Topic: Go for the CB650 or the CB750???

[dangerranger01]

Alright, i am hoping you knowledgeable guys can help me out.

I am wanting to get my first bike, and have always loved the CBs, and it turns out a friend of mine has a 1979 CB650 for sale. I know she takes care of it and all, and it seems pretty nice, but from the research i've done, it seems that the 79 cb650 is like the "black sheep" of the honda family. Hard to get parts, super specific on what fits, etc which is keeping me form getting it.

However, there is always CB750s up on craigslist all the time for the same price as the cb650 i can get. The cb750 is popular, easy to get parts and can interchange stuff (like tank and other parts).

Overall on any whichever one i get, i'd like to get her running perfect, and learn to ride, then maybe do a cafe style build-up on it (I love metal working, so this would be a nice project)

So, basically, i'd like to hear peoples ideas on what which would be the better bike overall.

Thanks for any input!
Grant

[montana550]

First Bike?

How about a 550.  My experience has been that you can pick these up cheaper than a 750 and it would probably be a little more forgiving for learning on.

But hell, I know a woman whose first bike was an HD Ultra Classic and she's still breathing.

[73hutch]

for me, it would depend on the price and condition of the 650.

[Hush]

I think you should go buy a 750, obviously your friend looks after her 650 and it doesn't need to be chopped down to someone's idea of a "cafe".
I'd also reccomend a small CC bike for a first bike, these large Hondas weigh a massive amount when they fall on you, newbies beware!

[dangerranger01]

Thanks guys for your input.

Something interesting i hope you guys can clear up. She said the cb650 has a kick start, and from what i can find, the cb650s didn't have a kick-start. Should i be worried? I'll check out the bike probably next week when i am done with college for winter-break (I am away from home where the bike is...)

Anyways, I wish i could find a cb550, but craigslist fails me. It seems they are either really high priced (above $1000), or are total projects. I'd like to buy the bike as solid as possible.

-Grant

[Grumpol]

G`day ranger
Personally id recomend a smaller bike for a first bike like hush said.
The 750 hit the scales at the best part of a quarter of a ton, thats a lot of bike to start with.
If you like the classic bikes why not get a 750 as a project bike and while your building that up get yourself a smaller bike, 250 350 or 400 even, it will be safer to start with and you`ll get the experience needed for a larger bike.
You have to walk before you can run.

[Artfrombama]

Pick up a CB-CL125. Light, easy to handle and powerful enough to keep up with traffic, great gas mileage, fun.
Learn to ride on it, then sell it for what you paid for it.

I have a CL100 I ride almost as much as my CB750

[Hush]

Hold the bus!!!
Unless she squeezed a 750 into her 650 frame or repowered with a 550/500 then that aint a CB650!
You are correct, our 650's do not have kickstarts, might not be a Honda?

[dangerranger01]

Hush, that is what i am thinking. I am going to have to take a close look at it when i go and see it next.

In the mean time, i am looking for a small bike i guess. I think you all are right, start at a smaller bike, then sell it and get bigger.

Oh, anyone know if a cl360 has an electric start along with the kickstart?

Thanks guys!

[mlinder]

Yub, sounds to me like theres a 500 or 550 engine in it, if it has a kickstart.
Only reason I'd buy a 650 is BECAUSE of the engine. 500 and 550 are like 12hp down from the 650.
A cb350t, cb360, or something like an xs400 or kz400 would be a great starter bike. I started on a Z50 :/

[alis]

Get a 750.  Learn to ride on the bike you are going to ride.

[Soos]

Thanks guys for your input.

Something interesting i hope you guys can clear up. She said the cb650 has a kick start, and from what i can find, the cb650s didn't have a kick-start. Should i be worried? I'll check out the bike probably next week when i am done with college for winter-break (I am away from home where the bike is...)

Anyways, I wish i could find a cb550, but craigslist fails me. It seems they are either really high priced (above $1000), or are total projects. I'd like to buy the bike as solid as possible.

-Grant

unless someone stole paulages 550/650 hybrid, I'd be willing to bet:

A:) it's a 550 in a 650 frame
B:) it's a 550, and she doesn't know.


l8r


And as to the '79cb650 specific parts... yeah.The '80-'82 650 are the bastard stepchildren of the SOHC4 line, but the '79 650 has red hair.(in the US)

The European(worldwide -the US?) "Z" model is the closest for parts interchange ability the '79 gets.I believe they were made up to '81?(from looks comparisons only mind you!)
But I personally have not dropped "Z" model parts on my '79cb650 (yet?)

The '80-'82(2nd frame version) are MUCH more interchangeable between years.

[BobbyR]

I think you should go buy a 750, obviously your friend looks after her 650 and it doesn't need to be chopped down to someone's idea of a "cafe".
I'd also reccomend a small CC bike for a first bike, these large Hondas weigh a massive amount when they fall on you, newbies beware!

I am not a newbie and mine fell on me. It's a #$%* to get out from under. But, learn to ride what you will ride. I went from a KZ440 to the CB750, you cannot ride them the same.

[pablo78cb550]

hmmmm. well do you like fat chicks?
go with the smaller bike.
a 550 would be best. enough to start on and continue on.

[BobbyR]

hmmmm. well do you like fat chicks?
go with the smaller bike.
a 550 would be best. enough to start on and continue on.

The 550 is a very fine bike. Sometimes size does matter. 750 is better on the highway.

[GammaFlat]

How big are you?  If you're 160lb guy with a 29" inseam, I'd consider going smaller.  Don't get me wrong, it's do-able but harder.  When one of these babies starts going over on you, strength and size moves that "point of no return" a little... which might be just enough to save your fanny. 

Also... the K7 and K8s are a little longer with a wider turning radius than pre-K7.  For beginners, I'd recommend K6 or earlier.  Low speed handling is quite different which I think is important for new riders.  My brother (he pointed all this out to me), who hadn't ridden in many years, really appreciated the difference and I found when we went riding, I somehow always ended up on the K7

[Blueridgerunner]

Well, let's see.... I really like my 650, seems a little quicker off the line than a 750 (dons flame retardant suit  ) but they will run me down on top end. That said, It seems that parts are easier to come by for a 750, probably because they were more popular than the 650?
All the prior posts are correct re weight etc.  Learning probably isn't any more risky than the neighbor that bought a Huyabusa to learn on 

[dangerranger01]

Well, i have a 32inch inseem (or whatever the other number is on my jeans, lol...) and about 240lbs (or so...mostly muscle as i am do not super fat). So idk if that puts me as a big guy, but i'd like a bigger bike (550 or bigger) to putt around on.

I'll check out my friends bike, get the numbers on it and run it. Doesn't the engine say what model it belongs to??? I thought i had seem pictures where it says "CB-550" on it. Also, doens't the frame have the model and year on the frame next to the forks?

-Grant

[ghost]

the engine number (on the 650 anyway) is on the right side below the end exhaust pipe it states the actual displacement (627 for the 650) then the frame model is on the neck on the vin tag(eg 1980 cb650c)