1981 Honda CB650C project in Amsterdam
Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:15 am
Heya Honda people,
I have no idea what I'm doing! But still decided to pick up a project bike. You gotta start somewhere.
A really nice gentleman was selling this 1981 CB650 Custom for peanuts (250 euro) an hour drive away from Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
So I gave him a call and asked to meet ASAP as I suspected he'd be getting lots of calls. The trick was – he accidentally listed it as Honda Others in car category and I found it by sheer mistake browsing through wrecked car listings.
I was warned that the bike doesn't start due to a starter clutch failure but just might run. I couldn't walk past a bargain deal taking into account a solid cosmetic condition of it. At the least I can sell it out for parts for around 200+ euro.
So after about half an hour of push-starting we managed to get it running together with the owner who bought this CB brand new when he was 18. I made a few circles around the block, paid the guy and came back with a trailer after a couple of days.
No idle. In fact anything under 2000 is just stopping the engine. One of the front brake calipers was jamming and totally jammed when I was unloading a motorcycle. Tried to put a screwdriver in and unjam the damn pad but it didn't work and I just drained the brake fluid out of it. Please don't question my methods it was a spur of the moment decision.
Nevertheless it does run and it seems like the engine is not leaking anywhere. All things together that could be the worst case scenario.
To do (I'll be updating this and "Done" regularly):
- brakes (calipers, pads, lines, fluid, etc);
- oil and oil filter change;
- air filter pods instead of an air box;
- carburetors need cleaning, rejetting (as part of a transition to pods) maybe even a complete overhaul;
- starter clutch fix, previous owner mentioned this issue;
- starter itself. Even though I was assured that it is working I couldn't get it to react to my attempts to spin it;
- fuel lines need replacing;
- fuel tank has epoxy inside (read on), needs thorough cleaning;
- carb/intake boots (actually look a lot better than I previously thought);
- new handlebar, wheelbarrow type is just killing my wrists;
- chain;
- sprockets;
- spark plugs;
- shocks (to raise the rear);
- fork (to lower the front);
- exhaust;
- seat design (this one comes in last to emulate the looks for cafe/tracker).
Done:
nothing so far
This bike is for my lady and we want to work on it together to create a simple cafe/tracker weekend city ride.
As this is the first motorcycle we'll be working on I want to keep modifications to the minimum.
Your advice is more than welcome and always appreciated.
I have no idea what I'm doing! But still decided to pick up a project bike. You gotta start somewhere.
A really nice gentleman was selling this 1981 CB650 Custom for peanuts (250 euro) an hour drive away from Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
So I gave him a call and asked to meet ASAP as I suspected he'd be getting lots of calls. The trick was – he accidentally listed it as Honda Others in car category and I found it by sheer mistake browsing through wrecked car listings.
I was warned that the bike doesn't start due to a starter clutch failure but just might run. I couldn't walk past a bargain deal taking into account a solid cosmetic condition of it. At the least I can sell it out for parts for around 200+ euro.
So after about half an hour of push-starting we managed to get it running together with the owner who bought this CB brand new when he was 18. I made a few circles around the block, paid the guy and came back with a trailer after a couple of days.
No idle. In fact anything under 2000 is just stopping the engine. One of the front brake calipers was jamming and totally jammed when I was unloading a motorcycle. Tried to put a screwdriver in and unjam the damn pad but it didn't work and I just drained the brake fluid out of it. Please don't question my methods it was a spur of the moment decision.
Nevertheless it does run and it seems like the engine is not leaking anywhere. All things together that could be the worst case scenario.
To do (I'll be updating this and "Done" regularly):
- brakes (calipers, pads, lines, fluid, etc);
- oil and oil filter change;
- air filter pods instead of an air box;
- carburetors need cleaning, rejetting (as part of a transition to pods) maybe even a complete overhaul;
- starter clutch fix, previous owner mentioned this issue;
- starter itself. Even though I was assured that it is working I couldn't get it to react to my attempts to spin it;
- fuel lines need replacing;
- fuel tank has epoxy inside (read on), needs thorough cleaning;
- carb/intake boots (actually look a lot better than I previously thought);
- new handlebar, wheelbarrow type is just killing my wrists;
- chain;
- sprockets;
- spark plugs;
- shocks (to raise the rear);
- fork (to lower the front);
- exhaust;
- seat design (this one comes in last to emulate the looks for cafe/tracker).
Done:
nothing so far
This bike is for my lady and we want to work on it together to create a simple cafe/tracker weekend city ride.
As this is the first motorcycle we'll be working on I want to keep modifications to the minimum.
Your advice is more than welcome and always appreciated.