Honda introduced this middleweight motorcycle line for the late 1970s as a distinctly modern alternative to the air-cooled fours that dominated much of the market. The original model arrived for the 1978 model year and quickly became known for its unconventional layout: a transverse V-twin, liquid cooling, shaft drive, and a compact touring-oriented chassis that set it apart from many of Honda’s earlier road bikes. Rather than chasing a traditional sport-bike formula, it emphasized smoothness, long-distance usability, and everyday reliability, which helped make it a memorable and widely recognized Honda of the era.
Over its run, the nameplate evolved through several closely related versions and market-specific derivatives, including custom and touring variants, while retaining the same basic family identity. Honda also used the platform for more experimental offshoots, most famously the CX Turbo models, which came later and drew on the same engineering foundation but were separate badge directions rather than a new long-running revival of the original nameplate.
The early CX motorcycles became especially notable among enthusiasts for their distinctive styling and mechanical character. They stood out as a bold design statement from Honda during a period when the company was expanding beyond the image of small, practical machines. Production of the original CX500 nameplate ended after the 1983 model year, closing out a relatively short but influential chapter in Honda’s motorcycle history.