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Offline brooze72

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Possible 650 find
« on: January 16, 2014, 06:08:25 PM »
I just came across an '81 650 for a pretty good price.  I am not familiar with this model, in fact I can't recall seeing one except for pictures, so I'm going to lean on you guys for info & advice here.

I emailed the guy & asked for pics but he replied that he's not too technologically savvy and asked me to call.  I did & he seems a pretty straight shooter but doesn't seem to know a lot about the bike either.  He stated it was a 650C and was black and had 4/4 pipes, has had it about 9 years & there may be charging issues.  I asked about the exhaust & he said there has always been some silver metal tape on one of the pipes.   I looked at our model guide for "81 but it's not clear if a "C" came in black or had 4/4 pipes?

He claims it is in good shape, last started about six months ago, but I would really like to see a few pics before I commit to an 8 hour round trip with a borrowed van with a 100 litre tank ( & it would probably use 2 tanks!)

Give me some advice guys, the 650 seems to be kind of a bit of a black sheep in the family, no offence to current owners, cause I'm pretty interested in this one.  Is this worth checking out?
Any common or expensive issues from that year?
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Offline cb650

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2014, 06:17:26 PM »
No black pipes stock.  Charging is a problem.  I seem to have been lucky and never had any on mine.   81 is a custom or standard.  Custom 4-4 with comstars.  Standard 4-2 with wire wheels.    More diffs to but thats the noticeable ones.  Check the tank they are getting harder to find.  Here is a few of mine.
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Offline tomkimberly

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2014, 06:30:10 PM »
Here is mine:



As has been said, check the fuel tank, these seem to rust out much more frequently than other Honda models.

Tom
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Offline brooze72

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #3 on: January 16, 2014, 06:58:06 PM »
Thanks cb650, your model explanation is good.  I guess I confused you, I meant the paint was black and the 4/4 pipes were chrome according to what I understand from the owner.  Seems like he has a custom, think I'll send him tomkimberly's pic to confirm.

Thanks for the pic, tomkimberly, nice bike!  By "other Hondas" are you including other SOHC4 models?
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2011, 2012 & 2013 Godzilla Relay Rally Rider
"Hold on loosely...don't let go
 If you cling too tightly...you're gonna lose control"
1972 CB500K1 - restored rider
1981 CB650C - new project

Offline tomkimberly

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #4 on: January 16, 2014, 08:40:17 PM »
Yes, most other Honda models fuel tanks seem to last much longer than the 650's.

Tom

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Offline brooze72

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #5 on: January 16, 2014, 08:58:49 PM »
Our photo gallery shows some 650's & there seems to be two very different tank styles.  Is it by year?
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2011, 2012 & 2013 Godzilla Relay Rally Rider
"Hold on loosely...don't let go
 If you cling too tightly...you're gonna lose control"
1972 CB500K1 - restored rider
1981 CB650C - new project

Offline LesterPiglet

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #6 on: January 16, 2014, 09:01:41 PM »
I only see 2 different bikes. The custom and the Z. Maybe I'm not looking close enough.
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Offline Scott S

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #7 on: January 17, 2014, 05:24:50 AM »
 I can tell you that with very minimal work you can bolt that engine into your CB500. :)

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Offline cb650

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #8 on: January 17, 2014, 06:08:00 AM »
Really there are 5 diff models.   US Z  79 only   The rest of the world got a Z also but a little diff until 81 or 2.
In 80 they went with standard and custom.  same in 81 with a few changes.
Then in 82 the nitehawk replaced the custom.
Pics of all in the gallery.
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Offline brooze72

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #9 on: January 17, 2014, 06:53:47 AM »
Quote from: Scott S on January 17, 2014, 05:24:50 AM
I can tell you that with very minimal work you can bolt that engine into your CB500. :)



Yes Scott, that was in the back of my mind and I remembered following your build.  Love the way yours came out, very tasty.  If I end up going down that road, you'll be getting PMs from me for advice :)
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2011, 2012 & 2013 Godzilla Relay Rally Rider
"Hold on loosely...don't let go
 If you cling too tightly...you're gonna lose control"
1972 CB500K1 - restored rider
1981 CB650C - new project

Offline brooze72

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #10 on: January 17, 2014, 02:40:33 PM »
Hey guys, quick questions, does the 650 engine have a kicker? and dual front disks on the custom?
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2011, 2012 & 2013 Godzilla Relay Rally Rider
"Hold on loosely...don't let go
 If you cling too tightly...you're gonna lose control"
1972 CB500K1 - restored rider
1981 CB650C - new project

Offline FunJimmy

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #11 on: January 17, 2014, 02:49:02 PM »
Quote from: Brooze72 on January 16, 2014, 06:08:25 PM
I just came across an '81 650 for a pretty good price.

What do you consider a "pretty good price"?

