Book: “Boosted! A Tribute to the Honda CX500 and CX650 Turbos” by Randakk
My new book “Boosted! A Tribute to the Honda CX500 and CX650 Turbos” is finally completed and will be published soon!
Early Order Discount:
Customers using discount code BOOSTED2025EOD earn a $10.00 discount off the normal price. This discount is limited to the first 200 books purchased.
(An "Add to Cart" button wil be added above soon).
The Turbo is one of the most important Hondas ever, yet no book has been devoted exclusively to it. "Boosted!" pays homage to the machines, the company, and the individuals who created this landmark design. I celebrate them as rolling works of art and technology and offer content to help owners preserve them in fully functional condition.
Honda Turbos are under-appreciated relative to their historical and technical significance. The timeless design has held up quite well. They still seem pretty contemporary and perform at a high level of function, even compared with current motorcycles. "Boosted!" celebrates the remarkable excellence of Honda’s design.
The book is large format (8 1/2 x 11”), 208 pages and printed in full cover (250+ photos). ISBN: 979-8-218-63595-4.
Synopsis
I review the landscape of motorcycle technology in the late seventies and how Honda improbably created the most innovative and sophisticated motorcycle ever conceived. I cover the significant R&D effort by principal members of the Design Team, both in Italy and Japan. I've also been granted permission to publish a never-before-seen photo of a prototype created for Honda by legendary Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti.
As the book unfolds, I delve into the breakthrough technology Honda incorporated, including the first-ever electronic fuel injection and turbocharging on a production motorcycle. I catalog performance data, specifications, competition history, and tips on buying and maintaining a Turbo. I review the improved Honda CX650 Turbo successor and the other Japanese Turbos spawned by Honda’s bold initiative. A unique section on riding tips for Turbo owners also covers high-performance riding tips gleaned from my association with AHRMA road racing.
I’ve collected thousands of high-resolution photos from my Turbo and other collectors and original artwork from different sources. I've selected the best images to celebrate this enduring design.
"Boosted" is printed in the U.S. This was necessary to avoid high tariff costs and long shipping times from off-shore printers. Regardless, printing costs have escalated dramatically for all publishers. The planned print run for "Boosted!" will not exceed 1,000 copies, so the book is destined to be scarce and collectible …just like the Honda Turbos.
Book shipments are expected to begin on or about July 15, 2025.