::: Honda CX650 Cafe Racer - Made in Vietnam

[VietHorse]

Good morning guys,

I really love to have a Cafe Racer bike. It somehow could help to slow me down a bit after riding fast with my VFR.
Besides, I can use that Cafe Racer to comute to work daily istead of driving my car or my VFR. A small Cafe Racer seems much more reasonable for the traffic like in Hochiminh City.

Getting around internet, study quite a lot bike types which may be converted to a Cafe Racer. Lastly, I decided that I gotta buy a Honda CX to modify it to be a cafe racer bike.

There are couple of things I love from the Honda CX:
1. Good looking engine block.
2. Drive shaft.
4. Stable and smooth, as it 's a Honda.

Finding a good old CX in Vietnam is not an easy job. I 've seen one or two GL/CX400 in Hochiminh City, never seen a single CX650.
Well, I gotta have one, CX650.
That why I decided to buy a CX650 from California and ship to Vietnam.
Paid the seller Feb2012. I got the bike in my hands Aug2012! Damn slow US boat. Hehe....

First, I have to say that the modification is not done by myself as I don't have a big enough workshop. A motorcycle workshop helps me to do the physical works.

This would be not a everyday update thread, so, let's take it easy by starting with a Vietnamese coffee, I'll be right back:

 

[KTMphil]

Great photo to start with VH!

 

[VietHorse]

Thank Phil.
As said, this is time consuming work. So, please be patient if you 'd like to follow.

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Now, let's see how 's the bike...
This photo was taken by the seller in Feb 2012:

Due to some unforeseen reasons, the bike was delivered to me in Ho Chi Minh City in July 2012. No problem. I am a super patient guy.

First met the bike, let's take a round view:

10xxx miles on the clock:

I have ridden the bike for about 5km and feel really great. After some months but just two three time press the Ignition button, it starts.
Really smooth and powerful bike. Much better than what I though.

During the waiting time to the boat to arrive, I have also bought a set of front forks from a US friend in Maryland:

Right, by air is faster by boat! The upside down front forks arrive much earlier than the bike.

I have also been walking around the forums to find the ideas for my project.
Found a very good thread in ADV forum with lots of very good advices from the member named Sparkymoto.

I have put up the bike and my ideas to see how the thing would look like afterward:

Options and options.... create... edit.... delete... create....

 

[2wheels]

Brings back fond memories Mr Trung.
I was fortunate enough to own and ride a CX650 in Oz and loved it.
My first non-chain bike.

Now, time for a coffee!

Rgs

 

[LivinLOS]

I would like a CB550 or similar for a street tracker brat style build..

Have no workshop currently and havent had a project in ages.

 

[KTMphil]

Looks like a fun project!

 

[VietHorse]

Brings back fond memories Mr Trung.
I was fortunate enough to own and ride a CX650 in Oz and loved it.
My first non-chain bike.

Now, time for a coffee!

Rgs

Really? It's a good bike. Stable and work as we wanted.
Have you got any photos?

I would like a CB550 or similar for a street tracker brat style build..

Have no workshop currently and havent had a project in ages.

I don't have my workshop, too. Brought the bike to the outside workshop and ask them do what you like as I am doing now.

Looks like a fun project!

Hehe, really fun. And time consuming.

 

[2wheels]

Have you got any photos?

I'll check inside the old albums.

 

[VietHorse]

A quick visit and discussion with the shop in the morning.

Weather was so good for anything related to motorcycle:

First time ever I can use my camera for some close-up look to my bike - who was born in 1983:

She has not so small heart:

Her name:

5 gears:

:RO

 

[VietHorse]

Looking for some ideas of Headlights and the Speedo/Tachnometer.
Need to fit with upside down front forks.

