Old dude waiting for his new toy.

[Blackzook]

Hey my name is Bruce,
Back in the day I was a 16 year old learner rider who had saved up everything I could for my first bike which was an arthritic old Kawasaki 250.

I would buy mags and avidly dream about the new super bikes but being a first year apprentice carpenter all I could afford was the clunky oily old Kwaka, I loved that bike.

When the CBX was released I wobbled down to Action Motorcycles in Parramatta (Sydney Australia) to see the new CBX.
Being a young fella in the midst of a huge crowd of older people who obviously new stuff about bikes I parked down the street and walked to the shop wearing my second hand Belstaff oilskin jacket & carrying my black Bell helmet.

30+ years later I am in my 50's and have ridden all my life, raced a bit and collected a few nice bikes.

A few months ago I was reminded of what it was to be a young guy by my new apprentice who was so excited when he got a nice second hand Kawasaki 300.

I decided f--- (edited by moderator) it I want a CBX, a really good CBX a red one just like I saw some 36 some years ago.

I searched Australia for a few months for a good low mileage original and nothing. Being 50+ and needing an instant fix I found the perfect bike from an importer, an 11000 mile original from Alabama.

I will arrive here on the 27th of December and by the time it clears customs I will have it mid January.

The only things wrong are the chrome headlight bucket and no side reflectors on the forks so of course I have been searching the planet for those essential bits LOL.

I have already reserved custom number plates here in Australia "80 CBX" don't mock me lol.

It will be my special day out ride and my most prized bike.

Enjoyed reading your posts and builds while waiting for my dream bike.
Bruce

[Mouse]

To the group Bruce.
from the Great White North ( Canmore, Alberta, Canada)
Enjoy the ride!

[wyly]

36 year wait to scratch an itch!

Imo the two best suppliers of cbx parts Bert at SCM http://www.sixcenter.nl/index.html and Louis http://usedcbxparts.com/ if they don't have what your looking for (highly unlikely) ebay will eventually have it.
Bert and Louis are dependable and honest, ebay sellers not so much.

[NobleHops]

I love it! Great story, mine was quite similar, and I got after it at about the same moment in life as you.

And I admire your taste in license plates too!

[cross]

Nice plate, here is mine in the background!

[Michael Vidovic]

Enjoy! Still in love with mine. Sometimes go out in the garage and enjoy the view..it really is an engineering masterpiece and rolling work of art. Everyone who sees it is stunned by the fact that it is over thirty years old looks so fresh and sounds awesome.
ps, so is my wife!

[steve murdoch icoa #5322]

Welcome to the site, Bruce.
You are fortunate in having one of the most knowledgeable CBX enthusiast in the world living in Sydney.
Hopefully Tony, site name herdygerdy, will stop by.
The '79/'80 headlight buckets are stupid expensive, if you can find one. A 750/900F look almost the same.

[herdygerdy]

Hi Bruce,

A big hearty welcome to the 'fun factory' of this forum. Very pleased you got a red one too Bruce, 'cos they sure are the fastest ones.

Where in SYD are you? I am in the Inner West and happy to assist as needed. Happy to share my knowledge on Carb synch's, setting valve clearances and general CBX twiddling and fettling.

You will love this bike for sure. However, initially don't set your expectations too high. They don't handle, stop and go like a modern bike, but that is part of the old gal's charm for sure.

Also, many ultra-low mileage CBXs that come to Oz from o/seas are of the 'ran well when parked' variety. So don't be at all surprised if it needs a full brake rebuild, carbs rebuilt (I hope not for your sake) and some electrical tweaking.

Regardless of all of this, when properly sorted, they are still a FABULOUS machine and I applaud your choice of addiction - because that is what it surely will be. I rode mine on Sunday for the first time in many months (quelle horreur!) and it was an absolute joy to behold - again. Every time I think of moving on from CBXs, all it takes is one nice ride on a big blue sky sunny Sydney day and I think 'Oh you idiot, how could you even consider such a thing?'

Enjoy the journey and education Bruce, and rest assured all on this forum are standing by to share our skills and experience on these wonderful machines with you.

Cheers...Tony

P.S. I might just have a line on a headlight bucket for you too.

[herdygerdy]

Welcome to the site, Bruce.
You are fortunate in having one of the most knowledgeable CBX enthusiast in the world living in Sydney.
Hopefully Tony, site name herdygerdy, will stop by.
The '79/'80 headlight buckets are stupid expensive, if you can find one. A 750/900F look almost the same.

And Mr Murdoch Sir, you are too kind by far, but thank you for your lovely comment and endorsement, by which I am truly humbled. It is only through the tireless support, knowledge and experience shared so freely by so many others who have trodden the well worn path of CBX idiosyncracies before us that I am able to have anything to offer back to this community. Thank you one and all.

Brgds...Tony

[wyly]

Welcome to the site, Bruce.
You are fortunate in having one of the most knowledgeable CBX enthusiast in the world living in Sydney.
Hopefully Tony, site name herdygerdy, will stop by.
The '79/'80 headlight buckets are stupid expensive, if you can find one. A 750/900F look almost the same.

And Mr Murdoch Sir, you are too kind by far, but thank you for your lovely comment and endorsement, by which I am truly humbled. It is only through the tireless support, knowledge and experience shared so freely by so many others who have trodden the well worn path of CBX idiosyncracies before us that I am able to have anything to offer back to this community. Thank you one and all.

Brgds...Tony

aye very smart indeed, except for " Very pleased you got a red one too Bruce, 'cos they sure are the fastest ones." ... it's been definitively proven that the Silver version is the fastest by far!

[Mouse]

Welcome to the site, Bruce.
You are fortunate in having one of the most knowledgeable CBX enthusiast in the world living in Sydney.
Hopefully Tony, site name herdygerdy, will stop by.
The '79/'80 headlight buckets are stupid expensive, if you can find one. A 750/900F look almost the same.

And Mr Murdoch Sir, you are too kind by far, but thank you for your lovely comment and endorsement, by which I am truly humbled. It is only through the tireless support, knowledge and experience shared so freely by so many others who have trodden the well worn path of CBX idiosyncracies before us that I am able to have anything to offer back to this community. Thank you one and all.

Brgds...Tony

aye very smart indeed, except for " Very pleased you got a red one too Bruce, 'cos they sure are the fastest ones." ... it's been definitively proven that the Silver version is the fastest by far!

No one notices the Black version standing in the corner with a beer shaking his head at the silliness of "who's the fastest?"

[wyly]

No one notices the Black version standing in the corner with a beer shaking his head at the silliness of "who's the fastest?"

your Z was born silver!... even with it's black disguise it's faster than the red!

[herdygerdy]

And in the interests of open disclosure, I have to admit my own Z was also born silver. After fitting of the red freshly painted bodywork, my seat of the pants instincts made it 'feel' faster tho'

Now keen to see some pics of the new acquisition blakzook. Gotta' admit, it will be one hell of a Chrissy present for you! Lucky duck!

Cheers...Tony

[Blackzook]

Thanks everyone, I will definitely post photos when she arrives and very keen on that original headlight if it is still available.

[Rolls]

Great story, Bruce. I can definitely relate. Hope everything went well on your new toy's long journey and with getting properly titled and registered in Sydney.