1981 CB650 (Soon to be cafe)

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BrewCrew102
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Joined: Tue Oct 11, 2011 2:09 pm

1981 CB650 (Soon to be cafe)

Postby BrewCrew102 » Tue Feb 07, 2012 12:11 pm

Here is my 1981 CB650 Standard. I bought it in March of 2011. Paid $1,000 for it. I know I can find them cheaper but this one had only 3800 Miles on it. The previous owner also has just spent $1,000 on it before winter to have the carbs completely redone and numerous other essential things done to it. He ended up needing the money so I scooped it up.

The pictures here are the way I bought it and rode it all last summer. Everything is very stock except for the handle bars which are cafe style (and upside down) which were bought by the previous owner. Only modifications I had done to it was the pod filters which drastically improved performance. The stock air-box on it was very restrictive. On the highway, it would start bogging down at about 70 and was just not getting enough air. Now it redlines past 10k and can top out in 5th gear.

This winter I am doing a few modifications to it.

New custom exhaust (pretty much done.) I will show pictures later
Exhaust wrap
put handlebars on correctly
Tank knee pads?
new tail section/fender (could use some input on what fits) I still want to keep it a two seater so not the traditional cafe look

Let me know what you guys think. I love input and feedback on this stuff.
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BrewCrew102
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Re: 1981 CB650 (Soon to be cafe)

Postby BrewCrew102 » Tue Feb 07, 2012 12:13 pm

More pictures
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cb650
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Re: 1981 CB650 (Soon to be cafe)

Postby cb650 » Tue Feb 07, 2012 1:29 pm

You going to keep that tank or butcher it up?
Did you clean the tank out?!?!?!?!

BrewCrew102
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Joined: Tue Oct 11, 2011 2:09 pm

Re: 1981 CB650 (Soon to be cafe)

Postby BrewCrew102 » Tue Feb 07, 2012 4:15 pm

cb650 wrote:You going to keep that tank or butcher it up?


Well for now I think I am going to leave it as is. Aside from that one small dent, it is in pretty good condition and it doesn't look that bad. I also don't really have the tools to do it properly... and the money. I am thinking about putting some tank knee pads on it though. It would cover up the dent and would look decent I think.

cb650
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Re: 1981 CB650 (Soon to be cafe)

Postby cb650 » Wed Feb 08, 2012 1:21 am

Looks pretty good. I've been interested in finding a red tank.
Did you clean the tank out?!?!?!?!

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Volker_P
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Re: 1981 CB650 (Soon to be cafe)

Postby Volker_P » Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:27 am

Nothing wrong getting a bike with a few thousand miles in that shape for $1000. :)
Really great condition and nothing to tear apart badly.
Rear part of seat looks a bit strange, however might be just due to the cover.
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

BrewCrew102
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Joined: Tue Oct 11, 2011 2:09 pm

Re: 1981 CB650 (Soon to be cafe)

Postby BrewCrew102 » Wed Feb 08, 2012 3:27 pm

Volker_P wrote:Nothing wrong getting a bike with a few thousand miles in that shape for $1000. :)
Really great condition and nothing to tear apart badly.
Rear part of seat looks a bit strange, however might be just due to the cover.


You know I have never really liked the seat. The previous owner must have had it reupholstered. I feel like it is not on right or the cover is too big. I'm not really sure but it just looks very bulky. What do you think I can do to fix it? Do you think I simply need a different seat cover? I dont like the way it looks right now

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Volker_P
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Re: 1981 CB650 (Soon to be cafe)

Postby Volker_P » Thu Feb 09, 2012 5:44 am

I'd say the rear part looks modified. Which means a cover for a stock seat probably will not fit without cutting down some of the modification.
Also it is unclear if the modification is restricted to the obvious part or may be done to the complete seat. So I would not remove that cover before I have something that looks like it can be made fit reasonably.

The missing chromed border may contribute a good part to the different visual impression.
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

gentlemanjim
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Re: 1981 CB650 (Soon to be cafe)

Postby gentlemanjim » Tue Feb 14, 2012 9:25 am

Buuilding a cafe on the very same bike.

Here's my progress so far.
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wingman
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Location: Albany Oregon

Re: 1981 CB650 (Soon to be cafe)

Postby wingman » Tue Feb 14, 2012 11:03 am

The seat is suppose to have the small upflip at the very back. The cover is one of the cheaper e-bay Chinese replacements. It looks like it could use some tightening. That is fairly easy to do. I never did like the stock 81 seat (or the 80) as it tends to slide you forward into the tank. It will be a shame to hack up a nice clean low mileage bike. Not to mention the devaluation.

Custom81
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Re: 1981 CB650 (Soon to be cafe)

Postby Custom81 » Wed Feb 15, 2012 5:03 pm

dont let anyone tell you what to do or not do to your own bike. That being said, changing to a more cafe or brat style seat on these bikes is kinda difficult because the top edge of the frame is not flat as was with the 79 models or the other older SOHC-4's. In 80 they changed the style of the seats so the pans are not flat. that bike is probably worth more than you paid with that low of mielage. I would try to sell it and find a 79 model for a cafe bike if you have your heart set on a 650

BrewCrew102
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Joined: Tue Oct 11, 2011 2:09 pm

Re: 1981 CB650 (Soon to be cafe)

Postby BrewCrew102 » Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:49 pm

gentlemanjim wrote:Buuilding a cafe on the very same bike.

Here's my progress so far.


That's pretty cool. You have got a long way to go but it is nice to start from the bare bones of it and work your way through it. Show me more pictures when you have them. I am getting a few things finished up on mine right now so I will have some pics pretty soon.

BrewCrew102
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Oct 11, 2011 2:09 pm

Re: 1981 CB650 (Soon to be cafe)

Postby BrewCrew102 » Fri Feb 17, 2012 1:58 pm

Regarding my seat, Yes I believe it was a replacement cover for it and it simply was not tightened down all of the way. I will probably try pulling it tighter to it to see if I like that better.

And yes I am going to continue modifying it to my personal preference. I understand that the cafe look is not most people's preference (Including the GF) but it is something that I have really always liked. I'm not concerned about the resale value or anything else like that. I think it would end up being a hassle to turn around and try making a profit on a bike with low miles such as this, then having to buy a new one, and pay taxes and title it in may name again.

Plus, I find a lot of value myself in it being low mileage... everything works on it so I don't need to find a bunch of replacement parts. I plan on keeping the bike for a long time and can not wait for the weather to start warming up here in Wisconsin so I can get on it again.

I'll have more pics soon and thanks for the input so far.


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