Topic: 80 CB650 Rat/Bobber project

[bmxpuck]

Love reading other people's builds, and I was too excited on my first build to document and shoot pictures. But I just got a 1980 CB650 for $350 and decided it's time to document a build.

The guy I bought the bike from was actually the sculptor of some pretty well-known statues in Virginia, which is where I am. He did the Arthur Ashe monument in Richmond, the giant Indian at the old Richmond Braves stadium and the huge Neptune statue at the VA Beach oceanfront. The house he lived in was also built in the 1860's and was used as a hospital during the Civil War. It was known as the "Amputorium." But enough about that guy, on to the bike.

Everything seemed to be in pretty decent condition, looks like it hasn't spent a lot of time outdoors in the last few years. So that works for me. But someone definitely did rob this bike. The side panels, fuse box cover, Honda emblem on the fork and carb boots from the plenum were all missing. But I'm planning on fab-ing my own side covers, want to move the location of the fuses and put pod filters on anyway. So all the stuff that's missing shouldn't be a big deal.

I've started the tear down, I'll get some pictures of that up soon and I'm still trying to figure out how the pictures work on the forum. So yeah, once I get this figured out, I'll get this thread going.

[davesee]

cool!

let me be the first to offer to take those pipes off your hands should you not need them.

good luck.

[bmxpuck]

All right, so finally got going on this thing. Well I actually got going on it about a week and a half ago, just haven't posted an update yet. I'm finding it a little easier to keep the bike updates on my blog. So I'll periodically bring in a round or two of updates here, but more detail will be on the blog, it's at pucksnotdead.posterous.com.

But anyway, the bike.







I started by prying the gasp cap off. The PO didn't have a key to the bike anymore. I also plan on converting to a 4 prong ignition, so I wasn't concerned with trying to have a key made or anything. The locking gas cap actually came off pretty easily once I got an edge up. The tank didn't look too bad inside. It does have to large dents tho.



The 4 to 4 exhaust didn't look so bad either, but I'm thinking this bike will need a 4 to 1. If anyone out there has a 4 to 1 header for this thing, I'm interested. Not sure if I'm willing to let go of the 4 to 4 yet, but I will let you know if I do.





The carbs were also surprisingly clean for having not actually been hook up to the engine for over 2 years.





And lastly, the electrical system seemed to actually be intact and untouched. Always makes things easier.





I started hacking away on the frame earlier today. Should be able to get those pictures up soon. Do have a question for anyone that might be familiar with XS650's, but any idea how an xs650 tank would fit on this cb650?

Lastly, here is also a list of everything on this bike I will not be using(will be updated), so if anyone needs any of it, let me know, I will sell it cheap:

handle bars
left control
right control
front fender
seat
plenum
turn signals
tail light
center stand
master cylinder

[Statenheimer]

For some reason all the pics in your last post are showing up broken...

[bmxpuck]

Dang it. I guess it's got something to do with them being linked from my Posterous account. Will troubleshoot and get them fixed. In the mean time, what do most people on here use to post photos? The attachment thing for posts doesn't seem viable to upload lots of photos in 1 post. That's what's holding me up a little on the postings, just seems like there is no easy way to put up a lot of photos at once.

[nayto550]

In the mean time, what do most people on here use to post photos?

I've been uploading to a Flickr account and linking through there on mine.  Can't wait to see pics, I'm building a bobber style chop as well.  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=87533.0

[Statenheimer]

Yeah, photobucket is what I have been uploading too, and it has allowed me to put up a lot of pictures in one post.  Thread is in my sig if you want to take a look...

[bmxpuck]

sorry for the trail off on this thread. didn't really have a solid direction on what i wanted to do with this bike so i kinda trailed off on it. now i'm pretty sure i'm going to use this 650 engine and bore it out and put it on top of a 550 bottom and eventually put that in to my 550.

that being said, i'm not totally sure how to delete this thread, so for any admins that see this, let's go ahead and get this thing removed or shut down.

thanks.

[kslrr]

Hey Bmxpuck, welcome to the CB650 crowd.  I will add you to the CB650 owners list and if you would like info about jetting the carbs for pod filters, send me a message.  I have an '81 custom with an '79 engine with pods.

edit: I can't tell by the pic if yours is a custom.  It's been 8 months since I've seen my bikes.