This mission facilities on a 1980 Honda CX-500 that has been totally rebuilt right into a cafe racer. The builder targeted on balancing fashion with operate, making cautious decisions to maintain the bike’s classic look whereas bettering efficiency and reliability. Each a part of the motorbike was both restored, upgraded, or custom-made to suit the general design.
From the entrance suspension to the rear body, the bike reveals detailed craftsmanship and planning. Upgrades to the braking system, suspension, and engine had been paired with {custom} paintwork and fabrication. The result’s a completed construct that highlights each mechanical enhancements and a spotlight to small particulars, all whereas preserving the bike able to experience and revel in.
Key Takeaways
- The motorbike was rebuilt with a give attention to each efficiency and look
- Customized elements and upgrades had been added throughout the suspension, brakes, and engine
- Cautious restoration ensures the bike is dependable, purposeful, and able to experience
Overview of the 1980 Honda CX-500 Cafe Racer Construct
The builder targeted closely on the entrance finish, selecting forks from a 1983 Honda GL650 Silver Wing. These provided wider fork tubes, a manufacturing facility fork brace, and compatibility with a dual-disc brake setup. The entrance wheel and rotors got here from a Gold Wing, with resurfaced and drilled discs by Trudisc. CB900F dual-piston calipers changed the inventory single-piston items, paired with {custom} stainless brake traces and a brand new grasp cylinder.
To attain the fitting stance, the fork tubes had been shortened by about 1.75 inches by Frank’s Forks. A billet triple tree clamp from Cognito Moto changed the unique, whereas All Balls Racing bearings dealt with the steering conversion. The forks additionally obtained new springs from Racetech, together with recent seals and oil. Customized spacers aligned the wheel, and a fabricated bracket mounted the headlight.
The gas tank and seat cowl had been refinished by Devious Designs in a charcoal metallic end. The tank was handled, sealed with a transparent resin, and barely raised on the rear for a degree look. The seat got here from a European provider and included a detachable rear cowl, permitting the bike to retain passenger pegs. An additional painted cowl was ready as a backup.
On the rear, a custom-fabricated body part and battery field housed the electronics, with the regulator-rectifier mounted externally for cooling. Hagon shocks supported a larger-diameter rear wheel sourced from the UK. Each wheels, together with the body and suspension elements, had been powder-coated black with polished spoke edges. The rear drive was rebuilt with new fluid and bearings, and the rear brake footwear had been changed.
The engine featured Mikuni VM34 carburetors from Murray’s Carbs, which changed the inventory items for improved efficiency and simpler tuning, particularly with the aftermarket exhaust. Valve covers from a CX500 Turbo had been additionally fitted.
Key Upgrades at a Look:
- GL650 Silver Wing entrance forks with brace
- Gold Wing entrance wheel and rotors
- CB900F dual-piston calipers
- Customized stainless brake traces and grasp cylinder
- Shortened fork tubes with Racetech springs
- Cognito Moto billet triple tree
- Charcoal metallic paint by Devious Designs
- Sea Racer seat with detachable cowl
- Customized rear body and battery field
- Hagon rear shocks
- Bigger rear wheel from the UK
- Powder-coated body and wheels with polished edges
- Mikuni VM34 carburetors from Murray’s Carbs
This construct displays cautious upgrades that steadiness efficiency, operate, and clear design decisions.
Entrance Finish Modifications
Fork Alternative and Enhancements
He changed the inventory forks with items from a 1983 Honda GL650 Silver Wing. These forks function a built-in brace that retains the entrance finish inflexible even with no fender. The tubes are about 4mm bigger in diameter than the unique CX500 forks, giving the bike a stronger stance.
Twin Disc Brake Setup
The entrance wheel and rotors got here from a Honda Gold Wing, which offered a bigger diameter setup. The rotors had been resurfaced and drilled by Trudisc in Michigan. He upgraded the calipers to two-piston items from a CB900F, changing the unique single-piston design.
Brake upgrades included:
- Twin discs as an alternative of a single disc
- Two-piston calipers
- Stainless-steel brake traces ({custom} size)
- New grasp cylinder matched to the system
Customized Brake {Hardware}
To finish the braking system, he added custom-length stainless-steel traces and a brand new grasp cylinder. These modifications ensured correct efficiency and matched the upgraded parts.
| Part | Improve Supply | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| Calipers | CB900F | Two-piston stopping energy |
| Rotors | Gold Wing + Trudisc | Bigger measurement, drilled sample |
| Traces | Customized stainless | Higher sturdiness, correct match |
| Grasp Cylinder | Aftermarket | Balanced with twin discs |
Shortened Forks and Suspension Work
The GL650 forks had been too tall for the look he needed, so he had them shortened by about 1.75 inches by Frank’s Forks in Illinois. The tubes had been reduce, re-tapped, and paired with {custom} springs from Racetech. He additionally used All Balls Racing bearings and a billet triple tree clamp from Cognito Moto for a cleaner end. The fork plugs got here from an older Suzuki to exchange the inventory GL650 items with air nozzles.
