The design included innovative features and technologies that were uncommon or unused at the time such as liquid cooling, electric-only starting, low-maintenance shaft drive, modular wheels, and dual CV-type carburetors that were tuned for reduced emissions.

The CX series features a longitudinal engine configuration, similar to a rear wheel drive automobile.

The included angle of the CX is 80°, and the heads are twisted 22° so that the inlet tracts do not interfere with the rider's legs.

The shaft drives a bevel gear to which the wheel is joined via a cush-drive, which absorbs and dampens driveline shocks and vibrations.

Honda introduced the Com-Star wheels a year or so earlier on the CB250T/400T Dream as well as on the CB750F2 and GL1000 Gold Wing, although these featured standard rims that required inner tubes.

[4] Early versions had conventional suspension, consisting of hydraulically damped telescoping front forks and dual coil-over shocks at the rear.

All models feature steel tube frames with a large backbone, with the engine used as a stressed member.

The basic 1978 48 hp CX500 had a large fuel tank, stepped seat, a round brake fluid reservoir and a plastic mini-fairing that was thought to look unusual at the time.

The trademark Moto Guzzi habit of mounting a V-twin engine with the crankshaft inline with the frame and shaft final drive was adopted for the CX500; but this Honda was decidedly different.

[5] The styling was radical: a steep fork angle and a short engine contributed to a stubby wheelbase on a bike that was rather tall.

[6] The fuel tank tapered toward the front and a huge half-moon tail light jutted out from a short fairing behind the radically stepped seat.

Sharing many parts with the CX500 Turbo introduced the same model year, the Sport (following the release of the CX650ED 'Eurosports', many people referred to the CX500EC also as the 'Eurosports' although technically not correct) features air pre-load assisted front forks with an anti-dive mechanism, known as TRAC (Torque Reactive Anti-dive Control), and an air pre-load assisted prolink mono-shock rear suspension.

The wheels were also modified, with an 18-inch-diameter (460 mm) restyled round hole comstar with a 100–90H18 front tyre, whilst on the rear is a 120–80H18.

The Sports is also significantly restyled with a larger fuel tank, a nose fairing, side panels, seat, and tail unit that share much more modern lines.

In the UK only two colour options were made: white pearl with blue and red strips, or black with orange and silver stripes.

Plastic mudguards replace the chromed steel versions on the earlier machines curing the associated rust problems.

The changes extended to the engine where Honda's late 1970s issues with cam chains were dealt with via the introduction of an automatic tensioner replacing the manual version on the earlier models.

Sports model engines are identifiable via the lack of a cam chain tensioner bolt and the revised valve covers which feature black painted stripes and satin alloy flat areas.

The CX500TC powerplant was based on the water-cooled V-twin with four pushrod-operated overhead valves per cylinder configuration used in the CX500 introduced a few years earlier.

Its semi chopped fork, tear drop tank, low seat and truncated exhaust gave it a very rakish look.

However, it was very similar in styling and price range to the 750 Shadow and Honda elected to have only one cruiser bike in that class, thus the reason for its short model life.

Tubular frame design, TRAC anti-dive forks, Pro-Link rear suspension, twin-pot brakes and disc front and back.