1982 Honda CX500 Turbo

The CX500 Turbo was Honda proving it could do anything, regardless of whether it should. In 1982, Honda strapped a turbocharger and fuel injection to a 500cc V-twin and created the first turbocharged production motorcycle. It made 82 horsepower from 500cc — remarkable then, still impressive now. The fuel injection was programmed (PGM-FI), predating widespread motorcycle EFI by over a decade. It was a technological showcase that cost too much, weighed too much, and was too complex for the average rider. Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Suzuki all followed with their own turbo bikes. Within two years, every manufacturer abandoned the concept. The turbo experiment taught the industry that displacement was cheaper than boost.

These are rare enough that most survivors are well-maintained rather than patina'd. The bodywork is 1980s angular, and it ages like 1980s design — either you love the aesthetic or you don't. The turbo plumbing adds visual complexity that distinguishes it immediately from the standard CX500. The LCD instruments are a time capsule of early digital cockpit design. Most examples still in existence are collector pieces, not barn finds. If you find one with honest wear from actual riding, that's more interesting than the typical garage-stored example.

Here's the reality: this is a 40-year-old turbocharged motorcycle with programmed fuel injection from 1982. When it works, it's a revelation. When it doesn't, finding someone who can diagnose the turbo and early EFI systems is a genuine challenge. Parts are scarce — only 5,500 were made worldwide. The CX500 (non-turbo) shares many components and those are plentiful, but the turbo-specific parts (turbocharger, fuel injection, boost control) are getting harder to source. The V-twin engine itself is bulletproof — it's the turbo system that demands respect. This is a motorcycle for someone who enjoys the challenge of keeping rare technology alive, not someone who wants to turn a key and ride.