Honda CX500C

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The race for technological supremacy was at its height at the beginning of the Eighties multi-cylinder, multi-valve engines were all the rage. and the latest novelty was the turbocharger. Costly, and often imperfectly engineered. The turbo proved a flash in the pan. but that didn't prevent the best of the turbo bikes from acting as a superb technological showcase for their makers.

High-Tech Turbos

Launched in 1980, the Honda CX500 was the most daring attempt at producing a high-tech turbo bike. The world's leading manufacturer at the time. Honda had chosen to turbocharge a relatively small engine, and complicated the problem further by choosing a v-twin.

Technical Complexity

Honda achieved its aim in a masterly manner, though at the expense of fearful technical complexity. If the original CX500 was plagued by a turbo that came in too sharply, the CX650T that followed was one of the best sports-touring bikes ever built. But it came too late, the turbo craze was over soon, and performance-hungry motorcyclists began turning towards increasingly large naturally aspirated engines. Honda had done its best to make the CX Turbo a success by employing the renowned Italian automotive stylist Giovanni Michelotti, who created a shape that was as practical as it was innovative. The CX's fairing offered a rare level of protection while forming an integral part of the machine.


1979

1979 Honda CX500C
1979 Honda CX500C



The CX500C'79 Custom was sold in 1979. Two colors were available: Candy Plum Red and Candy Universal Blue. The pinstripes were gold. The "CX500 CUSTOM" side cover decal was gold. The front forks were the straight axle type. The mirrors had a flat bas with thin, angled stalks. The speedometer had a 120 mph (195 kph) limit. The engine was a 496cc OHV liquid-cooled V-twin linked to a 5-speed transmission and a shaft drive. The serial number began PC01-2000017


1980

1980 Honda CX500C
1980 Honda CX500C in Black
1980 Honda CX500C in Black
1980 Honda CX500C in Black
1980 Honda CX500C in Black
1980 Honda CX500C in Black
1980 Honda CX500C in Black
1980 Honda CX500C in Black
1980 Honda CX500C in Black
1980 Honda CX500C in Black
1980 Honda CX500C in Black
1980 Honda CX500C in Black
1980 Honda CX500C in Black



The CX500C'80 CUSTOM was sold in 1980. Two colors were available: Candy Plum Red and Black. The pinstripes were gold and red. The speedometer reduced its limit to 85 mph (135 kph). The front forks were the straight axle type. The engine was a 496cc OHV liquid-cooled V-twin linked to a 5-speed transmission and a shaft drive. The serial number began PC01-2100018

1981

1981 Honda CX500C
1981 Honda CX500C in Black/Blue
1981 Honda CX500C in Black/Blue
1981 Honda CX500C in Black/Blue
1981 Honda CX500C in Black/Blue
1981 Honda CX500C in Black/Blue
1981 Honda CX500C in Black/Blue
1981 Honda CX500C in Black/Blue



The CX500C'81 CUSTOM was sold in 1981 and was available in one of two color schemes: Candy Bourgogne Red with Red Brown Metallic and Cosmo Black Metallic with Blue Metallic. The gas tank and side covers were two-toned. The pinstripes were gold. The "CX500 CUSTOM" side cover decal was also gold. The front forks were the leading axle type. The engine was a 496cc OHV liquid-cooled V-twin linked to a 5-speed transmission and a shaft drive. The serial number began JH2PC010*BM200006

1982

1982 Honda CX500C



The CX500C'82 CUSTOM was sold in 1982 and was available in one of two color schemes: Candy Muse Red with Red Brown Metallic and Cosmo Black Metallic with Gray Metallic. The gas tank and side covers were two-toned. The front disc brake had twin piston calipers. The serial number began JH2PC010*CM300001