 

[ScrapMetal]

If I'm not mistaken the 78 cx500 had recall. Check that the vin stamp or engine numbers have a punched hole in them. This indicates the dealer fixed the issue.

 

[marshallf3]

Yea, I could have got mine cheaper had the seller not been so crafty.



When I came out thee he had cleaned up all the evidence that the main seal was leaking. After he did a test ride I could see that there was some leaking, I should have been able to use that along with (didn't know at the time) fact that I'd have to completely replace the exhaust since straight pipes directly from the exhaust headers (no H-box) really messed up the carbs working right. A few other things I could point out like the rattle can paint job that spattered all over the carbs and valve covers etc too that may have got his selling price down to $600 from $800.



But it was low mileage, sounded good and ran/idled extremely well and I had been searching for a CX500 for some time, there's really very few around here. Being over-anxious to own it and him being somewhat of an asshole I just peeled $800, he gave me a helmet (two sizes too big but at least something) and I rode the 20 miles back home with it.

 

[Cobram]

not to try to steer you away from that CX but if you're gonna spend $1000 on a CX there's a CL450 Scrambler for almost the same $$$ (<---- that smiley guy is the link )



Definitely offer him less. As a point of reference I just paid $700 for a CX with the same miles that had just had the carbs done and has brand new (about 200 miles on em) tires and I feel like I got a fair deal. There must be a CX fairy cuz some of the dudes on this site have gotten some ridiculous deals.

Who wouldn't want a bike that's air cooled, chain driven, wire wheels, tube tires, points ignition, cobbled parts from earlier models and is 8 years older than a CX for more money??

Not that it's not a fun bike when it runs right, comparing it to a CX is apples and oranges.

 

[Tron Ruiz]

Who wouldn't want a bike that's air cooled, chain driven, wire wheels, tube tires, points ignition, cobbled parts from earlier models and is 8 years older than a CX for more money??

Not that it's not a fun bike when it runs right, comparing it to a CX is apples and oranges.

there are some circles where a CL450 would be a more desirable bike, we'll call them the rest of the world.



dude is talking about buying a 78 CX for $1000 and then dumping money into it for aesthetics. Is a $1000 '78 CX with a $300 paint job worth $1300?



Depending on which way the wind blows, maybe.



A CL is most likely gonna hold it's value better than a CX.

 

[marshallf3]

A CL is most likely gonna hold it's value better than a CX.



I'm not so sure of that, they built zillions of CLs and not nearly as many CX/GLs.



Has anyone ever written to Honda to get some production numbers?



I was surprised to find they only built 3,147 of my car model and only a handful had the full sunroof like I do.

My Pace Car (that I'll eventually get all the body work done on) there were only 1,000 built and they were all numbered.

Not that they factor that into the blue book price but they should.

 

[Tron Ruiz]

A CL is most likely gonna hold it's value better than a CX.



I'm not so sure of that, they built zillions of CLs and not nearly as many CX/GLs.



Has anyone ever written to Honda to get some production numbers?



I was surprised to find they only built 3,147 of my car model and only a handful had the full sunroof like I do.

My Pace Car (that I'll eventually get all the body work done on) there were only 1,000 built and they were all numbered.

Not that they factor that into the blue book price but they should.

OK well then the Kelly book puts a 71 CL/CB450 at about that sellers asking price of $1300 and values a '78 CX at about $300 less than the seller's asking price.



I'm not hating on the CX, I have one and love it. I'm just saying for dude's $1000 plus maybe he should look at what else is available in his area.

 

[ScrapMetal]

I've noticed our cx's getting more attention. And let's face it, you can't buy a halfway decent deluxe tank for less than $100 these days (glad I bought mine last year). The old adage: never buy a vehicle as an investment; buy it because you love it.

 

[Trickster]

Who wouldn't want a bike that's air cooled, chain driven, wire wheels, tube tires, points ignition, cobbled parts from earlier models and is 8 years older than a CX for more money??

Not that it's not a fun bike when it runs right, comparing it to a CX is apples and oranges.

Yeah I was gonna say the same thing, kinda apples and oranges difference here.



I use this link Nada Guides when comparing values.



Guess what? both bikes if in very good condition, show $1100.



But 2 different rides and all.

 

[Blindstitch]

Ok so what's the verdict. Was it a good buy or did you say good bye to it.

 

[mickeyliv]

man I am buying a 200 dollar 79 cx custom the guy said that the cam tensioner is going out so I am jumping on it.. cant wait!!

 

[Zen_]

Ok so what's the verdict. Was it a good buy or did you say good bye to it.

I started looking into how much of a project repainting the tank would be and got kinda concerned when I read that the 78's were recalled with the valve issue.



Really want to get a CX500 for my first ride, but still have memories of jumping on the first FJ-40 Landcruiser I saw 10 years ago for my first vehicle. It turned into a money pit and was unsafe in every way. Gona try patience this time around for the right bike.

 

[Blindstitch]

I started looking into how much of a project repainting the tank would be and got kinda concerned when I read that the 78's were recalled with the valve issue.



Really want to get a CX500 for my first ride, but still have memories of jumping on the first FJ-40 Landcruiser I saw 10 years ago for my first vehicle. It turned into a money pit and was unsafe in every way. Gona try patience this time around for the right bike.

The "valve" issue is really a dumb reason to narrow down one of these bikes. Everyone seems to bring that up when in reality that same tensioner only costs $60 now and these bikes are 30 years old. Weather it's the first model or the last model those parts could break.



It's like saying I don't want a 78 because they didn't paint the engines. Or because it has a silver starter instead of a black one.



My tensioner was fine after 55,000 miles. The guide on the opposite side somehow broke.



If you want the "best" cx500 then get an 82 since it was the last one.



When you go and look for a bike that you don't want to be a moneypit be prepared to pay a higher price and test the crap out of it. Turn down all the ads that say it needs carb work. It has a .... problem. Just buy the best one and you will be best off.

 

[brihenry]

Make sure to check this part of the frame for rust, apparently water can collect and rust from the inside out.

Great looking bike, 9800 miles is pretty darn low as well.....me likey....you can get it for less, but you couldn't ask for a better beginners bike than this, easy to ride and maintain.....(I say go for it if it runs as nice as it looks....but I am kinda biased

)