An old friend returns..

[Duncan Grimmond]

I don't know this one, could someone post a link or pics?

[Tony Griffiths]

The  CX500 is water cooled, Tony. It's one of Honda's first water cooled bikes from the late 70s. Nice little v twin, with 5 speed box and shaft drive, so probably no Austin gearbox either. Does seem a little expensive. Perhaps they got the decimal point in the wrong place on the price ?

...and designed, I believe, by the chap who did the first Honda F1 engine. I had new CX500 Euro Sport and what a revelation. It would sit comfortably at high speed all day, vibration-free and when you stopped, ticked over like a sewing machine with no oil leaks. The contrast with my 650 Norton SS was night and day - to say that riding the Norton was akin to mounting oil-spewing road drill would be an understatement. The 650 Bonneville I had was worse; thrashed, it would (among other faults) break up a new pair of (genuine maker's) silencers in 50 miles and put the carbs out of tune in half that distance.

[Reckless Rat]

https://ebay.us/Dowrhf

[Tony Betts]

thanks reckers.

its been a wile since ive looked at 70s bikes, i take it the cx was the old police bike, and being water cooled probably what was used in the silverwing?

i like the idea of a motorcycle engine in an austin 7. but i was looking more BMW R65. at least it has something more of a link to the 7.

its great to make things go faster, but as we all know. it needs to stop as well as handle that speed.

and that aint going to handle speed on those springs.

tony

[Malcolm Parker]

The advert mentions 'that full Brooklands experience'.  by that I assume they mean death when it overturns?

[Reckless Rat]

The Silver Wing was as far as I remember based on the CX, but I think enlarged to 650cc.
The first Hondas I remember in Police livery were 250 Super Dreams CB250 twins, mainly at the driving school, and XL250s for off road training. The first "big" Honda patrol bike was the ST1100, which was a nice piece of kit but the hydraulic clutch and high bottom gear made it a bit of a pig for slow escort work. BMW boxers were "de rigueur" for a lot of forces until the K series came in. The 600s weren't very fast but a lovely bike to spend a whole day in the saddle on. Problem these days is sourcing a CX or a BMW boxer. They are getting rare. My last 'job' bike was a K100. Bombproof. Apart from a lack of high speed stability.

[Tony Betts]

well. in the 80s i had the CB250. a nice comfortable bike.

when the engine when wrong, i put a CB400 engine in. a straight swap. but the vibration over 50mph was hell. but it gave me time to fix the 250 and swap back over, ready for work.

tony

[Michael D]

the link posted by reckless rat is not leading to the car intended by OP
try this one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austin-Seven-...SwNK5fMEx4

[Duncan Grimmond]

The Honda engined one was what I had been looking for. Very interesting, thanks Bruce.. The CX 500 was also used for the JZR trike kit and worked well. I have a couple of friends in Holland who have JZRs fitted with PanEuropean engines. Absolutely terrifying, I drove one and almost messed myself! The brake pedal was so difficult to find as the transmission tunnel intruded seriously into the footwell.
Definitely sh*t off a shovel when you put you foot on the gas, 60mph before you could catch your breath!

[Tony Press]

What happened to the Ariel Four Square  bike ? In the 50's Victirian Police used these large heavy machines and later one of my Tech. Clollege mates had one.

Apparently a good fast bike but very cumberson and prone to back cylinder siezure - much like the VW flat four (don't ask how I know this).