Topic: 650 OR 550

[cantonkid]

Hello there,

I am new to the site and was hoping someone could give me some insight. I recently inherited a 1979 CB650 that I am planning to work on and restore in my spare time. I also have access to a 1977 CB550K which is complete as well, but needs more work etc. My question is which bike would be easier to get parts for? If I understand correctly, the 79 650 was unique to that year only and models after that were different, so parts may be harder to accumulate?. Anyhow, any info/details would be most appreciated.
BTW, I am in Vancouver BC Canada, so if anyone knows of a good shop in the Greater Vancouver area, please let me know.

Cheers Eh!!

[the technological J]

around here they both suck....

[IainC]

I have a 79 cb650 and I would say it can be tough to get some parts. I'm in Halifax and found it easier to just get a whole parts bike and tear anything I need off that.

Many of the parts that need to be changed regularly such as cables, sprockets, oil filters etc, are all still readily available from your dealer. Its when you start searching for things like carb rebuild kits, or rubber parts that things get hard to find.

Many parts are interchangeable with the later year 650's, the engines are the same so internal parts should mostly be identical, however carbs, airbox, body pieces such as tank, side covers and frame are different.

I've put the front end from an 81-82 cb650 on my bike because it had dual disk brakes, the forks are longer, but they seem to use the same fork oil seals and dust covers as the originals.

Also the exhaust system used on the later models is different I believe, so I'm not sure if those would mount up without fabricating some sort of bracket. I have a 4-into-1 system on mine as the original pipes were an absolute mess.

Check out the link in my signature for the work I had to do on mine to get an idea what you might be in for. I also have most of a parts bike, shipping from one side of Canada to the other might be cheaper than from the US, so let me know if there are any parts you need and we can try and work something out.

[Laminar]

550. Kick start.

[mgbgt89]

550... Spoken from a 650 owner.

[Gordon]

550. Kick start.

+1

Also the 550 doesn't tend to have the charging system issues that a lot of 650's seem to have, but then it's really on a bike by bike basis. 

I like the 650's and wouldn't mind having one in my stable, but if I had to choose between the two I'd go with the 550. 

[xfactor]

since this got the attention of all the 650 owners I saw a 650 hondamatic yesterday when I went to look for 750 parts, looked like a pretty complete bike. If you need somthing let me know I can email the dude who had it.

[mgbgt89]

since this got the attention of all the 650 owners I saw a 650 hondamatic yesterday when I went to look for 750 parts, looked like a pretty complete bike. If you need somthing let me know I can email the dude who had it.

I didn't know they made a 650 'matic?

[xfactor]

since this got the attention of all the 650 owners I saw a 650 hondamatic yesterday when I went to look for 750 parts, looked like a pretty complete bike. If you need somthing let me know I can email the dude who had it.

I didn't know they made a 650 'matic?

I could be wrong but I think it was a 650 matic

[wardenerd]

I own a '77 550F and an '81 650C.  These bikes are completely different bikes.  The 550 is a sport bike.  It rides like a sport bike and it handles like a sport bike sort of like a 350 on steroids..  Quick maneuvarale wonderful in traffic sucks on long trips and on the interstate.
The 650 feels much bigger.  The seat height is lower and the seat is more plush.  The bike rides great but I do not think it is a sport bike.  It has wider handlebars and it is more powerful but it handles very differently.  It is better on long trips and on the interstate.
My opinion and thats all it is , is that the 650 parts are harder to find even in an '81.

I thinkj I'll go ride them both right now.

[Frankenkit]

550... Spoken from a 650 owner.

+1

[KeithTurk]

I like the engine styling better on the 550.... but like the Juice of the 650...

Neither are particularly fast... but both are fun bikes.... 

K

[ryder60]

I can't speak about the 650 but there are lots of 550 parts and parts bikes floating around.  The rubber parts are hard to find and I ended up getting fork uppers By Frank because I couldn't find any locally.  Any Honda dealership should be able to gets lots of parts for you.  I'm in Maple Ridge and use CR Cycle.  Parts is very helpful and John, the service man/manager, has been a great help to me as I do virtually everything myself. 