Lighting and Gauge Setup
The headlight is mounted on a {custom} bracket, and the speedometer stays purposeful and correct. For the reason that construct, the odometer reveals about 223 miles of using.
Tank and Seat Customization
Paintwork and Physique Refinishing
The gas tank and rear seat cowl obtained a {custom} end from an expert paint store in Las Vegas. The colour is a metallic charcoal grey that reveals depth in daylight. Earlier than portray, dents and bent edges had been repaired, and the cowl surfaces had been smoothed to take away imperfections within the plastic.
Tank Cleansing and Inside Coating
The within of the tank was stripped of rust, cleaned, and sealed with a transparent resin coating. This resin hardens right into a strong layer that resists peeling and prevents gas system blockages. An area motorbike store advisable this product, and it has been used on a number of builds with dependable outcomes.
Rear Mount Adjustment
A {custom} rear bracket was fabricated to barely elevate the again of the gas tank. This adjustment ranges the tank for a cleaner café racer profile. The bracket is seen when the seat is eliminated.
Seat and Tail Part
The seat and detachable cowl got here from a European provider and match the CX500 body. The cowl was refinished to take away floor waves and painted to match the tank. An additional painted cowl is included in case of harm. The rear body part was redesigned, laser reduce, and welded to help the seat and electronics.
Passenger Setup
Passenger footpegs stay on the bike, which is rare for a lot of café racer builds. This enables the motorbike to hold a second rider when the rear cowl is eliminated. The design balances each fashion and performance with out limiting passenger use.
Body and Rear Finish Enhancements
Modified Body Work
The rear portion of the body was redesigned and constructed from scratch. Utilizing CAD software program, the brand new construction was laser reduce, bent, and welded for a clear and exact match. This modification not solely improved the general look but additionally created the fitting basis for the seat and tail part.
Enclosed Battery and Wiring Setup
A {custom} battery field was fabricated to carry the battery and a lot of the electrical parts. The ignition key was additionally built-in into this housing. The regulator and rectifier had been mounted outdoors the field to permit correct cooling.
Key Options:
- Hidden wiring for a cleaner look
- Compact design for higher area use
- Quick access below the seat
Bigger Rear Rim
The rear wheel was swapped for a bigger diameter model sourced abroad. This improve gave the bike a extra balanced stance and match the café fashion higher. The wheel bearings had been changed, and the rear brake footwear had been up to date on the identical time.
Protecting Coating and Detailing
The body, suspension elements, and wheels all obtained an expert powder coat end. After coating, the perimeters of the wheel spokes had been sanded again to show naked steel, giving a two-tone impact of silver in opposition to black.
| Half | End | Additional Element |
|---|---|---|
| Body | Powder coat | Full protection |
| Wheels | Powder coat | Spoke edges sanded for distinction |
| Suspension | Powder coat | Matched to border |
Rear Suspension and Drive System
Hagon rear shocks had been put in to enhance dealing with and experience high quality. The ultimate drive unit was rebuilt and crammed with recent fluid. Each seal, gasket, and o-ring on this part was changed to make sure reliability.
Upgrades included:
- New shocks for improved stability
- Rebuilt closing drive with recent lubrication
- Absolutely renewed seals and bearings
Engine and Energy Enhancements
Mikuni Carb Setup by Murray
He put in a pair of Mikuni VM34 carburetors from Murray, designed particularly for the CX500. These changed the inventory items that proved tough to tune with the aftermarket exhaust. The brand new setup delivered smoother throttle response and stronger efficiency. Many homeowners contemplate this one of the vital efficient upgrades for this mannequin.
Key factors:
- Direct alternative equipment designed for the CX500
- Improved tuning in comparison with inventory carbs
- Noticeable improve in engine response
Exhaust System and Fantastic-Tuning
The bike runs with an aftermarket exhaust, which required intensive tuning makes an attempt with the unique carbs. After switching to the Mikuni equipment, the engine paired a lot better with the exhaust, eliminating the trial-and-error course of with jets. The mixture of free-flowing exhaust and correctly matched carbs offered a balanced setup.
