[jbcurt00]

I am pursuing 2 CX500s:

1979 CX500 Custom
and
1981 CX500 Deluxe

Both are decent shape but are 3.5 & 5hrs from the house.

Any benefit to either (neither?) to pick up a 1982 CX500 Custom for parts?


The parts bike is close to the 1981, but I may be w/in an hour of the parts bike at the end of this week.

All 3 are the Ruddy Plum almost brown w gold pinstripping and have titles. From title-less boats, I know getting a clean title isn't as easy as some sellers suggest.

The parts bike will be the easiest to put eyes and hands on.

Complete rookie @vintage or 40yr old bikes..... but have owned a sport bike in the past and just got a 2022 sport bike I don't ride as much as I'd like. The CX500 would be more of an around town errands ride...

Keep the rubber side down...

 

[bahn88]

The 82 bike will have different ignition than the earlier bikes. (1981 and earlier CDI).
Most deluxe parts like tanks and seats wont fit the custom.

Make sure the 82 is actually a 82 (and not registered then before discounting it)

 

[jbcurt00]

Thanks @bahn88
Is there a vin decoder in here somewhere?

I took a quick look around and didnt see 1.

Dealing w old boats, www.hindecoder.com was a huge asset.

 

[bahn88]

Thanks @bahn88
Is there a vin decoder in here somewhere?

I took a quick look around and didnt see 1.

Dealing w old boats, www.hindecoder.com was a huge asset.

This is the only one I know-but others may have more USA info....

Serial Numbers - Honda CX and GL Wiki

motovillage.org

 

[ZXtasy]

Welcome! You might find a thing or 2 about CX-500's here....maybe. Really a huge resource of info and experience, plus you are in By God WV and close to the Mecca of all things CX, Murray's Carbs. IF you like getting your hands greasy. IF you like exploring M/C technology from when Jimmy Carter was in office, (didn't he promise US the metric system?), then I would grab all 3 CX bikes and go to town. You can probably make your money back in selling off parts to this crowd. LOL. I am just having fun doing a ground up resto mod on a crusty 1978. My old ZX-10R is still my daily ride, for when its not cold and snowing.

 

[jlbutler81]

plus you are in By God WV and close to the Mecca of all things CX, Murray's Carbs.

Thought Murray's was in North Carolina?

 

[ZXtasy]

Thought Murray's was in North Carolina?

Yeas, close as in relative to him. Measured in couple hundred miles not couple thousand + as to me. Crows flight that is.

 

[Sidecar Bob]

Make sure the 82 is actually a 82 (and not registered then before discounting it)

In North America the papers should show the model year no matter when it was first registered.

 

[Randall-in-Mpls]

They should, but not always. It depends on how accurately the dealer filed the paperwork. The Grub is mistitled as a' 79 Deluxe.

 

[Sidecar Bob]

OK. If it was mine I'd think about having that corrected.

At any rate, if/when you look at them check the VIN plate attached to the steering head. It should have the VIN, model, date of manufacture and the model year.
The model year is what actually matters. Production of this year's models generally ends some time around September and for the rest of the year they make next year's model so that the distributors (especially in North America) can have stock in time for the winter & spring bike shows.

 

[Randall-in-Mpls]

OK. If it was mine I'd think about having that corrected.

I have considered it. The biggest reason would be to make it easier to distinguish the registration from the actual '79 Deluxe frame that I have paper for.
I'm not sure how much of a Pandora's box of hassle that would open.

 

[Sidecar Bob]

Just after I got my first bike ('78 GS400) I noticed that the serial number on the frame began "GS400xxxxx" but number on the ownership said "G5400xxxxx". I was advised that I'd better get it corrected because I could find myself not covered by insurance if I had an accident and the numbers didn't match.
I went to the local MOT office and asked how to fix it and the fellow on the counter said they needed proof of the correct number. I said "It's parked outside, come and look". He said "I'm not allowed to leave the counter" then gave me a piece of paper and a pencil and told me to come back with a rubbing of the number and he could accept that.
Of course, that was obviously a simple typo.

I would imagine having the title corrected on a bike you've had that long could be a bigger issue, though. Depending on the person behind the counter and the mood they were in that day....

 

[Randall-in-Mpls]

The VIN is correct, and that's really what matters.

 

[richnct]

A 1980 CX Deluxe I obtained last year had one VIN digit incorrect on the registration. I too was concerned that my insurance policy VIN would not agree with my registration or the VIN tag (pick one). Since I had to have a no cost vehicle safety inspection (due to bikes age) I had them verify the bikes VIN and correct it. Easy peasy, and free. Vehicle safety inspections here are simple, stall the bike with the brakes and demonstrate the lights all work. 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[jlbutler81]

Complete rookie @vintage or 40yr old bikes..... but have owned a sport bike in the past and just got a 2022 sport bike I don't ride as much as I'd like. The CX500 would be more of an around town errands ride...

Keep the rubber side down...

I know this doesn't answer the question, but..

Your Ninja 400 is an around town errand bike that just happens to look like a sport bike. I have a Ninja 300 and wouldn't dare call it a sport bike

I'd be curious to know how much of a parts bike the '82 is, if it's got better electrical than the 81 it would be my preference to go with that but engine/mechanical shape I'd think to be of the most concern.

 

[jbcurt00]

82 parts bike was 1 step from derelict

Found a CX650 outside Akron OH if anyone is interested @murrayf ?¿? maybe? There's a parts bin cx650 outside Harrisburg PA too..

Guy with the 81 (was an 80, not 81) changed his mind and is keeping it.

Currently working on a deal for a 1980, which was also mis-labeled in his ad too..

We shall see..

 

[bahn88]

Keep us updated......hopefully youll find a good machine....keep in mind its not unusual to see the bikes "Year" incorrect on ads or registration papers.....once its misquoted it tends to carry thru'.. .

 

[jbcurt00]

....keep in mind its not unusual to see the bikes "Year" incorrect on ads or registration papers.....once its misquoted it tends to carry thru'.. .

I'm used to mis-ID'd years from an addiction to old aluminum boats & outboards. Was just odd 2 1980s in a row were both labeled 1981, had the correct label on the neck and both sellers knew label w year was there....

Latest 1 has 1980 on title too so its an 80. Making offer today.

 

[Sidecar Bob]

Are you going by the model year or the date of manufacture? Both are on the VIN plate but most bikes made for the North American market are made in the last quarter of the year before so that they can get to the distributors in time for the winter bike shows.

 

[Randall-in-Mpls]

Given the motorcycle market in 1980, there would be a lot of inventory carried into 1981. The dealership office worker filing the registration paperwork probably never saw the VIN tag, and likely filled in 1981 our of habit.
My '78 is titled as a '79, for that reason, I assume.