[ryder60]

Hello there,

I am new to the site and was hoping someone could give me some insight. I recently inherited a 1979 CB650 that I am planning to work on and restore in my spare time. I also have access to a 1977 CB550K which is complete as well, but needs more work etc. My question is which bike would be easier to get parts for? If I understand correctly, the 79 650 was unique to that year only and models after that were different, so parts may be harder to accumulate?. Anyhow, any info/details would be most appreciated.
BTW, I am in Vancouver BC Canada, so if anyone knows of a good shop in the Greater Vancouver area, please let me know.

Cheers Eh!! -----------QUOTE

Just to continue a bit farther, someone on here can correct me but I believe, if you have a mind to, you can put the 650 motor in the 550 frame and also I believe the front ends are interchangeable.  I'd suspect there are other interchangeable parts as well.

I have ridden to Regina on a 550 and it will do fine if you keep to 55-65 MPH.  I never ride freeways if I can go by another route.  I carried a tank bag, saddle bags and camping gear behind me under bungee nets.  It is a bit small in that role because it pushes you forward on the seat which is lacking padding and you'll stand up and ride from time to time cause it will go dead on you.  I am 200 lbs.  The 550 will suit you a lot more if you are a bit smaller than I am.

I have a 550 leaning against my son's garage and I intend to do a nice cafe racer out of it because the 550 is a great bike around the lower mainland and environs nearby.  Have you checked out the Canada form here?  There seems to be others from here on it.  They probably know more than me about good dealerships.  Good luck.

[Laminar]

Just to continue a bit farther, someone on here can correct me but I believe, if you have a mind to, you can put the 650 motor in the 550 frame and also I believe the front ends are interchangeable.

I think Paulages did the 650/550 hybrid engine.

[74cb750]

Well, I had a 650 for about 1 week. Juwt not my style.
I have 2 550's, one for 3 years now. (plus I had 7 for partss) 

peace,
michel

[cantonkid]

I have a 79 cb650 and I would say it can be tough to get some parts. I'm in Halifax and found it easier to just get a whole parts bike and tear anything I need off that.

Many of the parts that need to be changed regularly such as cables, sprockets, oil filters etc, are all still readily available from your dealer. Its when you start searching for things like carb rebuild kits, or rubber parts that things get hard to find.

Many parts are interchangeable with the later year 650's, the engines are the same so internal parts should mostly be identical, however carbs, airbox, body pieces such as tank, side covers and frame are different.


I've put the front end from an 81-82 cb650 on my bike because it had dual disk brakes, the forks are longer, but they seem to use the same fork oil seals and dust covers as the originals.

Also the exhaust system used on the later models is different I believe, so I'm not sure if those would mount up without fabricating some sort of bracket. I have a 4-into-1 system on mine as the original pipes were an absolute mess.

Check out the link in my signature for the work I had to do on mine to get an idea what you might be in for. I also have most of a parts bike, shipping from one side of Canada to the other might be cheaper than from the US, so let me know if there are any parts you need and we can try and work something out.

Hey IainC,

Wow, thats some extensive work you did on your bike!,... right now I am just trying to get it started so that I can give it a run to see where the rest of the bike is condition/road worthy wise etc. I was able to get it started after a bit of cleaning and changing the fluids etc. but have now run into a charging issue where after running it for a while, the bike dies and kills the battery (which is brand new). Looking closely looks like my CID's are shot as its oozing black stuff and/or could be a faulty regulator, have yet to check with a meter.
I was wondering though if you had a set of CIDs you can part with and maybe the regulator too?

cheers!

[IainC]

Right now I'm sorting out almost the exact same issue, I do have those bits but may need them to solve my problem in the next few days. If you figure out what your problem is let me know because we may be in the same boat.