HONDA CX 500 (1978-1982) Specs, Performance & Photos

The Honda CX 500 was a mid-range tourer motorcycle manufactured by Honda from 1978 to 1986. The bike was powered by a longitudinally two-cylinder V-twin engine with four overhead valves per cylinder that sent the power to the rear wheel via a five-speed manual transmission and a shaft drive.

The bike was considered particularly reliable and was the first motorcycle to use tubeless tires. It was also known as "manure pump" and was manufactured in many versions.

In 1987, the Japanese motorcycle maker launched the Honda CX 500, a tourer motorcycle, large and heavy but still controllable. One notable feature of the CX 500 was the cylinders and crankcase's design, which were cast as one piece.

In the aesthetic department, the motorcycle packed standard features, such as a small round headlight integrated into a small cowl, a one-piece dual seat with a passenger grab rail, side rear shocks, a dual exhaust system with a muffler placed on both sides, and five-spoke aluminum alloy wheels.

Suspension-wise, the bike packed a 33 mm Showa telescopic fork on the front with 132 mm of travel and a dual-sided swingarm with two adjustable shocks on the rear, providing 84 mm of travel.

The 1978 Honda CX 500 was powered by a 497cc four-stroke liquid-cooled V-twin engine managed by two 34 mm Keihin carburetors, boasting 50 hp at 9,000 rpm and 42 Nm (31 lb-ft) torque at 7,000 rpm.