Any 79 CB650 riders here? CB650 in general?

[edelweiss]

I just purchased a 79 CB650 for next to nothing. Complete bike. I know the CB650 didn't do so well in the market at the time, but I still really think it's a cool looking bike and on a lighter frame. I just thought I would ask if there are any riders of the 79 650 here. I tried to get into hondacb650.com, but the sign-up process is so convoluted.

Please post pictures if you have 'em! I need to 650 enthusiasts!

 

[cxman]

i have a 80 and 81 cb650sohc nice little bike

you should join here they even have a cb650 registry

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

One of my customers has one. I refurbished it for him this year. It was a mess. Leaking oil, corrosion and rust everywhere.

I bead blasted a bunch of aluminum parts, rebuilt calipers & master cylinder, new steering stem bearings, rebuilt forks, sandblasted and powdercoated a bunch of rusty chrome pieces.

Bike runs pretty good, but really, really needs rejetting. These bikes were too lean when they were new, but now with the ethanol fuels, they REALLY need rejetting.

One of these days, I need to take some pictures of it.

 

[620dark]

I have a '79 as well, and I agree getting the carbs right was a real pain. Make sure you keep the stock airbox intact - that means filter, cover, the whole nine yards, or you will never be able to get the damn thing to run right. Some folks even retrofit carbs off earlier Hondas or '80s-'90s Ninja 650s to make their lives easier.

The build thread in my sig has some nuggets of wisdom scattered throughout it. They are enjoyable cruiser bikes, not too fast, but fast enough for the highway. The '79 still had the classic Honda UJM look to it as well - I think the tank shape is very nice on bike - plus modern features such as an oil filter and alloy wheels. The Comstar wheels are a love 'em or hate 'em item, but they are light and strong, and clean up nice.

Let me know if you run into any strange problems - I think I had the shittiest CB650 ever to be pulled out of a muddy tow yard, so I've dealt with a lot of problems on the bike.

 

[cxman]

yup i rejetted mine lol

and now no more problems and it hauls way better at slower speeds to a lot more torque

 

[blackbuddha1]

yep I have a 79 also.....ditto to worse650ever reply....hint...on cold mornings I use a small space heater to pre-heat the motor for 10-15 min. as I have no choke.

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

You can't get a replacement choke cable, but you can use a CX500 choke cable, and resolder the end to shorten the inner cable length and make it work.

 

[SONICJK]

yep I have a 79 also.....ditto to worse650ever reply....hint...on cold mornings I use a small space heater to pre-heat the motor for 10-15 min. as I have no choke.

What do you do if the bike gets cold while you're at your destination?

 

[blackbuddha1]

still have the hard wire end at the carb but it's either full on or full off....but I never use it anyway....did away with the dash and am mounting small speedo and tach...re-painting tanks (small cb360 and large stock), side covers, and seat as we speak

 

[blackbuddha1]

still have full choke function....use it to start...let it warm up 5 min. and go gently for a few miles then it's fine.....not made for quick getaways....cb650 idio.

 

[cxman]

with the mikunis i start it on both chokes and then turn one off right away

if its real cold i drive off and leave one choke on for about a mile then shut it off to

but on the mikuni its an enrichener system not a conventional choke

 

[620dark]

I find with my 650 that this cold start method works best:

1) Turn on gas
2) Pull choke out fully
3) Twist throttle to max 5-10 times to pump the accelerator pump and prime the bike
4) Hit starter and pray

Priming the bike using the accelerator pump was the part that makes it possible to start the bike without starter fluid, at least in my case.

 

[blackbuddha1]

I find with my 650 that this cold start method works best:

1) Turn on gas
2) Pull choke out fully
3) Twist throttle to max 5-10 times to pump the accelerator pump and prime the bike
4) Hit starter and pray

Priming the bike using the accelerator pump was the part that makes it possible to start the bike without starter fluid, at least in my case.

yep that's about the way you do it.....but I do it without using the choke.....once it's warm it's fine all day...leave it sit more than 5-6 hrs and you have to go through the cold start again.....damn I love that cb650 lol

 

[cxman]

lol

i have never tried starting either of my 650s with the stock carbs on it so i find this amusing

 

[blackbuddha1]

thank god it's not a kick start bike

 

[620dark]

yep that's about the way you do it.....but I do it without using the choke.....once it's warm it's fine all day...leave it sit more than 5-6 hrs and you have to go through the cold start again.....damn I love that cb650 lol

I have to use the choke for the first start, but you're right, after that I can just look at the starter button and the bike starts.