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Post by yorric on Apr 17, 2007 18:31:03 GMT
I was just pondering as one does after a successful head gasket change on my CX500 - (4 hours strip down & clean & another 4 to rebuild it) How many of us have a plastic maggot or two? Is it a common trait due to the CX having shaft drive the same as the Divvy 9? Or do some of us simply have good taste? I keep seeing them mentioned in threads. Anyway I have a CX500Z back on the road - BIG GRIN FACTOR - although the brakes & suspension (or lack of them) do command respect, and a GL500DC all in bits ready to clean up and rebuild onto a spare frame that I aquired a few years ago. So wocha all got??
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Post by HRHpenfold on Apr 17, 2007 18:38:45 GMT
I was just pondering as one does after a successful head gasket change on my CX500 - (4 hours strip down & clean & another 4 to rebuild it) How many of us have a plastic maggot or two? Is it a common trait due to the CX having shaft drive the same as the Divvy 9? Or do some of us simply have good taste? I keep seeing them mentioned in threads. Anyway I have a CX500Z back on the road - BIG GRIN FACTOR - although the brakes & suspension (or lack of them) do command respect, and a GL500DC all in bits ready to clean up and rebuild onto a spare frame that I aquired a few years ago. So wocha all got?? only the bad ones on this site have cx500 ;D
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Post by CD on Apr 17, 2007 18:49:22 GMT
I once wanted a CX650 Turbo but in those days hadn't got the cash. Big heavy and complicated but still cool. OK, more cubes are an easier way to the power but I liked the turbo 650.
These days if I was after an "old" bike it would have to be a Suzuki GT750 Kettle.
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Post by m40man on Apr 17, 2007 19:17:37 GMT
Yorric - We have to meet up locally soon (I'm in Grove, just up the road from you in South Oxfordshire!) I have mine because I have good taste ;D (She looks a bit more tired than the pic - she's had a tough winter taking me to work )
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Post by beeblemaster on Apr 17, 2007 20:23:26 GMT
I bought mine because I was new to bikes and I fancied trying a Custom/Cruiser type bike. No-one was willing to let me have a test ride, so thought i'd buy one. Had a look around and chose a CX. I thought, if I don't like it then I can get rid of it for the same price I paid for it. Bought it in June 05 off eBay for £600 and I've kept it - I love it. It sounds fantastic and I love the low down grunt! I had my Divvy 600 at the time, and although I loved that too , it was boring and lacked character. I haven't had to spend that much on it. I had to have the Stator refurbed as I could only get 60mph out of it, but that's a common fault around 40K miles because they overheat at the back of the engine. That cost me about £80 and the rest I'd put down to general maintenance. Luckily my brother does all the labour on it At the moment it's sitting in the garage awaiting new shocks, fork seals and investigating why the left cylinder keeps sooting up. Almost lost it on Saturday night though. I accelerated off an island to have the back end go from under me and snake. Kept it upright though. But pulled over to see what had happened, and the tyre valve had perished from the rim - so running on a flat! So had to be recovered.... luckily dad managed to borrow a bike trailer ;D 1981 US Custom (carppy single disc front brake model)
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Post by yorric on Apr 18, 2007 1:24:06 GMT
Penfold I must be reallllly bad as I have two of the genre!
Chirodave - If you're flush there is a very nice low mileage turbo on fleabay at the moment - Go on - You know it makes sense! Get quirky and exotic!
Beeblemaster - don't worry, all varieties of the CX have poor brakes compared to a modern bike - you just need to really get a grip on it and squeeze like h........L! - You could easily put a GL500 front wheel in it though and add the second caliper of course.
M40man - I'm sure we'll meet up before long as I am always pootling about up your way - generally I go near you when I go to M&P / Harley's cafe for supplies.
One thing I keep telling myself to do is put a pair of GL500 air assisted forks onto mine as it is particularly weak up front with the standard ones, and the GL ones are designed to hold up the weight better.
