Today Good price or nothing The CX500 is a remarkable classic, Honda’s first turbocharged motorcycle. It has deferred registration, so it’s hard to assess its value. I know we can still do it.
Modern BMWs come with all sorts of gadgets and toys to help boost the driver’s ability and heroism at the cost of complexity and sophistication that accumulate over time. Such frustrations add to the appeal of BMW’s earlier, similar cars, like the 2001 330i we reviewed yesterday. With low mileage and a pleasant presentation, this small and commendably simple sports sedan hits a lot of the right buttons. One of those buttons is its $9,995 price tag, which earns the Bimmer a 61 percent Nice Price win.
BMW is not the only company that has tried to improve its cars and motorcycles through technology and engineering. Honda has also long been known for its interest in innovation and progress. Technologies such as the lean-burn CVCC engine and the VTEC variable valve timing system are notable examples.
This Honda CX500 Turbo 1982 Representing a host of technological firsts for Honda, the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer. Dressed in a coffee-coloured paint scheme and fitted with three-spoke cast alloy wheels, the CX500 Turbo was not only Honda’s first forced-induction machine, but also the company’s first fuel-injected road bike. It was based on the standard CX500, which was notably Honda’s first V-twin engine.
The twin is a 497cc OHV with water cooling in an 80° V configuration. The turbochargers are from IHI and are located in the airstream ahead of the engine. When new, the output was quoted as 82 horsepower at 8,000 rpm.
The rest of the bike is as innovative as the factory, with Honda’s Pro-Link mono-shock rear suspension and TRAC (Torque Reactive Anti-Dive Control) front forks that link brake pressure to the fork valves to limit dive under hard braking.
All that was wrapped in wind-tunnel-tuned GRP bodywork and had a pair of blacked-out exhausts emblazoned with TURBO badging. It was a handsome bike, albeit one that looked like something the cops might ride. Modern testing has praised the bike for its turbocharged power, comfort, and Honda-quality controls, while the bike has been criticized for its weight (571 pounds wet), lack of low-end power, and nonlinear power application. Unfortunately for Honda and the CX500 Turbo, the U.S. motorcycle market collapsed in 1982, the year it debuted. The bike sold only about 5,200 units that year, and even an increase in displacement to 673cc and horsepower to 100 in ’83 couldn’t save the bike. After just two short years, the CX500 Turbo was no more.
Fortunately, for history buffs and Honda fans, quite a few CX500 Turbos, like this clean-title example, are still available on the used bike market. Of course, not all are created equal, and unlike another great Honda from the 80s, this one has been beautifully preserved. GB500 we reviewed a few weeks agoThis bike can handle some spit and polish. The ad says the bike has 8,299 miles on it and boasts that if cleaned properly it will be 99 percent like new.
In addition to the labor, the bike needs a battery replacement, all fluids replaced, and what the seller describes as “minor repairs.” But the biggest deal is that the bike also needs to be approved by the DMV, as the bike was last registered in 2020 and was not listed as inactive at that time. That means adding a pre-registration fee to the total when considering the bike’s $3,500 asking price. Do it now.
What do you think of the $3,500 (plus fees) price tag for this rare old Honda? Does that make this a winner? Or does that price make this turbo a high-pressure loser?
You decide!
Los Angeles, California, Craigslistor go This if the ad disappears.
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