1981 Honda GL500 Engine In Crate

Description

1/7 Update: This was originally listed as a 1982 engine. As pointed out in the comments (thank you, cyclemikey), it is actually a 1981.

Please Note: This auction features $50 bid increments instead of our usual $100. The minimum buyer’s fee has been reduced from $250 to $100 as well.

The seller has created two videos. The first is a raw footage video for those of you that just want to see the crate and the engine:

The second is a video he created for his YouTube channel with more background information:

Additional photos of this Honda GL500 engine are available here for your perusal.

Introduced in 1978, the Honda CX500 was ahead of its time in many ways thanks to the use of features like liquid-cooling, shaft drive, modular wheels, tubeless tires, and electric-only starting. That’s why Honda’s marketers sold this bike with a slogan of “First into the future!” The styling was distinctive, but the V-Twin (a first from Honda) engine was legendarily reliable – and that’s why you see many of them around to this day, often providing the base for interesting customs.

The engine was similar to a Moto Guzzi in that the crankshaft was aligned with the length of the bike. Claimed output was 50 horsepower and 33.9 lb-ft of torque. The engine was also used in the GL500 Silver Wing, which was a mid-sized touring bike based on the CX500 platform. The engine was almost identical, save for a transistorized ignition system.

This example is Engine #: PC02E-2012139.

It came out of a shop where it had been sitting for almost twenty years, and the shop owner acquired several of these engines from Honda.

Currently located in O’Fallon, Missouri, this Honda engine is offered on a Bill of Sale only. Have any CX500/GL500 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!

1/7 Update: This was originally listed as a 1982 engine. As pointed out in the comments (thank you, cyclemikey), it is actually a 1981.

Please Note: This auction features $50 bid increments instead of our usual $100. The minimum buyer’s fee has been reduced from $250 to $100 as well.