Advantages of the change:
- Cleaner throttle adjustment
- Stronger mid-range efficiency
- Decreased time spent on carb jetting
Customized Valve Covers and Detailing
The engine options valve covers sourced from a CX500 Turbo mannequin, giving it a definite look in comparison with the usual covers. Together with this, the engine obtained cautious detailing to match the general end of the construct. These touches not solely improved look but additionally highlighted the eye given to small parts in the course of the restoration.
Particulars embody:
- Turbo-style valve covers for a singular look
- Engine surfaces cleaned and refinished
- Constant styling with the remainder of the bike
Upkeep and Restoration Highlights
Elements Upgrades and Replacements
He swapped the unique entrance suspension with forks from a 1983 Honda GL650 Silver Wing. The fork tubes had been shortened, fitted with new springs, and rebuilt with recent seals and oil. A {custom} billet triple clamp was added, together with a steering head bearing conversion. The tank was rust-treated, sealed with a transparent resin, and refinished in metallic charcoal grey. The rear body was {custom} fabricated, and a brand new battery field was constructed to accommodate the electronics.
Key replacements included:
- Customized billet triple tree clamp
- Rust-sealed and refinished gas tank
- Shortened and rebuilt fork tubes
- Recent suspension springs and seals
- Customized battery field and body work
Braking System and Wheel Bearings
The braking system was upgraded with twin discs from a Gold Wing, resurfaced and drilled by TruDisc. Calipers from a CB900F changed the originals, giving the bike dual-piston stopping energy. Stainless-steel brake traces and a brand new grasp cylinder accomplished the setup. Each wheels had been powder coated, fitted with new bearings, and detailed with sanded spoke edges for distinction.
Brake system upgrades:
- Twin disc conversion
- Twin-piston calipers
- Stainless-steel brake traces
- New grasp cylinder
- Powder-coated wheels with new bearings
Rear Drive Overhaul
The ultimate drive unit was totally rebuilt and refilled with recent fluid. Rear brake footwear had been changed, and the larger-diameter rear wheel sourced from the UK was refinished to match the remainder of the construct. New shocks had been put in to enhance experience high quality, and all seals, gaskets, and o-rings all through the drive system had been renewed.
Closing drive updates:
| Part | Work Accomplished |
|---|---|
| Closing drive unit | Rebuilt and resealed |
| Fluid | Changed with recent oil |
| Rear brake footwear | Put in new set |
| Rear wheel | Bigger measurement, refinished |
| Shocks | Upgraded replacements |
Chilly Begin Demonstration
He ready the motorbike for a chilly begin to point out the way it runs after the total construct. The bike had been sitting, so the engine was utterly chilly earlier than beginning.
The method went easily:
- The ignition key turned on with out subject.
- Gasoline flowed correctly from the handled and sealed tank.
- The upgraded carburetors responded straight away.
The engine fired up cleanly and settled into a gentle idle. The sound highlighted the aftermarket exhaust and the tuning work finished with the Mikuni carburetors.
This demonstration confirmed that the bike not solely appears to be like completed but additionally runs reliably with the upgrades in place.
Bike Sale Data
This 1980 Honda CX-500 café racer construct is being provided on the market after an entire {custom} restoration and modification course of. Practically each element has been upgraded, rebuilt, or refinished to enhance each efficiency and look.
Key particulars embody:
- Mannequin: 1980 Honda CX-500 Café Racer
- Mileage since construct: ~223 miles
- Situation: Restored with new seals, gaskets, bearings, and fluids
- Paintwork: Customized metallic charcoal grey end by Devious Designs
- Entrance Finish: Swapped with 1983 Honda GL650 Silver Wing forks, shortened and reworked with {custom} springs, billet triple tree clamp, dual-disc brakes, resurfaced rotors, and upgraded CB900F calipers
- Rear Part: Customized fabricated body and battery field, Hagen shocks, bigger diameter rear wheel sourced from the UK, powder-coated wheels and body by Snail Motorsports
- Tank & Seat: Restored and sealed gas tank with {custom} bracket for degree fitment, café seat and detachable rear cowl, passenger pegs retained
- Engine Upgrades: Mikuni VM34 carburetors from Murray’s Carbs, aftermarket exhaust, CX500 Turbo valve covers
Notable Options:
- Customized stainless-steel brake traces with upgraded grasp cylinder
- Powder-coated parts with polished spoke edges
- Rebuilt closing drive with recent fluid
- New rear brake footwear and suspension parts
- Customized fabricated headlight bracket and dealing speedometer
The motorbike has been rigorously maintained and thoughtfully modified to steadiness fashion, reliability, and efficiency. It’s prepared for its subsequent proprietor to get pleasure from.