 

[DrGMIA]

CX 650's - Secret project

Viethorse:

I was invited to inspect two CX650s that are being prepped for a "secret" project - soon to be announced. As a journalist and photographer my info on these two motorcycle was limited to what I could post in public, but can say the below:

Both bikes have been completely restored - running like new. They will make a "test run" in 2013 after additional modifications are made. Bike A has 18,000 miles showing on the odometer, bike B has about 30,000.

Photo of engine is a fresh (completely rebuilt) CX650 power plant ready for another bike project.

The photo of the two CX650 Turbos was taken in the living room of the owner/restorer. One Turbo has -0- miles on it.

Pics taken last week - October 2012.

When in Vietnam I found several CX400's, former cop or military escort bikes, but never in this good of shape. Found one CX400 Interstate Silverwing in Thailand.

These CX's were good solid runners, good for 100,000 miles. The one major short coming was the stator - they got too hot - engine had to be split to replace.

Lust away!

 

[KTMphil]

Look like fantastic tourers

 

[DrGMIA]

Honda GL650 - Still in South America

Pic is GL650, 1983 (not a turbo charged model), possibly still in South America (Argentina?). Carried two of us to the "end of the earth," Ushuaia, Argentina. Only "problems" were clutch on starter was going and side stand was too shiort, then too long. I'd changed spring on rear shock for extra weight - 2 up with full load. Story and pics at The Ultimate Globe Ride

Of the seven motorcycles we used on that ride around the world, the Honda came out on top when asking my pillion which one she liked the best.

Yes, good runners. This one cost me about $1,500.00 USD, then another $1,500.00 for boxes, tires, battery, and small stuff. So $3,000.00 USD got us an "adventure bike."

Yes, I'm reminded "it's just a motorcycle," but this one I beat into the ground from the top of South America to the bottom, then halfway back up. Sold it, and another adventurist rolled around Argentina on it. Once in a while some traveler sends me pics of it....still in Argentina.

If I wanted a good solid runner for Asia, this 1983 GL650 would be high on my list - parts (used) are cheap and it seldom needed any.

These stock motorcycles (500 and 650 cc) were used as delivery bikes in London for many years. I once met a Brit traveler and his wife on one, traveling through Central and South America. The motorcycle had over 100,000 miles on it, and they were headed to USA. I suspect they rolled across the USA wanting for little more than tires, tea, fish and chips.

 

[VietHorse]

Hey, sorry for getting this behind for a while...
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We was wanting to have dual disc at front wheel - quite long discussion and email back and forth on how to make the dual front discs instead of original single disc.
After two days, they have completed the mounting with perfect air-gap from the wheel to both front forks, and also the two break calipers.

Right disc:

Left disc:

There are two shim plates have been inserted into both side of the "rim base" (well, I am not sure if I am using incorrect word!!??).

Because of the differences between two sides of the rim, so two plates have difference thickness. That was a difficult part for getting a correct measurement. Otherwise, the two discs could not fit with the two break calipers.

We used long bolts to mount the break disc and the shim plate to the "rim base".

So, here is how the front end looks like:

The wheel looks bigger than with the single disc, right??

 

[VietHorse]

This is how I compare my bike front-end with a finished product on net

Oh hell.. Mine looks too bad!!!

Just borrow the headlights:

 

[KTMphil]

Looks like a fun project Trung, when do you think it will be finished?

 

[VietHorse]

Looks like a fun project Trung, when do you think it will be finished?

Well, I was planning to get this bike ready to ride during this Tet holiday (Mid Feb). However, I will be traveling to North of Vietnam for Tet so I will let the schedule slip a bit. Hope it would be on road somewhere in March.

 

[VietHorse]

Featured on The Bike Shed now:

BSMC: http://thebikeshed.cc/2013/08/09/tru...-sportclassic/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...2103824&type=1
__________________

 

[Nightrider70]

Well done. Those V-twin engines looks and sounds great in my ears.

 

[VietHorse]

Well done. Those V-twin engines looks and sounds great in my ears.

Thanks.
You will never believe in your ears when hearing my CX's sound! Just one word:"awesome"!


CX was out for a ride: