Topic: how many miles before problems start on a cb 650

[cormier1989]

I was wondering about how many miles you would expect to rack up before major issues start to arise from the bike. Im looking at a 1980 cb650 and if its like my honda accord hopefully it will drive forever without major problems. I hear that the carbs need to be worked sometimes but how many miles do you these bikes usually last?

[jhasewhite]

1000 miles with no maintenance or 100,000 miles or more properly cared for. Dont worry, just tune it up,feed it oil and fix problems as they pop up. 

[cb650]

Depends on how it was treated.  My oldest (owned) bought it 84 from my dad who bought it new so all the work was done by me.  Was running good but started leaking oil on the head so did a topend at 30k. That was 15 years ago and all its seen after is track time untill a few years ago.  Still doing good.
Had another partsbike a few years ago that ran but the camchain was sawing a hole in the cyls with 20k.  
Have a couple others that run also just normal issues.

[Hush]

I know my 1979 CB650PZ has done 127000 miles but have no idea of it's mechanical history prior to my purchasing it.
I'm sure the Ministry of Transport serviced it religiously when they owned it from new for the 4 years they used it.
Like any piece of precision machinary your Honda SOHC will give back what you put into it so service it regularly and ride it often.

[Frankencake]

My personal opinion says after about one or two miles.  But don't let that sway you.

[cb650]

My personal opinion says after about one or two miles.  But don't let that sway you.

Must been operator error

[Hush]

Just wondering how accurate my mileage is?
The mileage on the bike says 27000 miles, most people see the bike and say well it's 30 years old so you'll have to add a one in front of that!
Does 127000 miles over 30 years sound about right or excessive?
It works out at 4233 miles per year which if the bike was in full working order every year wouldn't be too hard to explain, however the bike was a Police patrol bike in daily use 365 days a year and the cops did some good mileage in those days.
If 27000 miles is correct then the bike only averaged 900 miles a year so was a real lemon that spent most of it's life in the workshop or once retired lay in someone's shed collecting cobwebs for a few years.