That Other SilverWing GL500 / GL650

The original SilverWing started life as a CX500, a real smooth bike with it's transverse v-twin.

Check this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CX_series I saw this bike for the very first time at the Congress Halle in Nurnburg, West Germany. -- Also saw a Honda FT500 Ascot at the same show. I really drooled over that big thumper and still wish I'd bought one when I had the chance.

The next iteration for the mid tourer was the Pacific Coast which I believe had a more traditional logitudinal v-twin arrangement.

I always liked the looks of these bikes and I'm surprised they weren't more popular. It seemed like they were a great choice for someone who didn't want the bike the size, or cost, of the Gold Wing. I never rode one of these but I have sat on them back in the days and they seemed very comfortable. Later on Vetter fairings were making fairings for these too.

I remember all of those bikes! The CX and FT were available over in UK, but I don't think the Pacific Coast ever was, though some made it to UK as grey imports.

Does anyone remember the turbo version of the Honda CX500...

http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/honda_cx_500_turbo_1982.php

They also went on to make a 650..... I'm sure it featured in a science fiction film (Ice Pirates?) that came out in the mid to late 80s, but can't remember the name of it now. Those bikes always seemed to stand out......

I bought a new left over 1990 Pacific coast in 1992. We put right at 110,00 miles on that machine and owned a Goldwing at the same time. I think it was the best all around motorcycle that I have owned. Still ran fine when I let it go...These were Vtwin 800cc honda Shadow designed motors with different tuning for different riding styles.
The CX500s were nice machines, early ones had timing chain issues and later ones, 650cc were complete with fairing and saddlebags and of cource the CX650T which was turbocharged. You still see a few CX's on the road thru the summer. I was working part time in a Kawasaki shop when these first came out and wondered when Kawasaki would come out with something like that. Water cooling, shaft drive and comstar wheels, it was neat.
The Ascot was a shot at the flat track look and was named after Ascot race track in California. They actually made two versions of the Ascot. One was FT 500 Ascot which was a single cylinder and then there was the VT500FT Vtwin. Both neat looking machines.
The 60"s and 70's motorcycling era still hold the fondest memories for me.

Nice GL 500 Interstate for sale: http://www.bakerbuilt.com/bbairwings/4sale.html

I've still got a GL650 Silverwing, albeit she's now got a 'Quike' conversion - there were some photos of her somewhere on the site for while! I've owned all sorts of CX's & GL since I got her, but wouldn't part company with my Hetty for anything!

Back in 2002 a friend and I started the 'CX-GL MCC UK' on what was then the MSN, it took off and now there are about 500 members here in the UK with many more associates around the world.

The bikes themselves are great, easy to ride, and just as easy to work on. The turbo versions are a totally differant beastie and not something that I've ever been tempted to buy. They are pretty rare here in the UK as a 500 and even more so as a 650, so getting spares is not at all easy. I have a mate down in Plymouth who runs a 500 turbo his brother gave him. Its been a long haul for him rebuilding it, mainly because of the lack of spares.

Five or six years ago you could pick up an old nail of a CX with mot for peanuts, these days things have changed and all the old bikes have been bought up and either refurbished or broken for spares. NOS is getting even harder to find and we (the rebuilders) are competing with the owners of other Hondas of a similar age for a finite amount of spares that are compatible over the whole range; mainly items like plain white metal shell bearings, and other vital engine internals.

I've got a totally refurbished CX 500 sitting on my patio at the moment! I can't ride it (cos of my leg) and do intend to sell it when I get around to it. I had intended to put the Quike conversion kit on it and sell the whole issue as a Job Lot, but decided to keep the 'kit' fitted to the 650 instead - its great fun in the winter, esp on ice!

I've got one more motor on the go, on my workbench that I'm going to use as the power unit for a Trike - I've not built one before and want to do so before we move and I loose my garage space. There again, I might just slap it into a Morgan Replica instead, I rather like JZR's & BRA's

x

I had an FT500 Ascot -- actually two. Once in 85 and again in 04. Blast to ride when they started. Light, decent handling, good low end torque. The starter clutch has a half-life roughly the same as a hand grenade. Like to have a CX or GL to do a cafe bike with someday.

Bernardo wrote:

I remember all of those bikes! The CX and FT were available over in UK, but I don't think the Pacific Coast ever was, though some made it to UK as grey imports...

Dito in Australia. We also got the Turbo models.

Just followed some of the Wikipedia links and found this image of a "Pacific Coast":



What were they smoking when the designed and (especially) manufactured this ugly bike? It makes the DN-01 look positively attractive

Regards,
Peter

Peter,
To each his own. I thought, when it was new, "that's probably the best looking bike ever". I was not riding anything at the time. By the time I started riding again, this bike was no longer available, so I bought a K100 BMW. The rest, as they say, is history. :flower:

x

"I once got my Ascot. It was in a fast revolving door in a department store."

Outrageous! :lol!:

I like the PC800! Mind you I like CX's as well

A few of the club members who started out on a CX have graduated to the PC's as they do the same thing slightly better (as in a more modern way). Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder!

I looked at one quite a few years ago with my wife, who commented she thought it had a wide back end; NO thought of 'Pots & Kettle' crossed my mind at any point......... Had it been my ex-wife then things may well have been different!!

I always thought it was a great shame the Honda never bothered to bring the PC to Europe as an official import as its an ideal size, both in engine capacity and overall for the roads over here.