My First Bike: 1980 CB650 Custom

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jqcaffeine
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My First Bike: 1980 CB650 Custom

Postby jqcaffeine » Wed Oct 12, 2011 9:45 am

UPDATE 10/28/2011: Posted updated pics in a new reply below.

I just bought my first bike, a 1980 CB650 Custom. It came without a seat (although the previous owner is still looking for the original), so my wife built me this makeshift seat out of plywood, old door hinges, foam padding, and vinyl. :D

It runs pretty well, and I'm planning on using it as my commuter for the 10+ mile round trip to work each day (at least as long as the weather holds out). I'm finally getting used to working the choke, after killing the engine at more red lights than I care to mention.

Anyway, I'm a complete newbie when it comes to motorcycles. I've gotten the hang of riding this one (perfect fit!), and I figured out how to change the oil once, but I think I'm going to be doing a lot of learning when it comes to maintaining this monster.

Apologies for the poor photos; they came from my camera phone in the early morning after arriving at work. I've got a pair of mirrors on their way (thanks to Ineedonthis1+) and a pair of side covers (thanks to wingman), so it'll look a little nicer then. I'm also expecting an original fuel tank to arrive tomorrow (off of eBay) to replace what I think is a 1983 Nighthawk tank that came with the bike. I like the shape, but it's missing a petcock, and that just ain't gonna cut it for me. No reserve = Angry walker.

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Last edited by jqcaffeine on Fri Oct 28, 2011 12:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
No more runnin'. I am to misbehave. -Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Serenity

cb650
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Re: My First Bike: 1980 CB650 Custom

Postby cb650 » Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:18 pm

Good start there. Is the fuel cap hinged or removable?
The choke issue might be the idle jets needing cleaning. What ever carb work you do make sure the tank is clean.
Did you clean the tank out?!?!?!?!

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jqcaffeine
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Re: My First Bike: 1980 CB650 Custom

Postby jqcaffeine » Wed Oct 12, 2011 6:04 pm

Yeah, my wife's '86 Rebel had had similar (but far worse) issues, and they were largely helped by some carb work that her dad and brother (both awesome amateur motorcycle mechanics) did on it. I'll try to sit down with one of them next time they're in town and take a look at my carbs. The previous owner claimed that he'd just cleaned them out, but who knows. I can't imagine that the missing petcock helps anything, either.

I've been wanting to get a better handle on engine mechanics, and I kind of figure that running and maintaining a motorcycle is a good way to get the basics down.

In answer to your question, the fuel cap is hinged. Does that give you a clue as to the year of the tank? My '83 guess is mostly going off the shape, as compared to others that I've seen on eBay.
No more runnin'. I am to misbehave. -Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Serenity

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Re: My First Bike: 1980 CB650 Custom

Postby Volker_P » Thu Oct 13, 2011 1:17 am

Welcome here! :D

Looks like you will get it together soon and moreover you got it running without major issues.

No petcock means you always get the fuel from the very bottom of the tank which requires a very clean tank (or an inline filter). Easy to imagine that your idle jets are clogged and may be again soon after the next carb cleaning. Hope that the stock tank mounts are still in place.
BTW, this tank really does not look bad, no way to mount a petcock?
Cosky's great (free) online manual: http://cosky0.tripod.com

forum links to common technical issues

If you really like this site and you would not like to see it vanish soon, have a look there: Urgent: Future of HondaCB650.com Forum

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jqcaffeine
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Re: My First Bike: 1980 CB650 Custom

Postby jqcaffeine » Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:10 am

BTW, this tank really does not look bad, no way to mount a petcock?


I do like the tank, but I'm not sure of the year, and from what I've read, petcocks are very particular to the year of the tank. At least, every Nighthawk petcock I've seen on EBay comes with a disclaimer that it will ONLY work with such-and-such year of tank. I don't know. Again, I'm completely green when it comes to working on bikes.
No more runnin'. I am to misbehave. -Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Serenity

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jqcaffeine
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Re: My First Bike: 1980 CB650 Custom

Postby jqcaffeine » Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:32 am

Here are some better pics. (That's my wife's '86 CB250 Rebel behind it.)

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No more runnin'. I am to misbehave. -Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Serenity

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Re: My First Bike: 1980 CB650 Custom

Postby cb650 » Thu Oct 13, 2011 3:55 pm

Yes that is a tank off a 83 or newer nitehawk 650. I just parted a 84 out and have the petcock if your interested.
Did you clean the tank out?!?!?!?!

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Volker_P
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Re: My First Bike: 1980 CB650 Custom

Postby Volker_P » Fri Oct 14, 2011 1:06 am

jqcaffeine wrote:I do like the tank, but I'm not sure of the year, and from what I've read, petcocks are very particular to the year of the tank.

Maybe it is similar for our tanks where the petcock thread changed 80 to 81.
So measure thread diameter and pitch to find a correct one. Write these data to cb650 so he can compare with his 84 petcock.

Maybe even a 80 or 81 will fit, if you get the correct one of them. This assumes that the petcock is boltet directly on a short, threaded tube at the bottom of the tank.

In any case keep in mind that the seat might not just fit behind the 83/84 tank without modification!

Interesting center stand stopper! :)
Cosky's great (free) online manual: http://cosky0.tripod.com

forum links to common technical issues

If you really like this site and you would not like to see it vanish soon, have a look there: Urgent: Future of HondaCB650.com Forum

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jqcaffeine
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Re: My First Bike: 1980 CB650 Custom

Postby jqcaffeine » Fri Oct 14, 2011 8:55 am

My '80 CB650 tank arrived yesterday, and I really like the look of it. I think I'll just stick with that one and sell my old Nighthawk tank, sans petcock.

In any case keep in mind that the seat might not just fit behind the 83/84 tank without modification!


"Fortunately," my bike came without a seat, so the one we make-shifted was built to fit the Nighthawk tank. Hopefully, it'll look okay with the original tank back on.
No more runnin'. I am to misbehave. -Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Serenity

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Re: My First Bike: 1980 CB650 Custom

Postby cb650 » Fri Oct 14, 2011 9:52 am

I was going to check the 84 petcock to the older tanks but got busy. I know it wont fit the 82 nitehawk. Wouldnt really want to use it anyway as it has the vacuum shut off on it.
Did you clean the tank out?!?!?!?!

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Re: My First Bike: 1980 CB650 Custom

Postby jqcaffeine » Fri Oct 28, 2011 12:53 pm

Updated pictures. I've added left and right mirrors, swapped the Nighthawk tank for an original '80 CB650 tank, put an original seat on, added side panels, and added a luggage rack.

Thanks to wingman and ineedonthis for most of those parts!

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Re: My First Bike: 1980 CB650 Custom

Postby Volker_P » Sat Oct 29, 2011 4:25 am

Yes, good progress.
The engine looks really nice, except the mess at the left side that looks like the residuals of a fuel leak that was present for a time.
Interesting that the passenger part of the seat cover is cracked while the driver seat is still intact.
Cosky's great (free) online manual: http://cosky0.tripod.com

forum links to common technical issues

If you really like this site and you would not like to see it vanish soon, have a look there: Urgent: Future of HondaCB650.com Forum

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Re: My First Bike: 1980 CB650 Custom

Postby wingman » Sat Oct 29, 2011 12:06 pm

Hey bud glad you are liking the parts. Didn't know you needed a seat. I do have an original seat in pristine condition if you are interested. Advertised on this site in "bikes" .... CB 650 seat 1980-81.

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jqcaffeine
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Re: My First Bike: 1980 CB650 Custom

Postby jqcaffeine » Sat Oct 29, 2011 3:45 pm

Volker: Thanks. Yeah, I figure that I'll do some cleaning over the winter, while it's stuck in the garage. My old Nighthawk tank didn't have a petcock, so the seal wasn't all that great and I had a fairly reliable fuel leak right there.

Wingman: I'm LOVING the parts. The luggage rack is great for holding my canvas messenger bag on the commute to work, and the side covers look great, especially now that I've got an original seat on there; I'm even thinking about painting the tank to match 'em.

Ineedonthis sold me the seat I've got for $35 shipped, so it was hard to beat, especially given the condition of the driver's seat. Yours looks great (and it's probably worth far more than you're asking), but I can't drop $100+ at the moment, especially when I've already got one. My wife's been plenty patient with me already... :wink:
No more runnin'. I am to misbehave. -Captain Malcolm Reynolds, Serenity


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