1983 Honda CX500 'Street Scrambler'

A 1983 CX500 Custom, Water cooled, Shaft drive, 5-speed

Completely stripped and a full nut and bolt rebuild. Only 300 miles since. Fresh MoT

Frame, forks, tank and panels stripped to bare metal, repainted and coated

Engine overhaul, carbs serviced, new suspension, complete brake rebuild, complete rewire

Bespoke stainless steel exhaust with black mufflers, specially built spoked wheels with Metz tyres

Honda took a different design direction in the late seventies with the arrival of the CX-Series with many innovative features that seemed a bit brave for a mass manufacturer. The 497cc 'Twisted-Twin' produced around 50bhp and sat on top of a five-speed gearbox with shaft-drive to the rear wheel. It was water-cooled with dual CV-type carburettors that were tuned for reduced emissions and starting was electric only, but sensibly the electronic ignition was separate from the rest of the electrical system, enabling the motorcycle to be push-started and ridden in case of total electrical failure. The 1978 CX500 Standard had a large fuel tank, stepped seat, a round brake fluid reservoir and a plastic mini-fairing that was thought to look unusual at the time, and gave the bike the unfortunate nickname "plastic maggot". Fortunately, the CX500C (Custom), introduced a year later addressed the looks issue with a conventional tank and metalwork. Significant numbers of CXs were made in a variety of guises before production ended in 1983 and the CX faded into obscurity.

However, amazingly, the CX is back in vogue in a big way and they have obviously been biding their time waiting for their moment of glory. It's impossible to ignore the new wave of CX powered 'café racers' and personalised 'street scramblers' on the roads, with some machines changing hands for serious amounts of money.

This distinctive machine started life as a 1983 CX500 Custom and has undergone a full and complete strip down with a full nut and bolt rebuild. The frame and forks were stripped to bare metal, repainted and coated as were the tank and panels. Additionally, it has benefitted from an engine overhaul, new suspension, complete brake rebuild including all new brake pipes, carbs fully serviced and overhauled, complete rewire with all Motogadget equipment, and a completely new water-cooling system including the radiator.

It has been fitted with a bespoke stainless steel exhaust with black mufflers, specially built spoked wheels with Metz tyres, new handlebars with all new levers and cables, and a new high-quality leather seat.

Since the rebuild was completed the bike has only covered 300 running-in miles and now has fresh fluids and a new MoT. This is a very smart CX Tracker, that is easy to ride with a sensible saddle height, high bars, shaft drive, and smooth gear changes, and no matter if the hair you tuck into your crash helmet is mainly grey, your 'street credibility ' is bound to go up a number of points.

(Helmet and gloves not included)