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It has been about 18 years since I’ve ridden a motorcycle (not counting the FA50 I bought my daughter last year) back then my bike was a CB125. I must say that so far I love this forum.
So I just got this ’81 CX500D My intention is to use it as a daily commuter (5 miles each way) and take a 300 mile round trip every few weeks. The odometer reads 17363 if this was a car I would assume that the OD has flipped but being a bike I don’t know. I live in the Kansas City area and as far as I can tell I bought the bike from the second owner and it has always lived in the NE Kansas area. The guy I bought the bike from bought it in ’09.
I have drained the tank and cleaned the petcock. As soon as the Red Kote I ordered gets here (should be Friday) I’ll de-rust and line the tank and reinstall. I’m planning on changing the oil this weekend. This past winter the coolant was serviced and “winterized” but not the gas. Some rust in the tank (hence the liner). The original mufflers have been replaced with mufflers from a Harley “big boy”. The bike starts well and runs well under a load (at least up to 30 mph). The idle is normally pretty high but fluctuates any where from 1000 rpms to 5000 rpms (usually about 4000). It has a pretty constant psh psh psh sound while idling. I think that the sound is coming from the left side of the bike. The suspension is spongy (I don’t think that the forks are holding air for long). Also first gear slips out at the slightest provocation. Second and third seem good.
My plan is to line the tank, change the oil, and put some Sea Foam in the gas then ride the bike in for a safety inspection (required in my state). Then I will work on the suspension and other problems as my weekends allow. I will forgo any distances until I get the suspension and idle fixed and understand exactly what the psh psh psh sound is and problems with first gear. I was told that the Hondas shop said the first gear problem was an easy replacement of a $100 part just behind the front cover.
So what are your opinions of my bike and what immediate attention do I need to give her?
So I just got this ’81 CX500D My intention is to use it as a daily commuter (5 miles each way) and take a 300 mile round trip every few weeks. The odometer reads 17363 if this was a car I would assume that the OD has flipped but being a bike I don’t know. I live in the Kansas City area and as far as I can tell I bought the bike from the second owner and it has always lived in the NE Kansas area. The guy I bought the bike from bought it in ’09.
I have drained the tank and cleaned the petcock. As soon as the Red Kote I ordered gets here (should be Friday) I’ll de-rust and line the tank and reinstall. I’m planning on changing the oil this weekend. This past winter the coolant was serviced and “winterized” but not the gas. Some rust in the tank (hence the liner). The original mufflers have been replaced with mufflers from a Harley “big boy”. The bike starts well and runs well under a load (at least up to 30 mph). The idle is normally pretty high but fluctuates any where from 1000 rpms to 5000 rpms (usually about 4000). It has a pretty constant psh psh psh sound while idling. I think that the sound is coming from the left side of the bike. The suspension is spongy (I don’t think that the forks are holding air for long). Also first gear slips out at the slightest provocation. Second and third seem good.
My plan is to line the tank, change the oil, and put some Sea Foam in the gas then ride the bike in for a safety inspection (required in my state). Then I will work on the suspension and other problems as my weekends allow. I will forgo any distances until I get the suspension and idle fixed and understand exactly what the psh psh psh sound is and problems with first gear. I was told that the Hondas shop said the first gear problem was an easy replacement of a $100 part just behind the front cover.
So what are your opinions of my bike and what immediate attention do I need to give her?