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Not crazy but you have to be prepared for a project bike. Not saying this one is, but a lot of "stuff" can be done to a bike over that time and you really have no idea what or why. My son and I bought an 82 GS750 some years ago and it's been non-stop work on it...still not able to take it out on a ride. (He's done all the work on it and just doesn't have much time with all his other pursuits.)
 

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I saw this on Craigslist this morning. Am I crazy to want a 40 year old motorcycle?
If I could have lived my youth over I would have purchased something like this.
I'm right there with you Uncle Fester! The first scooter I ever saw was a Honda Silver Wing. Some really nice clean looking ones with low mileage are still available on Cycle Trader like this one https://www.cycletrader.com/listing/2012-Honda®-Silver+Wing+ABS-5024020700 If you Google Silver Wing reviews you will find that they have gotten rave reviews from their owners. If I could find a 2012 model for the right price I would probably buy one today! So if you're crazy...then crazy is catching :ROFLMAO:
 
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I had a CX650 Turbo for 2 months. It was a SCREAMER. About 100 HP. Looked just like this one below. I was getting reassigned for my 3rd tour in Germany and it was take a bike or a car for 4 years.
Wheel Tire Fuel tank Automotive lighting Automotive tire
 

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Discussion Starter · #5 ·
The V twin engine has a very distinct sound. Plus the drive shaft came right off the crank instead of a 90 degree angle like a in line four. Plus dual exhausts on a 500c engine.
 

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shadetree surgeon and cheyleesi rode a pair of silver wings from pacific northwest to tampa, then raffled them off for forgotten angels. the bikes handled the cross country trip better than they did.
 

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Those were fairly bulletproof bikes, they suffered similar issues of Honda's of that vintage, weak charging systems, shimmy if steering bearings were neglected and manual cam chains tensioners. (Not the tensioners themselves, but lack of owner maintenance, causing chain slap/other issues), otherwise fairly easy to maintain. So, listen for cam chain rattle, charging system operation, raise the front wheel check for steering play, rust, tire age??, etc. None a deal breaker/but a negotiation point to lower $$, most probably not an issue at that mileage, but it is 40yrs old.

There are still electrical and mechanical parts available for them. Is it a wise investment $$, no. It will still ride/operate like a vintage bike :unsure: But is definitely a very niece one (y)
 

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If you like longitudinal 90 degree, single pin crank twins, try a Moto Guzzi. I've had an 02 LeMans and an 07 Norge and they're great bikes. The only problem I had was the plastic fuel tanks would warp with the ethanol fuel in the US. They have since corrected the construction of the tanks but mechanically they're torque monsters and one of the easiest engines to perform maintenance on.
 

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I saw this on Craigslist this morning. Am I crazy to want a 40 year old motorcycle?

If I could have lived my youth over I would have purchased something like this.

Honda Silverwing GL500 - motorcycles/scooters - by owner - vehicle... (craigslist.org)
The first question has got to be, why do you want it? The Silverwing GL 500 was a sweet bike in the day. Lots of tech for back in the 80s featuring an engine design that was a bit of a curiosity (think Moto Guzzi but without the need for that air cooling design) nevertheless all of its pieces came together to work very well.. Keep us posted.
 

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The GL500, CX500, Cx650 were well ahead of their times. VERY smooth and a bit more torque than the run of the mill 500cc bikes of that time.

The 1983 CX650 Turbo I had would win more stop light races with 750cc bikes, even some Liter bikes.

It would pull almost 140 MPH and 115 all day even in 100+ degree days. I rode it from Seattle area to Laramie WY and the day temps were 104+, I maintained 110 to 120 MPH most of this trip. Son was at WyoTech and I brought him a 300 pound tool set strapped on back.

If I wanted a SHIFTER bike and found a CX650 Turbo, it would be in my garage.
 
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Discussion Starter · #12 ·
I decided not to get that bike. I thought it over and decided the maintenance with carburetors was beyond my skill set and acquisition of parts when needed may be troubling. I have one 99 R1100RT in the garage now to fiddle with and two scooters so it is kind of tight as it is.

I have my eye on the Honda CB500X which seems to me to be a nice swiss army knife of a bike of the day. And is supposed to get the excellent fuel consumption of 65-70 mpg. You never know.
 

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When Dean was offered the CX650 Turbo for $3,800 in early 2004, he snapped it up. It was in excellent condition with low miles,


Dean put 77,000 miles on his first CX500 Turbo, and a total of 137,000 miles on Turbos since 1982
 

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