Author Topic: Buy a cb650 (Read 4012 times)

cb550inct · « **on:** April 22, 2012, 08:17:05 AM »

I might be able to get a 1980 cb 650 for 750, I really want a 750 but they are going for 1500 plus in my area. I have a 550 k I'm considering selling. Why are the 650's so devalued vs a 550 or 750.

onepieceatatime · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2012, 08:48:32 AM »

They only made them 4 years as a SOHC4 and each year was different, with a few parts being the same year to year, the rest of the SOHC4 community ignores them (information and aftermarket parts).

onepieceatatime · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2012, 08:54:02 AM »

Also they are electric start only, and don't look as cool as the 550/750s. I would buy another one, but I have a enough spare parts that I could probably build one.

chrisnoel · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2012, 09:08:37 AM »

It's one of those bikes that you have to like to want one. If it's given to you then you can fix it up as decent rider for about what it's worth. Try to sell it for what it's worth however and you'll find a lack of buyers.

fisjon · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2012, 08:56:52 AM »

$:-\$
you mean like mine....................

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #5 on:** April 23, 2012, 12:35:02 PM »

It's the Comstars put me off. I also found it a bit unwieldy compared to the 550. Nice bike tho fisjon.

cb650 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 23, 2012, 12:55:43 PM »

If only they had done them in spoke wheels.

fisjon · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2012, 06:21:50 AM »

Cost a fortune to restore, about £4,000 and a lot of time and effort. To be truthful I spent so much on it I had to sell it earlier this year to revcover some of my cash,(not being of affluent means) and all I could raise was £2,700. I had to spend weeks on eBay to sell off all the spares I had accumulated and got another £900 for those so a little short of braking even. Like the man said, nice bike, but not in the same league as a K0 or K1 750.

mono · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2012, 07:03:28 AM »

i was in the same place a few months ago. i own a 550K and want a 750 as a 2nd bike. a 650 came up for $300 and i was going to buy it until the guy upped the price to $600. it was nothin' special and needed a lot of elbow grease (but it did run), so i turned it down. i'd rather put that $$ toward the 750 build i want to do.

i also noticed that the 650s seem to be pretty undesirable in my area (OH), and I was concerned about being able to resell it if i put the work into making it nice again.

I guess if it would have been in better shape i'd have bought it. a rider is a rider.

fmctm1sw · « **Reply #9 on:** April 24, 2012, 07:44:23 AM »

If mine had not been so close to my house and cheap ($250 w/title & delivery), I probably would have passed. I'd prefer spoked wheels too and the bike feels very heavy in turns but perhaps only because I usually ride a 350F. It needs new tires too and gas tank work. I'd never get my money back out of it parts wise let alone including my "labor costs." I've ridden it around the block though and I like the way it runs. My nieghbors were like WTF though, since the tank is off and I just have a funnel and tube connected to the carbs. Very low seat too, I can stand flat footed. I can't even do that on my 350F

It's definitely growing on me especially with the stock exhaust I found for it. I'm glad I have something nobody wants. Nobody wanted an Edsel back in the day either. See what they're going for now...

mono · « **Reply #10 on:** April 24, 2012, 08:32:40 AM »

for $250 you can't really say "no".

curemode2002 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 24, 2012, 09:32:31 AM »

I love mine and I do have the spoked wheels they do look a bit better but it sucks running tubes. I got mine for 450.00 and let me tell you worth every penny. One thing that does suck though about the 79-80 models is carb parts are a major pain to find. www.siriusconinc.com and www.z1enterprises are great sources.

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #12 on:** April 24, 2012, 09:33:31 AM »

Pictures please.

weltzing · « **Reply #13 on:** April 24, 2012, 09:36:46 AM »

I bought mine for $100! new tires, battery, and a little work was totally worth it!!

Hush · « **Reply #14 on:** April 24, 2012, 09:53:05 AM »

Honda used the CB650 last of the SOHC4 bikes as experimentlal models, the very last ones had CV carbs which really make them stonk and front forks a Harley would be proud to own, I loved rebuilding my CB650Z model and broke even when I sold it. Hey a bike is a bike is a bike, if it runs and is ridable then you do just that.
Costs for the 750's around my part of the world are prohibative, I'm glad the 650 has kept a lower price as it has opened up the SOHC4 world to thousands more owners.

fmctm1sw · « **Reply #15 on:** April 24, 2012, 10:25:13 AM »

Quote from: Hush on April 24, 2012, 09:53:05 AM

Hey a bike is a bike is a bike, if it runs and is ridable then you do just that.

