Topic: is it worth it: 1982 cb650sc

[ba55kas3]

i am currently looking at an '82 honda nighthawk, cb650sc, and i'm trying to decide whether or not it is worth buying.

the only thing that is out of order is the charging system. it's a low miles bike, runs great, not even any cam chain slapping that i can hear, original exhaust looks and sounds great, all the parts, minus a cover or so, are there and working. the signals, horn, lights all work, but the owner says he can't drive it more than 45 minutes because the battery dies.

researching, i'm wondering if this could be a simple fix, like brushes, or is it very likely that i'll have to put a possible hundreds into what it may be, like the alternator rotor, stator ring, or regulator/rectifier...

granted, i'm probably going to chop/bob/rat this bike, and the price will be 300 or under USD.

any input would be GREAT.
 thanks- josh

[Shenanigans]

300 for a nice low miles running bike? Worth it.

It maybe a simple fix, but keep in mind you might have to spend a couple hundred fixing the charging system.

I would say way worth it.

[ba55kas3]

hey, thanks for the reply.


the only qualm i have, is that the last bike i had didn't get on the road because it needed work, granted it was different work... but this 650 will feel like nothing compared to the v65 i had... that i learned to drive with only a front brake...

[tsp37]

With a rebuilt rotor, a tool to take the old rotor off, and new R&R, I spent close to $250. The rotors have a bad rep for these bikes, and when the rotor goes, the R&R goes.

I also had to cut a fin off of the aftermarket R&R to make it fit, but I was able to get that done where I worked. I think (hope) that the replacement R&R has a circuit to protect it from a faulty rotor or stator.

[Spanner 1]

My guess is the stator winding in the alt. is shot. The guy who re-wound the rotor of my
'81 cb750 ( he has re-wound 100's ) told me that the early 80's Honda rotors and stators were notorious for failing due to lower grade copper wire they used in the windings.. get a 70's S.O.H.C. instead !!

[ba55kas3]

is it possible at all to rewind my own rotor?

[ba55kas3]

if i replace the R/R, and the rotor, if it isn't just a wire to begin with (wishful thinking), should the stator need replacing too? and what is a good source for less expensive parts? ebay? or a parts bike with equivalent parts?
also, has anyone ever run some other kind or charging system, like a generator off of the chain or rear wheel? or is there any way to retrofit a magneto for ignition? instead of electronic?

[NPHLYT]

There is a guy that re-winds them, I don't have his contact info but I will send an email to the guy who bought my 1982 NightChicken, he got a re-wound rotor.

[Hush]

Jezz I thought for a moment Kit had given up on her charging problem and sold her bike!
Apparently some of these 650's have a charging problem, I own a 79 CB650PZ and an 82 650 Custom, neither has this fault.
There is a heap of info on these troubles in the FAQs section or check out KIT and her threads on tracking her charging fault on the same model bike.

[KingCustomCycles.com]

Buy it, persevere with any repairs needed, ride it, sell it for a profit.  Any Questions? 

[ba55kas3]

"Buy it, persevere with any repairs needed, ride it, sell it for a profit.  Any Questions? "


good plan. however, say i spend 300 on the bike, and somewhere 300 or less on the charging system... i know i could sell a $600 inspectable bike, but i plan on chopping or bobbing it, is the market still as east for resale when it's been customized, but still in road-worthy condition?


BTW, Thanks for all the help on this thread, it's the most i think i've gotten out of any forum i've joined.

[KingCustomCycles.com]

A cool bobber, or even light custom, will bring $1400 + on eBay.  A vintage Honda that runs smoothly will sell for $1000 even locally, more on eBay.  Check out my website for past and current projects I am doing.  It is nothing special but it does add some credibility to my dollar quotes. 

http://kingcustomcycles.com/home.html

[ba55kas3]

i guess those projects give you some credibility, lol. thanks for the advice.

still open for more input, though.

[WFO]

Buy it, persevere with any repairs needed, ride it, sell it for a profit.  Any Questions? 

ya what he said but don't chop it you do realize that bike was only made for one year and was the last SOHC made.

[Duke McDukiedook]

If you fix the charging problem, you could probably turn it around for a grand like King said (if it is fairly low mileage). If you chop it you could be limiting your market to sell to (not everyone wants a chopped bike), however if is chopped well you could potentially get more money for it. How much it goes for depends on how much you chop it.
 

[Gordon]

Buy it, persevere with any repairs needed, ride it, sell it for a profit.  Any Questions? 

ya what he said but don't chop it you do realize that bike was only made for one year and was the last SOHC made.