Have you read this thread?  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=133533.0
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Offline cb650

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #12 on: January 17, 2014, 03:29:56 PM »
Quote from: Brooze72 on January 17, 2014, 02:40:33 PM
Hey guys, quick questions, does the 650 engine have a kicker? and dual front disks on the custom?
No kick starter.  Only thing I hate about it.  Always starts though.   81 custom and 82 nitehawk got dual disks.  And Euro Z models.  All others are single.
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Offline BIGGS

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #13 on: January 17, 2014, 04:34:39 PM »
YES GET IT.. :) depending on what your good price is. :P

I now have three... my only three roadbikes right now..No shame  with this black sheep.. :o

When I got mine I expected more of a cruiser style bike :-X, but these inline 4's are nothing too underestimate

Also parts aren't really a problem, and most users will be able too hook you up. :-*

Heres two of mine, Kind of outdated they both look a lot different and a 4-1 on these guys sound so mean... >:(
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Offline fmctm1sw

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #14 on: January 17, 2014, 04:43:09 PM »
I have an '81 Custom and an '81 Standard.  A lot of people didn't like the Custom's handlebars.  I found a stock one and put it back on the bike.  The vacuum fuel petcock is notorious on these bikes.  I haven't had a lot of trouble with mine, but my cam chain is getting noisy on my Custom and there doesn't seem to be much availability for the tensioner.  I don't think black was a stock color for the '81s.  They were blue and the color in BIGGS's post I think. 

EDIT:  Here's mine.  An '81 Standard model with Custom body parts and an '81 Custom with '80 model Standard body parts (It's complicated....)  If you need to swap tanks, watch out for the petcocks, the fuel nipple size varied.  Last picture is the '81 Custom stock handlebars.  If you put different handlebars on it, your brake reservoir may not sit level...
« Last Edit: January 17, 2014, 05:07:40 PM by fmctm1sw »
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Quote from: 754
Dude is that a tire ? or an O-ring..??

Quote from: inkscars
This is not a pod thread
This is not a #$%* on my vacuum gauges thread
This is a help or GTFO thread.

1973 CB350F
1973 CB350G
1975 CB550K
1983 GL650I
1973 CB750K3 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=92888.0)
1984 Kawasaki KLT-250 (AKA 3 wheeler of death)
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Offline jamesbekman

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #15 on: January 17, 2014, 05:07:01 PM »
Side covers are the biggest thing on this bike, make sure he has them.
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Offline fmctm1sw

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #16 on: January 17, 2014, 05:10:45 PM »
Quote from: jamesbekman on January 17, 2014, 05:07:01 PM
Side covers are the biggest thing on this bike, make sure he has them.
Good point.  One of them is especially hard to find without broken tabs...
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Quote from: 754
Dude is that a tire ? or an O-ring..??

Quote from: inkscars
This is not a pod thread
This is not a #$%* on my vacuum gauges thread
This is a help or GTFO thread.

1973 CB350F
1973 CB350G
1975 CB550K
1983 GL650I
1973 CB750K3 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=92888.0)
1984 Kawasaki KLT-250 (AKA 3 wheeler of death)
1994 Honda TRX300
1999 Honda TRX250

Offline cb650

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #17 on: January 17, 2014, 06:29:47 PM »
Quote from: jamesbekman on January 17, 2014, 05:07:01 PM
Side covers are the biggest thing on this bike, make sure he has them.
Actually side covers are around.  Every time I go to steels I see several.  Would buy them but have many myself.   Now the Z and nitehawk are hard to find.
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Offline 750K

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #18 on: January 17, 2014, 08:34:35 PM »
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Offline brooze72

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #19 on: January 17, 2014, 08:53:59 PM »
Thanks guys, I have been checking out those links, good info there.
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2011, 2012 & 2013 Godzilla Relay Rally Rider
"Hold on loosely...don't let go
 If you cling too tightly...you're gonna lose control"
1972 CB500K1 - restored rider
1981 CB650C - new project

Offline brooze72

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #20 on: January 17, 2014, 08:55:34 PM »
Quote from: FunJimmy on January 17, 2014, 02:49:02 PM
Quote from: Brooze72 on January 16, 2014, 06:08:25 PM
I just came across an '81 650 for a pretty good price.

What do you consider a "pretty good price"?

Have you read this thread?  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=133533.0

$300, sound OK?
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2011, 2012 & 2013 Godzilla Relay Rally Rider
"Hold on loosely...don't let go
 If you cling too tightly...you're gonna lose control"
1972 CB500K1 - restored rider
1981 CB650C - new project

Offline 750K

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #21 on: January 17, 2014, 09:00:25 PM »
If the pics look half decent and it ran a couple months ago, for $300 I'd make the trip. Especially if ithas a title.
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Offline FunJimmy

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #22 on: January 17, 2014, 09:02:46 PM »
Quote from: Brooze72 on January 17, 2014, 08:55:34 PM
$300, sound OK?

Sounds great.
Can't go wrong.
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Offline brooze72

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #23 on: January 18, 2014, 07:32:33 AM »
Quote from: 750K on January 17, 2014, 09:00:25 PM
If the pics look half decent and it ran a couple months ago, for $300 I'd make the trip. Especially if ithas a title.

My thoughts too,I am hoping the guy can get a family member to send pictures & if it looks decent I'll make the drive.  Never asked about the title, but if he ran it up to last year I don't think it would be an issue.
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2011, 2012 & 2013 Godzilla Relay Rally Rider
"Hold on loosely...don't let go
 If you cling too tightly...you're gonna lose control"
1972 CB500K1 - restored rider
1981 CB650C - new project

Offline MiGhost

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Re: Possible 650 find
« Reply #24 on: January 19, 2014, 04:21:36 AM »
For $300 I would not waste time waiting for pics. It may not be around long enough. If the seller has a title. The bike is well worth it.

FYI: 81 650 Custom
Dual front disk on Comstar Wheels (MT2.50X19 front)
Lead axle 35mm forks
CV carbs (VB44A)(rebuild kits readily available)(pressed in slow jet)
4-4 exhaust
Chrome headlight housing w/ H4 bulb.

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