Agreed!

cb650 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 24, 2012, 02:02:53 PM »

Also with the 650's you hardly ever see another one. If you want to be diffrent. Although the 350/400 are never seen usually.
I read that as the sohc4 was so proven that honda almost went with it in a turbo but opted for the cx 500's water cooling.

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #17 on:** April 24, 2012, 02:05:44 PM »

400 and 750 are very popular here. I can't remember the last time I seen a 550 and I've never seen a 350.

Doggie · « **Reply #18 on:** April 24, 2012, 07:46:59 PM »

I have an '81 CB650C. I was given (2) of them with no papers for parts. I picked up a titled frame and plan to make one good one out of the two. After I finish a CB750K, a CB550K Cafe Racer, and what I call a Retro-Rod (all the rusty chrome parts from CB550's, primed and painted). I never turn down a bike!!!
A wife that just shakes her head is always helpful!!!

Doug

cb550inct · « **Reply #19 on:** April 25, 2012, 02:41:19 PM »

Ok i went down a different route, Im selling the cb550k, buying a Triumpf thruxton, and possibly a real beat up 75 CB400f and bringing it back to life....2 for one.

It sounds good in my head.

Blueridgerunner · « **Reply #20 on:** April 25, 2012, 03:47:03 PM »

Quote from: cb650 on April 23, 2012, 12:55:43 PM

If only they had done them in spoke wheels.

Like this?

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #21 on:** April 25, 2012, 03:52:35 PM »

Quote from: Blueridgerunner on April 25, 2012, 03:47:03 PM

Quote from: cb650 on April 23, 2012, 12:55:43 PM
If only they had done them in spoke wheels.
Like this?

NO. Like a normal 650.

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #22 on:** May 03, 2012, 10:14:02 PM »

Quote from: fmctm1sw on April 24, 2012, 07:44:23 AM

If mine had not been so close to my house and cheap ($250 w/title & delivery), I probably would have passed. I'd prefer spoked wheels too and the bike feels very heavy in turns but perhaps only because I usually ride a 350F. It needs new tires too and gas tank work. I'd never get my money back out of it parts wise let alone including my "labor costs." I've ridden it around the block though and I like the way it runs. My nieghbors were like WTF though, since the tank is off and I just have a funnel and tube connected to the carbs. Very low seat too, I can stand flat footed. I can't even do that on my 350F It's definitely growing on me especially with the stock exhaust I found for it. I'm glad I have something nobody wants. Nobody wanted an Edsel back in the day either. See what they're going for now...

Just saw this as I may be helping a neighbor with a 650 soon. So you were riding around the block with a funnel full of gas balanced between your legs. I need pictures...that's is just too funny.

Blueridgerunner · « **Reply #23 on:** June 04, 2012, 04:29:13 PM »

Quote from: LesterPiglet on April 25, 2012, 03:52:35 PM

Quote from: Blueridgerunner on April 25, 2012, 03:47:03 PM
Quote from: cb650 on April 23, 2012, 12:55:43 PM
If only they had done them in spoke wheels.
Like this?

NO. Like a normal 650.

Not sure what your definition of a "normal 650" is. This is just a Std. 650. Perhaps not available over there.

xsmooth69x · « **Reply #24 on:** June 04, 2012, 04:42:36 PM »

Quote from: cb550inct on April 25, 2012, 02:41:19 PM

Ok i went down a different route, Im selling the cb550k, buying a Triumpf thruxton, and possibly a real beat up 75 CB400f and bringing it back to life....2 for one.

It sounds good in my head.

why dont u switch out the cb550 cam for the cb650 cam and drive tach? then u can have both at the same time!!

so how do u go from thinking about a cb650 to a triumph thruxton? and possibly a cb400f?

if anything get a 350 twin they are really really popular in the UK they race them all the time

News:

Author Topic: Buy a cb650 (Read 4012 times)