Topic: CB650 forks - am I fu**ed?

[henrikm]

Hey guys,

was changing the fork seals on my (new to me) '79 CB650 Z (RC03) last night when #$%* hit the fan. Started off with the right fork and everything went smoothly until I was about to pry the old seal out of it's seat. Without even applying any force a big piece of the lower fork broke off. After going ballistic with bad phrases and wrenches all over I started inspecting a little closer and there is glue residue all over the piece that broke off. The f*in PO apparently just glued it back on when he destroyed them in the first place.

So the question really is what fork lowers will fit my RC03? I'm thinking I want to swap both of them out as I really don't know the condition of the other one. The Z (RC03) is dual disc and the stock fork lowers are black. Parts for the Z model is pretty scarce on ebay so I'm hoping some of the later model forks might fit.

I need to get back on the road as my 750 is undergoing a total rebuild, so as of now I'm stuck with 4 wheels

[henrikm]

Actually found one on ebay (from Germany) that might seem to fit. As far as I can tell it's from a 1981. The only thing I can't see on the pic is the fender mounts?

eBay link

[Terry in Australia]

If you still have the broken piece you could weld it back in mate, but if that eBay leg fits, for that price, I'd buy it. Cheers, Terry.  

[henrikm]

Well, this was allot more dramatic than I first thought.. I don't think I've got nerves for these old bikes. Turned out a guy in the local classic Honda club wanted to trade me a pair of fork legs for a luggage rack I had lying around

Good stuff.

[ekpent]

Sounds like you made out very well on that trade   

[fmctm1sw]

Don't pry them out.  Take out that retaining ring on top of the seal and take out the hex bolt on the bottom.  Jerk the upper fork like a dent puller and it will pop the seal out.  Unless the 650Z is different from the 650C and 650 standard I did.

[henrikm]

Thanks, I'll give that a shot on the next fork I do.

[lucky]

WOW!!! You could have been killed when riding.
This was very lucky that you made this discovery.

I do not like people that sell things with known defects.
Like car manufacturers, and computer companies.

[Terry in Australia]

And breweries...........

[754]

I know you no longer need one, but can you show the brake mount..looks a lot like 77/78 f legs..

[henrikm]

Here's a pic of the fork.. I think it must have been black from the factory, or the PO have had them professionally painted.

While waiting for a new fork lower, I'm trying to finish the powder coating oven I'm building

[trueblue]

I know you no longer need one, but can you show the brake mount..looks a lot like 77/78 f legs..

They are very similar to the F legs Frank. But I think the differ slightly in length from memory.  IIRC they are interchangeable but as a pair only otherwise you'll see the difference.