cb400 super sport vs cb650z

General motorcycle conversation

Moderators: Volker_P, tidd650

jaimiepeeters
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2013 4:35 pm

cb400 super sport vs cb650z

Postby jaimiepeeters » Sat Jun 22, 2013 3:43 pm

Can somebody explain to me or tell me some extra info, about the difference between de CB400 super sport and the CB650Z.

I understand that the 400 and 650 are different CC engines, but what else? Is the 400 a 1 person bike or can you ride it with 2? Does the extra cc of the 650 make riding with 2 a lot easier? On what aspect? Do they sit the same? How about the acceleration etc?

:D

usbear
Posts: 361
Joined: Sun Mar 10, 2013 9:55 pm

Re: cb400 super sport vs cb650z

Postby usbear » Sat Jun 22, 2013 10:30 pm

Both are HONDA four Cylinders with two wheels.
How old are you and how much do you weigh?
Where do you live?
Where will you be riding?
How will you use it? Commuter or fun?

What is your Goal?

The 400 is a fun runabout bike and smaller lighter bikes can be more fun to learn on and ride in the twists and turns.

Larger bikes are more enjoyable for higher speed and heavier loads and are more difficult to learn on than a smaller bike, but are better to run the highway with.

650's are by no means big but are a very nice smooth ride with pleasant manners. All old bikes suffer from old technology and poor handling in comparison to the newer bikes, but much can be done to improve on the weak areas.

However- small bikes are always small bikes.

I can not answer the above questions for you, but as a bike that allows you to learn and start on and then built up to a larger cc bike, the 500-550 would allow you to use some of the 650 engine components such as the head and other parts to increase the performance.

The 400 is what it is and can be build to run Much better but will always be a small bike.

BOTH of the bikes you are asking about are COOL!
Both have issues and both would be fun, but they are not in the same family.

They are both on there own, but the 650 can share some components with the the 500/550 but the 400 shares nothing that I know of in the engine department.

Others will chime in also. Cheers!

jaimiepeeters
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jun 18, 2013 4:35 pm

Re: cb400 super sport vs cb650z

Postby jaimiepeeters » Sun Jun 23, 2013 2:49 am

usbear wrote:Both are HONDA four Cylinders with two wheels.
How old are you and how much do you weigh?
Where do you live?
Where will you be riding?
How will you use it? Commuter or fun?

What is your Goal?

Cheers!


Hi usbear!

I'm 37 years old and weigh 187 pounds (85kg).
I live in Amsterdam Netherlands and will be riding mostly between cities here where my family, a distance of approximately 100 miles round trip.
But my girlfriend and I will also be wanting to travel every now and then to Paris or Berlin, about 4 times a year.
My goals is to enjoy our freedom of transport more, we don't own a car anymore since it's costly in Amsterdam (beyond reason!) and to enjoy the traveling itself. We are not racers by any means, but obviously I do enjoy some power in acceleration. Going 85mph on the freeway is more than enough for us, although an occasional full throttle would be enjoyable for myself too.

usbear
Posts: 361
Joined: Sun Mar 10, 2013 9:55 pm

Re: cb400 super sport vs cb650z

Postby usbear » Sun Jun 23, 2013 4:16 pm

Hello!
Sorry to be so abrupt, as I am used to Americans and some times forget my friends abroad.

So the 400 - four is a very nice ride and is quite cool and very smooth.

You would greatly enjoy ownership of one.

Since you are not a kid you will no doubt quickly become familiar with the components and maintenance.

Big following in the States on Most of the Four Cylinder Hondas

The 400 is fast enough for what you describe and would serve you well.

It all depends on The Specific Bike you find and prefer.

If you have mostly higher speed travel such as freeway or highway a larger bike will be much more useful to you.

The 650 has a small bike feel, is nimble and fuel efficient.
Both would serve your purpose but the larger bike would be more suited overall to your needs.

If you find a 400, 500, 550 or 650 and you like it and all things are balanced; ie- price ,condition,miles, maintanance and appearance then jump, By all means Jump in the MC world my Friend.

Good LUCK and good riding!

usbear
Posts: 361
Joined: Sun Mar 10, 2013 9:55 pm

Re: cb400 super sport vs cb650z

Postby usbear » Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:18 pm

I saw the post with a picture and did not realize it was you.

That is a nice bike and would suite your needs very well.

If it is solid mechanically GO For IT.

scar1
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun May 19, 2013 2:01 pm

Re: cb400 super sport vs cb650z

Postby scar1 » Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:14 am

here is an idea to go by,if you like long bikes,this is a two cylinder honda 450
Attachments
long honda chop.jpg
long honda chop.jpg (60.19 KiB) Viewed 8824 times

User avatar
Volker_P
Posts: 5508
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:53 am
Location: southern Germany

Re: cb400 super sport vs cb650z

Postby Volker_P » Tue Jun 25, 2013 2:08 am

Ther CB650 already has a poor low rpm performace which makes it not that fun riding with a passenger.
This is of course even worse for a 400.
The 400 is older and the engine is more susceptible. Nevertheless the chassis is not that poor (or at least more forgiving due to lower weight) so a CB400 with a lightweight rider has some advantages in corners.

Nothing you will find or need in the Netherlands, though! :lol:
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

cb650
Posts: 2959
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:20 am
Location: Denver CO USA
Contact:

Re: cb400 super sport vs cb650z

Postby cb650 » Wed Jun 26, 2013 6:21 pm

A twin will have a little more torque than a 4. My 360 feels better than my 650 under 4k. Then the 650 just overpowers it. The less weight is nice too but its uncomfortable with 2 but the 650 has no problems with 2 lard asses on it.
Did you clean the tank out?!?!?!?!

MiGhost
Posts: 379
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:30 am
Location: South Central Mitten

Re: cb400 super sport vs cb650z

Postby MiGhost » Thu Jun 27, 2013 11:07 pm

Just from my personal experience.
Riding 2 up is something the 650 will do easily. My only problem was the seating position with my long legs. A set of highway pegs mounted to the D-ring crash bar (not case guards) helped the leg position considerably.

2 riders (6'/225lbs 5'7"/165lbs) with approx 40lbs in the bags on a 200 mile round trip handled easily with good power through out.

Quick little trips around town were no effort with easy handling, and quick resonse.

Just be forewarned, The inline 4 is a high reving engine that runs better at 5000-7000 rpm than it does at 2000-4000 rpm. These bikes love to run.

No experience with the 400. So I can not comment on that.

Ghost
~ Ghost

PD50 Carb Info
82 CB650SC Brake Caliper Info

Stable
Wayward Son:1980 CB650C, RestoMod Period Custom Touring
Bad Moon: 1983 XJ750MK Midnight Maxim, Full Dress Tour Deluxe w/ X-1 Fairing
Nemesis: 1983 XJ750K Maxim, Old School style chopper


Return to “General Discussion”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 31 guests