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Post by beeblemaster on Apr 18, 2007 8:39:30 GMT
I've got those on mine. They must be standard on the custom or the US one I don't know about that... these are worse than poor. I wonder if I can weld a pair of blue spot calipers on it lol. The rear brake is surprisingly good though and so is the engine braking
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Post by m40man on Apr 18, 2007 9:05:03 GMT
My front brakes were improved with braided hoses. Though I've got the 'proper' CX version, with twin front discs, unlike the Beeblemonster . So true about the rear brake though - it's excellent! All judged by late seventies/early eighties standards, of course Mine runs rather rich - Could it be worn needles?? And despite my best efforts, the reserve still doesn't work properly so the obligatory petrol can strapped on the rear occasionally rescues me. I did a few things to improve her, as I bought her looking much sorrier than how she looks now. The exhausts were from David Silver & replaced the carppy Motad that was on her. These patterns on the originals haven't the best chrome in the World but they improve her look no end. My first ever attempts at paint-work saw her tank filled & painted late summer 2006. You should have seen it originally! Lots of other bits needed tidying. Lots more still do . I plan on selling her soon - I don't get out on her enough (I say this, having used her through much of the winter for my commute - now adandoning her for my Fazer as the sun comes out . There's gratitude for you!) She took me to the Dragon Rally this January though - enormous fun, when the rain eased off! I'd have felt a fraud on anything looking remotely modern & quick . She has 'period' Krauser panniers fitted - they carry loads, unlike some more modern boxes, because they are proper shaped for stowing stuff in! If I had somewhere to keep her, I would. I'm certain the charm of the CX will ensure they are sought-after bikes well into the future.
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Post by justso on Apr 18, 2007 9:49:54 GMT
OT - Just read M40Man's comment about the Dragon Rally. I didn't know that was still going. My parents used to go in the 60's and I remember them having a copy of the 1966 songsheet. My dad used to ride a BSA combination with my mum on the back and my sister and I in the sidecar.
anyway... nostalgia break over, back to the CX500
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Post by pebbles on Apr 18, 2007 10:44:32 GMT
i owned a cx500 for about 3 weeks could not get rid of it quick enough
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Post by apricot on Apr 18, 2007 11:32:08 GMT
"I had my Divvy 600 at the time, and although I loved that too , it was boring and lacked character." How can you say that about the lovely D6?? Ady
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Post by m40man on Apr 18, 2007 11:51:13 GMT
I had my Divvy 600 at the time, and although I loved that too , it was boring and lacked character. That's earnt you a smite. Lets hear no more of it ;D
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Post by xrwoody on Apr 18, 2007 12:08:04 GMT
Hi Yorric, I dont have a CX now but I have had four in the past, last one sold last year. I have had a A, B and two E models. The B was the best one. One of them (the B) I did over 60,000 miles on. I am still a member of the CX-GL owners club and I really like them although they are definately an acquired taste, it takes well over 1000 miles to understand how to ride them, in my view. . BTW; how was the side panel ?
XRWoody
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Post by beeblemaster on Apr 18, 2007 13:19:43 GMT
I had my Divvy 600 at the time, and although I loved that too , it was boring and lacked character. That's earnt you a smite. Lets hear no more of it ;D I knew someone would bite with that comment.
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Post by beeblemaster on Apr 18, 2007 13:25:42 GMT
I plan on selling her soon You deserve a smite for that comment.... now adandoning her for my Fazer And that's just disgraceful....
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Post by m40man on Apr 18, 2007 14:07:18 GMT
Came to work on my Divvy today - if that kinda exonerates me!
