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I'm a retired guy with a lot of hobbies. I've been riding a MC since I was 18 (1964). I was inspired in my youth by the "Then Came Bronson" series (before "Easy Rider") about a loner on a bike who met babes in every town he stopped in.
Two years ago I sold my old chain-drive 1980 Honda Hawk after I picked up the 1979 cx500 Custom. It had a few problems. It hadn't run in about 5 years... old gas, stiff front brake, broken headlight, missing turn signals, electrical problems, rust, missing plastic side panels, no title... small stuff. I found out that it was cheaper to buy a "parts bike" than parts for a bike.
Now I have eleven (yes 11) cx500's. Years are 1978, 1979, 1980, and 1981. Six are in reasonable shape to ride. The rest I may never get around to. I'll keep them for parts.
I talked to several Honda dealerships about working on my first cx500. I was absolutely stunned by their estimated costs. Undaunted, I bought a Clymer book, then the Haynes book, followed by the Honda manual for cx500's, lastly the Mike Nixon carb repair book. Now I'm fearless. If I screw something up, I've got a spare. Carbs, carb balancing, tuning, brakes, starter, electrical problems no problem. I have Rob Davis to thank for his world-class web site. His advice, instructions, pictures and clear explanations cheered me on.
Most of the bikes I've picked up were neglected... left in a barn or garage to just sit and rot. One of my daily riders, an 80 cx500 Deluxe, sat for 13 years in a garage. It had a mouse nest in the air filter. The gas smelled so bad that I had to place it inside of two air-tight containers so the fumes didn't make me sick. Now it runs like new. I like the wide seat.
Most of the bikes I've owned were Hondas. I gotta tell you. I'm impressed with the engineering. Their stuff holds up over time. I'm not afraid to ride an old bike that hasn't seen macadam in over a decade if its a Honda (and if I was the one working on it).
Russ from Brookfield, CT
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