Honda CX 500

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Honda
Guelle-pump-52-wikipedia.jpg
CX 500 E
CX 500
Manufacturer Honda
Production period 1977 to 1983
class motorcycle
design type Tourer
Motor data
Two-cylinder V-engine ( OHV ) with multi-valve technology
Displacement  (cm³) 496
Power  (kW / PS ) 20 kW / 27 PS at 6500 rpm
37 kW / 50 PS at 9000 rpm
Torque  ( N m ) 35 Nm at 4000 rpm (20 kW version)
43 Nm at 7000 rpm (37 kW version)
Top speed (  km / h) 180
transmission 5 courses
drive Cardan drive
Wheelbase  (mm) 1455
Dimensions (L × W × H, mm): 2205 × 770 × 1205
Seat height (cm) 82
Empty weight  (kg) 217

The CX 500 was a mid-range motorcycle in the Tourer category from the Japanese manufacturer Honda with cardan drive offered between 1978 and 1986 . The longitudinally mounted two-cylinder - V-type engine with 80 °  cylinder bank angle had four hanging valves per cylinder. The CX 500 was the first production motorcycle on which tubeless tires could be used. It is also known by its nickname "slurry pump".

Models and years of construction

The model is considered to be particularly reliable and was built in many versions. Starting with the "Standard" -CX 500 (in Japan and other countries, due to the approval regulations at the time, sometimes with 400 cm³ as the CX 400 ) to the Softchopper C "Custom" (the addition "Custom" was not allowed to be used in Germany due to a trademark protection already registered elsewhere CX 500 C (CX 400 C) and CX 650 C, the GL 500 and GL 650 "Silver Wing" models (which, as little "sisters" of the Gold Wing GL 1100, took over the full fairing and rear light), the CX 500 E and CX 650 E "Euro Sport" and the only Honda motorcycles with exhaust gas turbochargers to date , the CX 500 Turbo and CX 650 Turbo.

The models in detail:

Type model comment
CX 400 CX 400 from 1978
NC 05 CX 400 Standard from 1981, in Japan as GL 400
NC 06 CX 400 Custom Custom
NC 08 CX 400 EuroSport in Japan CX-EURO
NC 10 CX 400 Custom in Japan GL 400 Custom, 2nd edition, optics like CX650C
CX 500 CX 500 (standard) in Australia from 1980 to 1982 as the CX 500 Shadow
PC 01 CX 500 Deluxe Optically tank like standard, seat of the custom, without fairing, a brake disc at the front
PC 01 CX 500 C in Japan GL 500 Custom
PC 02 GL 500 Silver Wing also as an interstate with full fairing
PC 03 CX 500 Turbo
PC 06 CX 500 EuroSport
RC 10 GL 650 SilverWing also as an interstate with full fairing
RC 10 GL 700 Wing Interstate Special series of the GL 650 Interstate for Japan (800 copies)
RC 11 CX 650 C
RC 12 CX 650 EuroSport
RC 16 CX 650 Turbo
Honda WING GL 400

The models CX 400, NC 05, NC 06, CX 500 and PC 01 have a central tubular frame with welded sheet metal pressed parts, all other models have a tubular space frame in a similar shape. The models CX 400, NC 05, NC 06, NC 10, CX 500, PC 01 and RC 11 have rear swing arms with two spring struts, all other models have a swing arm with Pro-Link central spring strut .

Production years, the code for the production year changed from July, i.e. H. Vehicles that were produced from July were already the following model year. Sales in Germany lasted until 1986:

  • CX 400 (1977–1981) (MY 1978–1982)
  • CX 400 (1981–1983) (MJ 1982–1983)
  • CX 400 C (1979–1981) (MY 1980–1982)
  • CX 400 E (1982–1983?) (MY 1982–1983)
  • CX 400 C (1983–?) (MJ 1983)
  • CX 500 (1977–1981) (MY 1978–1982)
  • CX 500 C "Custom" (1979–1981) (MY 1980–1982)
  • CX 500 D (1979–1981) (MY 1980–1982)
  • CX 500 E (1982–1983) (MY 1982–1983)
  • CX 500 Turbo (1981–1982) (MY 1982)
  • CX 650 E, C and Turbo (1983–?) (MY 1983–1984)
  • GL 500 Silver Wing (1980–1982) (MY 1981–1983), full fairing (in USA without fairing or with fairing and cases as Silver Wing Interstate)
  • GL 650 Silver Wing (1983–?) (MY 1983–1984), full fairing (in USA without fairing or with fairing and suitcases as Silver Wing Interstate)
  • GL 700 Wing Interstate (1983) (MY 1983–1984), special model / small series (800 pieces) of the GL 650 Silver Wing with full fairing and case set, with radio and CB radio , only sold in Japan.

