Honda-SOHC

SOHC.co.uk Forums => Project Board => Topic started by: sipam on September 14, 2018, 05:32:06 PM

Title: CB650 bought in buckets
Post by: sipam on September 14, 2018, 05:32:06 PM
So after much searching and praying, a 'doer uper' was found locally for very little money.
With little to no history, and collected in buckets and washing up bowls, just enough to fill the back of a car, this 1981 CB 650 has become my obsession.
As I understand, a not very popular bike, especially here in the UK, this 32500 mile model had been taken apart over 12 years ago. Slowly over the summer I have now built the engine up to as shown in the pictures. Finding parts has been a real struggle, as the crankcases were split, the bolts all over the place.
I have used various reference sources, Haynes and a genuine Honda Workshop Manual, the internet has been invaluable, not sure how we coped before hand.
As you can see the frame is mostly there, electrics are missing, a job for later in the year as funds allow.
I don't intend to, and I apologise to the purists, to put back to stock. i am thinking that this middle aged frame of mine will sit nicely on a slim framed, wide engined cafe racer. Might seem a bit 'en mode' but thats how I see it happening at present.
I'll post some more pics as it develops.
I bought this as a hobby, something to ease my m ind after a day at work. However its become an obsession, with every waking hour contemplating where I might find parts and pieces. So not really as intended.
I'm hoping to have it running by summer 19 as I would like to ride it on our local charity bike ride the 'Martin Jennings ride'.
Title: Re: CB650 bought in buckets
Post by: philward on September 14, 2018, 05:47:02 PM
Sounds like a challenge! Will be stressful at times and more expensive than you estimate but will be hugely rewarding when you finish it -
 eventually!
Title: Re: CB650 bought in buckets
Post by: petermigreen on September 14, 2018, 06:17:25 PM
Well done for introducing yourself and supplying us with some images. Doesn't look half too bad. Not sure what's happening with the centre stand though or have you just got a wobbly floor?

Very friendly and supportive atmosphere here so you've every chance of success in rebuilding your 650.

Good luck, Peter
Title: Re: CB650 bought in buckets
Post by: matthewmosse on September 14, 2018, 08:01:54 PM
It's possibly the best way to get a bike in a lot of ways, as you will know your way around the bike and have a very fair idea of where to look for faults and how to fix them by the time you are through. I got my first cb500 and 550s in a collection of bits, mouldy old cardboard boxes full of soiled bits of engine. It taught me a lot, especially as it was before I had internet access so it was a case of scouring classified ads in classic bike magazines. I ended up with 3 mouldy incomplete bikes to build into various machines of varying decrepitude. I did this before doing my full bike test. It would have been far easier in the internet age , a quick read of this forum would have revealed the incompatibility of various engine bits around the clutch, as it was I built a very weird hybrid of cb500 and cb550 bits that actually worked but took about 4 attempts at building up to get the right clutch and gearbox shafts combination. Looks like you have a slightly more sensible start. This forum is a wealth of knowledge and even help with procuring spares.
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