Topic: Why are cb650s unpopular?

[MunkyMastr]

I'm noticing that the 550s and 750s seem quite popular, but the 650s aren't all that desirable. Why is this? This is an honest question, not sour grapes because no one wants 650 parts except for the cam.

[754]

End of the series, by the time they came out technology had moved forward..
 Plus. The motor looks different than the other sohc 4 Hondas.

[Lostboy Steve]

Yeah what 754 said. They flew relatively under the radar. To this day a lot of 550 guys wont do the head / engine swap because of how it looks.

[Tews19]

Much more power than the 550 though

[Stev-o]

Much more power than the 550 though

Much less power than a 750!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Pretty much the same weight as a 550 but a significant increase in power and torque with more potential for improvement with porting and big bore kit.
With the much much much lighter package of the 550 you can potentially have the performance hp/weight of an 836 but in a lighter more agile bike.

People seem to over lament the loss of the kick starter. I'm shoving one into a 550 frame!

[DaveBarbier]

People seem to over lament the loss of the kick starter. I'm shoving one into a 550 frame!

Same. I love my 650! Actually the motor only. The rest was home to a colony of ants.

[chewbacca5000]

What big bore kit?

[xtravbx]

I have a 650 motor sitting around. It's missing a few parts, but I think about putting it in my 550 frame. I need carbs...

[Wobbly]

Much more power than the 550 though

Much less power than a 750!

No, only 4 hp less than the 67 hp of the SOHC 750K or F1: 63hp.

[seanbarney41]

uh, maybe because they are totally ugggo?...except for the cool lookin' one that didn't get imported to the U.S.   Seems like the 650's signaled the beginning of the Japanese company's giving the U.S. mainly ugly cruisers, and awesome sport bikes to the rest of the world.

[DaveBarbier]

uh, maybe because they are totally ugggo?...except for the cool lookin' one that didn't get imported to the U.S.   Seems like the 650's signaled the beginning of the Japanese company's giving the U.S. mainly ugly cruisers, and awesome sport bikes to the rest of the world.

I don't know, mine looks pretty sweet, haha.

[70CB750]

I find the engine angle appealing, something about cylinder going straight up.

[carnivorous chicken]

A lot of folks don't like them because of the frame angles. First year they were flatter, then came the upward tilting tank and low slung seat.

[snowfighter2]

"Totaly uggo"? Hahahahahaha! Yeah the 650 is a little bit of an odd duck, ain't it? The cool thing about motorcycles is you cannot see what the entire bike looks like when you are riding it.  The fact that it is the last of the SOHC's appeals to me.  I am gonna keep mine, I don't care that it is ugggo..........hahaha! That's funny, man!

[seanbarney41]

"Totaly uggo"? Hahahahahaha! Yeah the 650 is a little bit of an odd duck, ain't it? The cool thing about motorcycles is you cannot see what the entire bike looks like when you are riding it.  The fact that it is the last of the SOHC's appeals to me.  I am gonna keep mine, I don't care that it is ugggo..........hahaha! That's funny, man!

right on bro...if it was the only bike I had or could get I would certainly ride it

[fmctm1sw]

"Totaly uggo"? Hahahahahaha! Yeah the 650 is a little bit of an odd duck, ain't it? The cool thing about motorcycles is you cannot see what the entire bike looks like when you are riding it.  The fact that it is the last of the SOHC's appeals to me.  I am gonna keep mine, I don't care that it is ugggo..........hahaha! That's funny, man!

right on bro...if it was the only bike I had or could get I would certainly ride it

I had two of them, I just didn't like the look.  The 650s lost that "standard Japanese bike" look of the 1970s.  I've ridden both my 650s and my 750 and the 650 isn't far behind in terms of power.  The no kickstarter thing bothered me too.  I liked them and rode them but ended up trading them for a flatbed trailer I needed.  Wish I had my blue 650c back though...

[rb550four]

I find that the comstar wheels are a turn off. I'm a spoke kind of guy.
Don't care for the tilted up tank much.Like the mid 70's lines and old school fenders better.
All 650's should have come from the factory with dual disc front brakes and disc rear but didn't.
The stock PeeWee Herman handlebars suck.
cdi,s ... didn't need them on a 550 electronic ignition upgrade.
then around 84 went to a drive shaft,  I still like chains.
and  the kickstart thing. I love the kickstart, I like to get up on that lever and turn that engine over , push button's okay if I'm feeling really lazy or have the right leg in a cast.
A classic cb 500/550/750 paint job doesn't work on 80 and up 650
 And the carbs didn't need to be any more complicated ,as compared with the other SOHC 4's
Cigar sized tool box
The seat should have been on a hinge like other cbs instead of bolted in,I like the paperwork under the seat.

The plus'
Break away frame...makes it so easy to take the engine in or out
The 1st year 650 had 70's lines...the others didn't...oh well
there was one year for dual front disc brakes unfortunately it wasn't on the standard with spokes
Superior  front suspension and shocks over the 550, plus an extra inch and some longer swingarm, wider tires.
I like the heavier look of the top end, the pipe collars,and the post modern exhaust system.
I find the seat to be more comfortable than earlier cbs.

[PeWe]

When the CB650 arrived here I could not understand why anyone wanted to buy one. Same whith the underpowered CB900 that got negative publicity in the magazines due to the slow power... Badwill for Honda.

[trueblue]

I personally love my 650, I changed the indicators and a couple of other minor bits and pieces and it changed the look of the whole bike.

What big bore kit?

I have one sitting in my shed awaiting me getting my finger out and fitting it.  One day I'll get round to it. 

[754]

If you think there is a dislike of the 650.   Well if we had to pick one, it was easy to pick the last one..
 But if you want to hear dislike.. Ask us what we think of the Honda twins that appeared about the time of the 650.. .. Like the 400 twin..uggghhhh..

[70CB750]

But CB450 is the most impressive bike ever made.

[Tews19]

But CB450 is the most impressive bike ever made.

Popcorn started!!!!1

I should add that I may have found a 650 to buy..... Just waiting to hear back from the owner

[PeWe]

The old CB450 have a nice sound, English style.
One more thing. A guy that find an old CB650 today and repair, restore and maybe modify it will like the bike.
I felt different when I saw the bike new 35 years ago and there were other alternatves for the money. CB500 was not an alternative either when it had way too low hp for a passenger.

I remember Midsummer 1979. I went with friends to a camping 250km away. I was alone on my CB750. One girl was passenger on a CB500. She asked me to leave the day after and visit a small town were she had an aunt.  She really did not like the CB500 when it was underpowered . CB750 was much better! Then OEM style, no moduífications at all.

The guy on the CB500 was angry about I had stolen the girl from him 25 years after. I guess today too.  I tried to tell him I saved him from a selfish #$%*, most of the other chicks were better between the sheets too

So, a CB650 was a real upgrade compared with CB500 which might be the correct way to see it. I remember a few friends on CB650 when all other had Kawasaki 900/1000's, modified CB750's. CB500's were left far behind when we all twisted the thottles in the city or on the roads.

[Stev-o]

But CB450 is the most impressive bike ever made.

Popcorn started!!!!1

I should add that I may have found a 650 to buy..... Just waiting to hear back from the owner

Did you say popcorn?!