CMM BIKE OF THE YEAR READER’S SPECIAL
The restored 1978 Honda CX500 V-twin you see here shines like a new pin; a stainless steel pin come to that, because owner-restorer Bob Orbell is a stainless disciple who places great emphasis on detail finish.
This bike has stainless wheel spindles and all fastenings. Maybe that's not so unusual these days. But this machine even has the helmet holder pin and mount in stainless, also the main-stand spindle, clutch actuating-arm, transmission breather tower, the rear suspension pre-load adjusters.... the list goes on and on. Anything owner Bob can turn to stainless gets the treatment on lathes that fill his single garage.
Even new wheels come in for detail work. To strengthen the ComStars he painstakingly drilled off the rivets and replaced the spoke to hub bolts with silver steel items he turned up to improve strength. First he bought a scrap wheel to practice on.
As a final finishing touch he uses stainless dome nuts wherever he can. The overall result