In 1981, 9992 CX 500, 379 CX 500 Turbo and 56 CX 650 Turbo were sold in West Germany.

Honda CX 500

Technical data of the CX 500

One of the special features of the construction is that the cylinders and the crankcase are cast as one piece. Both cylinders have an ignition system each. The camshaft is at the top between the cylinders, which means that the pushrods of the valve train are very short and allow high speeds. The heads are each provided with four valves and one central spark plug each. By installing the engine lengthways, a large cooler box could be placed at the front. Because the clutch rotates in the opposite direction to the crankshaft, there is only a slight tilting moment about the longitudinal axis when accelerating and releasing the gas .

  • Oil volume: 3 liters
  • Two cylinders in a V-arrangement at an angle of 80 °
  • Valve clearance inlet: 0.10 mm (originally specified 0.08 mm, later corrected by Honda for all CX and GL-500 models with naturally aspirated engines)
  • Valve clearance outlet: 0.12 mm (originally 0.10 mm specified, later corrected by Honda for all CX and GL-500 models with naturally aspirated engines)
  • 12 V on-board voltage, 14 Ah battery

Influences

The engine was originally developed with a cylinder angle of 90 °, comparable to the V2 engines from Moto Guzzi . However, in tests, the construction proved uncomfortable for the driver, especially for the position of the knees. The cylinders were set 10 ° steeper and the cylinder heads were rotated around the cylinder center axis by 22 ° each so that the exhaust side at the front faced outwards and the intake side with the carburettors at the rear faced inwards at an angle - a unique feature of the series-produced engine .

A number of ideas about the engine should have role models in the Marusho Lilac. Marusho was a small Japanese motorcycle manufacturer that had created some innovative models since it was founded in 1948, but went bankrupt in 1967 . As a result, the developers came to other Japanese motorcycle manufacturers. The Victoria V 35 Bergmeister is also said to have influenced the development directly and indirectly via Marusho Lilac.

The engines on the CX 500/650 models have also been used in various small / kit cars, including:

In addition, the engine was used with changes from 1980 to 1982 in the USA for a racing motorcycle ("flat tracker"), the NS 750.

Besides the GL models as the actual successors of the CX series, the design had a visible influence on the Honda ST 1100 Pan European . The Pan European also has a V-engine with outward-facing cylinder heads, but with four instead of two cylinders. The short overall length of the CX motor gave the incentive to place two of these basic designs one behind the other, but was otherwise developed independently.

Fan base

These motorcycles now have several active regional and supra-regional fan communities who are now - long after the end of production - to maintain these machines. Numerous CX clubs around the world take care of maintaining the CX and GL. Every year they hold meetings with a lively exchange of experiences. A Danish club and a Briton have meanwhile started to replicate spare parts that are no longer available.

  • CX 500

  • CX 500

  • CX 500

  • CX 500 C, with modified seat and handlebars

Nickname

The CX / GL 500 is also known by its nickname “slurry pump”: When the Honda CX 500 was introduced in 1977, it was a very modern motorcycle. Water cooling, electronic ignition and low-maintenance cardan drive were not very common at that time. The comic artist Rötger Feldmann , who screwed on old Horex Regina models, made fun of this form of “modern” motorcycles. In his opinion, water cooling was superfluous for a properly constructed motorcycle. In his " Werner " comics, he took up this idea ironically: There, the coolant pump of such a Honda is converted to pumping liquid manure (liquid animal excrement ) instead .

literature

  • Joachim Kuch: Type compass Honda motorcycles since 1970 . 1st edition. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-613-02061-0 .
  • Frank-Albert Illg: Motorcycles that made history - Honda The CX 500/650 series . Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1992, ISBN 3-613-01414-9 .

Web links

Commons : Honda CX 500  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ GL700 with Markland support wheels Guellepumpe.org
  2. ↑ OLDTIMER MARKET 10/2015, page 100
  3. ↑ Photo of the two cylinders at an angle of 80 ° Guellepumpe.org
  4. ↑ aero cycle cars
  5. ↑ JZR
  6. ↑ "How the slurry pump got its name", Werner helps Horst from the shit ( memento from December 23, 2017 in the Internet Archive ), 4 pages in Volume 4 Eiskalt . Semmel-Verlach, ISBN 3-89719-004-4 , printed on cx-freunde.de