Topic: Slow and cheap...82 cb650sc nighthawk...confused bird

[jordanp]

I decided I should document the ongoing project known as confused bird... as some of you know I traded a 78 cb750k in barely running condition for this beast...I'll try to post as many pics as possible but it takes freakin forever on these stupid image hosting sites like imageshack...

here she is in the garage of the dude I bought it from-the ugliest motorcycle I think Ive ever laid eyes on:




then I sprayed her flat black like everyone and there brothers does


then I hacked off the grab rail, tail light, signals and replaced them with super low profile led tailight and nasty little chinese blinkers that suck and will be replaced soon





and this is some other dudes 80 cb650 that I am currently drawing inspiration from....I want to try and get a cheap tank of the same year and have my seat redone.


I call it a confused bird because I keep going back and forth on what I want this thing to be...as it stands all it is used for is pleasure riding short distances, and short jaunts in the hills...

so far I have replaced airbox with pods that don't fit all that well (ghetto!) went up 7 sizes on the main jet, replaced mufflers with 4 individual baffle inserts...dropped the forks an inch in the triples...and removed a bunch of weight in various places.

I will update as time permits as I have twin two year old girls, a job, a marriage, a budget etc.... feedback is welcome and by the way yes i plan on eventually doing something about that blueish purple frame!

[jordanp]

So yeah...ummm.

The oil pump is leaking like effin crazy! leaves a grapefruit size puddle after every ride. Anyone with a 650 have any sort of an idea of something I should try before buying a new pump? O-rings maybe? I have to take the exhaust all off to get to the housing again, so I will paint the headers black while they're off...oh, and I just snagged some clip-ons from ebay...so we shall see how much shorter all the cables need to be!

oh, and While taking the upper triple apart this afternoon I dropped the bike on it's face...and the air ports for the front forks were off, so not only did I spill gas all over me and the garage, I dumped half the fork oil, and dented the dent free fuel tank...first time this bike has seen pavement on anything other than it's tires! it's officially my bike now!

[CBJoe]

I'd say one of the o-rings (#12, 13, 14, in the diagram).....
Look-up http://servicehonda.com to get the o-ring sizes.

Why do you have to remove the exhaust to get to the oil pump? I'm pretty sure that you can remove the left sprocket cover without removing the exhaust.

As for dropping the bike..... happens to the best (and worst) of us   

Cheers, Joe

[CBJoe]

Also..... If I remember correctly, there's an O-Ring under the front cover of the oil pump.  Had the same issue on my 650 years ago.  Not sure of the size...

Do you know where the oil is leaking from ?

Joe

[jordanp]

with the quad muffs on the nighthawk you have to take off the left pair. really hard to see where it's leaking from unless the bike's running, and unless I put the pipes back on with the housing off I won't really see it in action. Maybe that's what I'll do... or maybe just replace the o-rings.

[jordanp]

somehow I really remembered having to take the pipes off...but im a retard and you don't have to take the pipes off    anyway it's leaking at the pressure sensor. It seems to be coming out of the non removable red colored head plug thingamabob. Anyone know if this is actually a necessary part?I want to try and find a screw of the same thread pitch and just plug that bad boy...other than not having an oil pressure sensor what else would be bad about doing  such a thing?

[jordanp]

just bought a used but guaranteed  oil pressure switch off ebay for 12 bucks...wish me luck!

[jordanp]

I'll need to shim the fork tubes in the clip-ons a little bit... but I am pretty happy with the outcome...Need to figure out whether I want to make the tank and tail work somehow, or swap it all out completely.

[mcribben]

Here's a few snapshots of my CB650SC Nighthawk.

I replace the bars with clipons from an 87 VFR, new 4-into-1 exhaust, threw away all plastic bodywork and rear side rails and more, modified the rear fender, new turn signals and taillight, paint, barend mirror, made my own rearsets from pegs off an 84 Nighthawk, chopped the seat, JC Whitney speedo, a lot of rewiring, rebuilt carbs... can't remember what all else I did.

I still need to rebuild the forks, replace the topend gaskets, and plenty other odds and ends. But it's a really fun ride.

You can go a lot of different ways modifying these old bikes.

[jordanp]

I love it mcribben!

I shimmed my clip-ons with aluminum from a redbull can... they seem to be tight enough, and I cant move them with my body weight on them. Hopefully they don't come loose and kill me! Maybe this spring I'll spring for some vortex clip-ons. I got the new to me oil pressure switch on and that took care of the oil leak! I am pretty excited about that one. I am kind of thinking I should drop the clip-ons below the triple...dunno yet though. I need to find a speedo solution as well so i may hit up jcwhitney as well. What did you do with your tach cable at the head? on my test rides I have had the cables zip tied to the upper triple and I watch the drive spinning at stop lights.

I also have a cafe fairing I may try to fit on her...have a spare cafe tail from the 750 project as well, but I don't think it goes with the bike.

[jordanp]

oh and what did you do about your cables/hoses? I need to look at that next...everything functions ok (throttle operation not so hot) but I would like to get it much cleaner.

[mcribben]

Not the best thing to do, but I simply removed the tach cable and tucked the rest of the cables as best as I could. Doesn't look the prettiest, but it works.

[BK.RD.RNR]

I'll need to shim the fork tubes in the clip-ons a little bit... but I am pretty happy with the outcome...Need to figure out whether I want to make the tank and tail work somehow, or swap it all out completely.

Hi guys,
New here, but had to say I really like the way your bike came out. Can anyone point me in the direction of a thread regarding a total, or near total rebuild of an 82 650sc? I'm trying to get mine sorted out, and if there is a thread with good documentation/ pics it would be a big help.
TIA

[emy111]

hey man, the cb650 you said you're drawing inspiration from in an earlier post is my cb650.

my buddies and I have a blog where we talk about all sorts of stuff regarding our old 70's cycles.

http://www.chinonthetank.com/category/cb650/
or
http://www.chinonthetank.com

if you have any direct questions, email me at emy111@gmail.com

your cycle is lookin great, keep it up.

-ed