It's a rare person who can buy and sell sohc4's for a profit.  With the exception of the 750 K0, the demand/collectibility just isn't there (yet).  In my experience, the most you can expect is to break even on the total cost of purchase and repairs.  That's one of the reasons why I still like these bikes so much, though.  I can buy, rebuild, ride, maintain and enjoy them with a minimum of monetary investment, without the market being taken over by people who are just in it for the money. 

[WFO]

I missed the profit part  and i agree gordon iam more less saying keep/buy the bike for 300 bucks ( great deal) and chop something else up.

[NPHLYT]

I had my NightChicken for a year and a half, rode the crap out of it, and then sold it. I made no money off of it, I did not expect to, the bike itself paid me back for taking it in and caring for it.
If you chop it then, as was said, you are limiting your sale to someone who likes what you did, this is a bit risky, especially if it is the first one you have done. If you do go this route then take care when pulling off the old parts as there is someone who does like the one they have, but may need your old parts, like that exhaust.
The 1982 CB650SC NightHawk was a single year production, the 83 went to shaft drive and 4 into 2 exhaust. I, personally, prefer the look and sound of the 4 pipes.

My advice is to give that old girl a fighting chance, fix her and drive the crap out of her while you figure out what changes you want to make

[KingCustomCycles.com]

By the grace of Jesus Christ, I sold 33k worth of bikes in 08 and my profit was 23K.  I do love people that say it can't be done.  It keeps them away from the projects I will be buying.  By the way, that "profit" was what I made on my labor before anyone gets any ideas that this is a get rich quick scheme (I have never flipped one for much money)

[NPHLYT]

By the grace of Jesus Christ, I sold 33k worth of bikes in 08 and my profit was 23K.  I do love people that say it can't be done.  It keeps them away from the projects I will be buying. 

If it sounded like I was saying that it can't be done then that was not my intention. I have checked out your web site and I love what you do. I think think the SOHC4 looks better and meaner on a bobber than a poxie 2 cylinder that sounds like it is missing a cylinder (or 2). All I meant that if his intention is to bob it and hope to sell it that his options are limited when it comes to sales, especially if this is his first chop.

[ba55kas3]

i don't intend to sell for a profit, or for that matter, sell quickly. i'm looking for something that is worth getting on the road, breaking even on resale is just a plus. and as far as chopping or bobbing, i don't have the facilities to stretch or rake it, or make it rigid.
i'm looking along the lines of making it suit my style better, maybe shorter shocks in the back to lower it, and fabricate a rear fender instead of the plastic tail section, and those kinds of things, but low budget, like a rat, but not so ratty?

[NPHLYT]

In my opinion you should buy it, do what needs to be done to it, drive it while you look for another project and then sell it. You will, at least, break even. If you are patient you will find something more ratworthy, like a CB750k. The tail section on the NightHawk wraps around the seat and blends into the side covers, if you remove the tail piece then it looks like something is missing. I picked up my 1980 CB750k for $300, and it runs great. Granted it has one too many cams, but I could not beat the price. I have a line on a 77 k, I will go see when I get home and see what the guy wants for it. I am also trying to get a guy I know to unload his 1970 (I think he is the original owner) on me, I will try to trade my 80 for it.

They are all over the place: http://houston.craigslist.org/mcy/1026162442.html

[Gordon]

By the grace of Jesus Christ, I sold 33k worth of bikes in 08 and my profit was 23K.  I do love people that say it can't be done. 

Who said it can't be done?

[leekellerking]

There is a guy that re-winds them, I don't have his contact info but I will send an email to the guy who bought my 1982 NightChicken, he got a re-wound rotor.

I'm the guy that bought the Night Chicken (rechristened "Bikey").  If I were looking for another rotor (or stator) I would go back to Gary at Custom Rewind (http://customrewind.com).  My CB650SC has run like a top since I replaced the rotor with one he rewound.  (800) 798-7282

I would suggest calling Gary and not trying to contact him through his web site. I'm not sure how computer literate he is, but he does great work on motorcycle electrics.


Lee

[ba55kas3]

two of the bigger selling points on this bike, are that i know this guy somewhat, he deals with alot of vehicles, and i've bought a car off him in the past, which he was straightforward about, and he seems to be as such about this bike. also, he was driving this bike last season, he just never went more than a half hour to 45 minutes on it due to the charging issue.

about the riding until i find another worthy project, i'm not really in the market for that. i kind of have to stick with one thing until something else falls in my lap. i mean, i have some seasonal friends that i'll be seeing in a few months that have hookups with bikes, but being an in-the-moment kind of person, this seems like the project for a while. resale for a profit isn't my goal, even if i get a little less than i put out after a decent time of riding. i just consider it a "rental bike."