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Post by pebbles on Apr 18, 2007 16:07:01 GMT
the people on this site are a very honest bunch how many bikers would own up to having a cx500
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Post by yorric on Apr 18, 2007 16:58:13 GMT
Pebbles - Many thousands of dispatch riders swore by their CX500 - How many couriers used a Harley and stayed in business? - XRWoody - The panel is fine thanks Yes riding the CX is a fine art compared to some other bikes but it pays you back in qudos when you eventually start to get it right & can leave lots of your mates wondering how the h*l you can ride it so quickly through the twisties! ;D
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Post by ContourMac on Apr 18, 2007 17:21:18 GMT
Pebbles - Many thousands of dispatch riders swore by their CX500 Shouldn't that be "swore AT their CX500"
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Post by pebbles on Apr 18, 2007 18:43:47 GMT
yes they were loved by dispatch riders in every city you know why, one look in the mirror of your car and you saw something as ugly as a cx500 coming your way it would be like the parting of the red sea you would pull over and cover your eyes and wait for the thing to pass i have owned over 15 bikes and rode countless others when i was chairman of the local bike club and when i was a instructor for the rac-acu that thing was the worse lol
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Post by knight on Apr 18, 2007 18:46:44 GMT
I've owned two CX's in the past, always wanted a GL 650 but they always seemed a tad on the expensive side. Some times think I wouldn't mind one as a second bike. the mileage is getting a bit high too quickly on the XJR.
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Post by m40man on Apr 18, 2007 19:23:22 GMT
Pebbles variously said.... 1.)"i owned a cx500 for about 3 weeks could not get rid of it quick enough" 2.)"the people on this site are a very honest bunch how many bikers would own up to having a cx500" 3.)"you saw something as ugly as a cx500" 1. Exhaustive evaluation undertaken, then . Or maybe you just buy on a whim without really thinking about what you want ? (Wait - that sounds like me ) 2. You're damned right. I'll be straight with you - you've earned a smite . 3. CX500 ugly . Do you shave without a mirror, or do you just stand there slagging yourself off every morning?
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Post by teejayexc on Apr 18, 2007 19:34:02 GMT
M40Man wrote; "3. CX500 ugly . Do you shave without a mirror, or do you just stand there slagging yourself off every morning?"
Pot calling kettle ? ;D
Trev
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Post by Andy-Red-Divi on Apr 18, 2007 19:39:47 GMT
Do we add CX500 spotting to the 'Was it you?' thread as I parked next to one briefly last saturday about lunch time in Newbury at the usual bike parking area near the Clock tower. Thought it might have been you m40man, but the guy getting onto it looked like he had more hair and you would have recognised a divi!
Cheers
Andy
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Post by CD on Apr 18, 2007 21:57:01 GMT
Selling the CX?? Surely its at its minimum value right now & can only appreciate with age. For what you'd get for it you'd never get anything worth having to replace it.
KEEP THE OLD GIRL YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE
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Post by m40man on Apr 18, 2007 22:11:59 GMT
Selling the CX?? Surely its at its minimum value right now & can only appreciate with age. For what you'd get for it you'd never get anything worth having to replace it. KEEP THE OLD GIRL YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE
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Post by CD on Apr 18, 2007 22:33:38 GMT
I'm a poor student (erm actually not as poor as a school leaver student), but what I can earn in 3 months of a year doesn't add up to 2 bikes AND a reasonable living standard. *sob*
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Post by Dame judgejools44 on Apr 19, 2007 1:40:07 GMT
"I had my Divvy 600 at the time, and although I loved that too , it was boring and lacked character." How can you say that about the lovely D6?? Ady I agree, Helga is fun to ride....maybe that's just my hooligan'ism creeping out!! ;D
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Post by xrwoody on Apr 19, 2007 10:53:18 GMT
"Who would admit to owning a CX ?" Well about a thousand members of this site anyway www.cx-gl.org.ukI admit they are an ugly brut but an experianced CX rider will suprise a few peole I can assure you, mind you, it needs uprated suspension if you dont want to become sea sick. (I know its not a race bike but they are not as bad as some people think, once you have got used to them). I have yet to ride a more comfortable bike any reasonable distance, I have been riding all year round since 1979. I have yet to ride a bike that is better in the wet as well. My old GS 750 Suzuki was good in the wet but that was crap in the dry. I accept people dont like CX's and that is fair enough, but I really think you should do a couple of thousand miles on one then comment. I rode a 500 Turbo once as well, that was better than I expected, love to try a 650 Turbo.
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Post by pebbles on Apr 21, 2007 21:45:13 GMT
one good wind up and u go forever lol ,this bike had a nickname now what was it ? i think it began with m
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