Honda CX 500 - The Plastic Maggot

Unlike today, with 1,800cc 150 horsepower machines ruling the road, the 1970s were the era of the medium displacement, middle weight motorcycle. While there were a number of litre bikes even then, the most hotly contested category was the 400 - 600cc range with each of the Big Four Japanese manufacturers officering several distinct models.

Honda's leading middleweight bike at the time was the CB550, a bike based on the venerable CB750 SOHC, and by 1977 the CB550 had become decidedly old fashioned. Keen to preserve their status as a leading bike manufacturer, Honda put pen to paper and working from a clean sheet came up with one of the most unusual designs of the decade: a water-cooled, shaft drive, transverse mounted, pushrod V-twin with twisted heads and an integrated transmission located below the engine.


Initial reaction to the Honda CX500 was a mixed bag - with the huge tank and cylinders hanging over the side, the bike was a visual letdown. But once in motion, it was easy to forget about the visual aspects and be taken in by the smooth power delivery, comfortable ride and sure-footed handling. Early sales were hampered by a few initial technical problems, but Honda stuck with the model and the CX became a huge seller with those looking for a reliable touring machine or commuter.

In 1979 the lineup was extended with Custom and Deluxe models (not much different from the base model), and in the 1980s capacity was increased to 650cc to create the CX650. Some of the later bikes also featured an advanced monoshock suspension system and even a turbo option was briefly on offer.

Overall the CX series turned out to be a typical solid Honda design, with many bikes still going strong with 6-figure mileages over 30 years later.